Police probe after spate of buzzard deaths (From Gazette Series)

Police probe after spate of buzzard deaths

8:30am Wednesday 18th March 2009 in News By Liza-Jane Gillespie

POLICE are becoming increasingly concerned about the welfare of buzzards after six were found dead in the area.

Since January they have either been found dead or their carcasses have been handed to local authorities.

PC Lee Bainbridge, wildlife crime officer for Thornbury Police Station, said: "The number of dead buzzards is increasing so we are becoming concerned as to the cause. Four of the birds have been found within a relatively small area and in a fairly short space of time so we are taking this very seriously."

The buzzard is protected by law and it is illegal to hunt, persecute or even disturb their nest site.

The first buzzard was found on January 28 in Almondsbury. A week later another was found dead less than two miles away.

At the beginning of this month a buzzard was found dead in a tree in Rudgeway and on March 9 a patrolling police officer found a dead buzzard in Olveston.

Police say two other carcasses have been handed in by members of the public.

Sgt Craig Ogborne, of Thornbury Police Station, said: "The two birds found earlier have already been taken for testing and have had an initial examination, which at this stage is inconclusive to the cause of death.

"All of the birds will now be examined to see if there is a common theme between them.

"The concern of the police and of Natural England is that these birds are being poisoned."

A Natural England spokesman confirmed the birds found in Almondsbury had been sent off for analysis but they were still awaiting the results.

He said: "When we get the results we will decide what needs to take place. There are a variety of reasons these birds could have died - they may have been poisoned or it could have been the result of a nasty winter. We don't want to speculate on anything at the moment."

According the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, in 2007 13 buzzards were found shot or poisoned in the South West region.

Anyone with any information should contact Thornbury Police Station on 01179 455 994 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.