The male peregrine falcon was found dead in June
A family of protected peregrine falcons may have been wiped out after two adult birds were feared poisoned.
Tests carried out on a male bird found dead in a quarry in Clee Hill in Shropshire, showed it had been poisoned by the pesticide diazinon.
Its mate has not been seen at the monitored nesting site, prompting fears it too has been poisoned.
The Shropshire Peregrine Group (SPG) believe the poisonings resulted in the pair's two chicks starving to death.
The pesticide was blamed for the deaths of two other of the birds of prey in the same area in 2010 and 2011.
Natural England carried out toxicology tests on the male bird, which was found by one of the group's volunteers.
'Lovely birds'
SPG spokesman John Turner said: "The male peregrine was lying dead at the foot of the cliff and the female was never seen again and we believe she also succumbed at the same time.
"The young chicks would have starved. So we have lost a whole family of these lovely birds."
He said the poisoned birds would have suffered an "agonising" death and urged people to contact West Mercia Police to stop the birds' "persecution".
PC Julian Ward, the force's wildlife crime officer, said: "We believe somebody in the local community will have information about who is involved and we would urge them to contact police."
SPG volunteers have been monitoring the area in the wake of previous poisoning incidents.
A £1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible has been offered by the SPG and RSPB.
Anyone convicted of killing peregrines faces six-month jail term and a fine under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
- Published29 March 2011
