More extracts from evidence from the Peak District – the Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group;
- In the Dark Peak area, Goshawk declined from 11 pairs in 2000 (23 in 1994) to just 1 successful nest from 3 pairs in 2015; the other 2 pairs both failed due to confirmed illegal persecution. Without immigration of birds from other areas these birds would be extinct as a breeding species in the Dark Peak, despite this area being a stronghold for the species at the start of their recovery in the 1980s. By comparison the South Peak population continues to grow and achieve a high level of breeding success
- Peregrine Falcon began recolonisation of the Peak District National Park during the early part of the 1980s and continued their recovery throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s. However, the population saw the same dramatic population crash in the late 1990s and post-2005 no Peregrine Falcon nested successfully on any land away from RSPB and National Trust managed land, despite observations of birds pairing up and displaying breeding behaviour on or adjacent to private shooting estates every year.
- During the same period the population of Peregrine Falcon in the South Peak area, away from the grouse moors, has more than doubled and pairs have exhibited a high degree of breeding success (see graphs below). This reflects the findings of the 2011 paper Amar, A., et al. Linking nest histories, remotely sensed land use data and wildlife crime records to explore the impact of grouse moor management on peregrine falcon populations. Biol. Conserv. (2011) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711003831
- …the Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative 2012-2015 failed to meet its targets, and in the case of Peregrine Falcon there was a negative change…We feel that it is important to mention that had the Initiative shown any reasonable success, it could have been upheld as an example of how raptor conservation and shooting interests could work together to the benefit of all parties. Unfortunately this has not been demonstrated to date and has become a further indication that those involved with driven grouse moor management continue to believe that they can operate above the law. Shooting organisations appear to be unwilling or completely unable to influence their members’ actions on the ground.
- …we feel that the government need to impose both stricter controls and increased penalties for noncompliance of the law, as a minimum licensing of shooting estates should be introduced. This position will not be sustainable if the persecution does not cease, supporting a ban will be the only option left open to PDRMG
You could write to your MP about the debate on driven grouse shooting today (see here).
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