Peregrine falcons are the world's fastest birds and a UK conservation success story. But illegal persecution by the game industry continues to threaten their welfare.
Peregrine welfare recovery from pesticide poisoning is a genuine triumph of environmental regulation. However, illegal persecution near intensively managed grouse moors continues to cause preventable deaths. Poisoned peregrines suffer slow neurological deterioration before death. GPS-tagged birds have revealed the precise locations where they disappear - often near grouse estates - providing evidence of ongoing persecution. The welfare of urban breeding peregrines is comparatively excellent, with food-rich cities and protected nest sites on tall buildings.