PEOPLE in Clee are coming together to protected persecuted birds of prey.

They have declared to stamp out the killing of peregrine falcons that make their home on Titterstone Clee.

Since 2004 11 Peregrine Falcons, a specially protected species under the Wildlife & Countryside Act, have been illegally killed, mostly poisoned or starved to death, while attempting to breed at Titterstone Clee, South Shropshire.

During the same period, other attacks on the nesting birds have occurred, often leading to abandonment of the nest.

In 2011, following another attack the previous year resulting in the deaths of the resident pair of peregrines, the Shropshire Peregrine Group decided that additional measures were necessary, not only to safeguard the peregrines whose presence attracted visitors to the area, but also to protect the reputation of the Clee Hill ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.’

The measures introduced in the spring of that year included, volunteer patrols, CCTV cameras and increased police patrols.

A total of 48 volunteers were recruited and funding for the project obtained from Hansons, the Clee Hill Quarry owners, and the Shropshire Hill Management Committee.

Breeding was successful in the next three years and in 2014 the breeding attempt was abandoned due to the extreme inclement weather.

In 2015 peregrines returned to the quarry and breeding proceeded without incident until June, when a dead male peregrine was found below the nest which then contained two almost fully grown chicks.

These subsequently starved to death together with the adult female.

Toxicology tests revealed that the make bird had been poisoned by diazinon, the same substance used in the 2010 poisonings.

Police issued a press release appealing for information and offering a reward of £1,000, subsequently increased to £2,000, for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the killings.

But no convictions were made and the reward remains available.

However, local people are determined it will not happen again and following a public meeting they are going to action stations to protect birds seen in the area that it is hoped will nest.

At the meeting organised by the Peregrine Group were Ludlow Police, representatives of the Clee Hill Forum, the Clee Hill Wardens, the Clee Hill Wildlife Group and the Clee Hill Heritage Trust.

It was decided to increase the number of volunteer patrols this year and to arrange additional visits by police mobile patrols when possible. CCTV would also be used to monitor the area and approach roads.

West Mercia Police are training additional Wildlife Crime Officers who will eventually deployed in an effort to combat wildlife crime such as the killing of birds of prey.

“We are determined to prevent further killings and attacks on these rare and iconic falcons,” said John Turner of the Shropshire Peregrine Group.

“However, we need the support of the local community if our efforts are to be successful. There is evidence that the Clee Hill attacks were organised by groups who are opposed even to the existence of birds of prey.

“They only have to be lucky once as they were last year, whereas we have to be lucky all the time.”