CONCERNS from pigeon fancier Darren Williams in Cleobury Mortimer over the loss of some of his birds that have been victim of attacks from birds of prey has provoked an angry response.

The Shropshire Peregrine Group has hit back at a pressure group that wants a change in the law to enable the removal of falcons under special licence.

But John Turner, who is chairman of the Shropshire Peregrine Group, says that birds of prey in the Clee Hill area are being persecuted and a number have been killed.

He also says that attacks by birds of prey only account for a very small proportion of the pigeons that are lost.

In fact he says that attacks by peregrine falcons are only responsible for six per cent of pigeon losses with sparrow hawks taking an estimated eight per cent.

The Shropshire Peregrine group say that getting lost and exhaustion is by far the biggest cause of loss among racing pigeons at 36 per cent followed by collisions with buildings at 19 per cent and flying into overhead wires at 15 per cent.

Oiling, entanglement poisoning and predation from other animals including domestic cats are also claimed to be a major factor.

“During the past five years no fewer than six peregrine falcons, (four adults and two young), have been "removed" from their nest at Titterstone Clee,” said Mr Turner.

“To be more precise, the birds were deliberately poisoned and met agonisingly slow deaths.”

He added that it is wrong to blame birds of prey that not only play a very small part in pigeon losses but are making a comeback on the face of continuing illegal persecution.

“Research has found that predation by raptors is relatively minor compared to pigeons straying or colliding with with solid objects, and the UK Raptor Group, on which the Racing Pigeon Association was represented, considered there was no justification to seek the licensed control of birds of prey to protect domestic pigeons,” added Mr Turner.

“If owners release birds, they must accept the natural risks of the environment.

“The Shropshire Peregrine Group in common with other wildlife conservation organisations sympathise with those whose pigeons may have been killed or wounded by peregrines or sparrow hawks, but feel that a leisure interest such as pigeon racing should not impact adversely on the comparatively small population on these rare and iconic falcons whose ecological characteristics make them sensitive to extermination.”

He said that the return of birds like the peregrine falcon should be welcomed.

“The return to Shropshire of the peregrine falcon should be a cause for celebration not rejection, and the Shropshire Peregrine Group will continue its' efforts to prevent the continued illegal persecution of this magnificient falcon,” he added.

“I am sure that Mr Williams does not condone recent events at Clee Hill resulting in the deaths of four peregrines and I would urge him and other local pigeon fanciers to come forward with information which may be relevant to this tragic incident and its' possible repercussions on the future of pigeon racing in the area.”