NORTH Yorkshire has been named the worst area in the UK for the killing of birds of prey.
Research by the RSPB said birds, including the peregrine falcon, red kite, goshawk and hen harrier, are being poisoned or shot on the North York Moors or Yorkshire Dales at a faster rate than anywhere else. The number of reported incidents in North Yorkshire doubled between 2009 and 2010, from 27 to 54, with ten confirmed cases of bird of prey persecutions.
The RSPB’s Bird Crime 2010 report said crimes included four red kites and three buzzards being poisoned and a goshawk being shot, as well as two-year-old chicks being laced with a banned pesticide and left as bait.
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