Round-the-clock protection for peregrine falcons

A PAIR of peregrine falcons that breed annually are to be put under 24-hour surveillance from today to protect them from egg thieves.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust will carry out a round-the-clock stake-out of the birds' nest site at the Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve in New Lanark for the next three months.

Despite being a legally protected species, peregrines are at risk from thieves who can sell falcon eggs to collectors, and from those who take young chicks to train for falconry.

CCTV will stream live images from the eyrie to the internet and a big screen at the Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre.

Becky Priestley, peregrine protection officer for the SWT, said: "Wildlife crime of this nature really jeopardises the future of a remarkable species – it's unacceptable, illegal and must be stopped."

Only about 1,400 pairs of peregrines remain in the UK due to the effects of the pesticide DDT in the 1950s. About two-thirds of these nest in Scotland.