 In November 2011, the RSPB announced that 'new' research into the impact of grouse moor management on peregrine falcon populations had revealed the true extent of their persecution on England's grouse moors. The findings of the research, which was funded by the RSPB and whose chief author was one of its former employees, was published in Biological Conservation, and promoted in a media release that made some claims which, if true, would have been shocking. A copy of the paper, which was summarised as research that "finds birds of prey do less well on managed grouse moors than in other areas," was also sent by the Northern Raptor Forum to the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which in turn circulated it to all Police Wildlife Officers and Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime members.
Although breeding success may have been half that in other habitats, the research actually showed that the population of peregrine falcons on grouse moors was stable over 14 years of the study. This should come as little surprise, given that their traditional and preferred nesting sites are on cliffs or rocky outcrops, a finite amount of which are found in the countryside, and very few of which are on driven grouse moors.
Increases in the population of peregrine falcons away from grouse moors can be largely attributed to the bird's diversification. With a shortage of traditional nesting sites, and territories already being occupied, the peregrine has had to find alternative sites to breed and roost, and over the last 20 years they have moved into urban areas nationwide, using tall buildings and cathedrals to nest. Over 60 towns and cities are now believed to be holding a pair or single bird.
Using data from 1990 - 2006, the research found that incidents of illegal persecution against peregrines were more frequent on grouse moors than away from such areas. Whilst that may have been the case then, more up to date figures actually show that it is now quite the opposite. According to the RSPB's own Birdcrime reports, between 2006 and 2010 only 21% of the confirmed incidents of illegal persecution against peregrine falcons in the UK occurred in areas that could be associated with grouse moors, and even then there was no evidence to show that they were carried out by anyone associated with their management. A staggering 79% of incidents of illegal persecution against the species took place elsewhere.
The current picture is therefore not as the RSPB and Northern Raptor Forum would have it portrayed. Following a representation to the National Wildlife Crime Unit by Scottish Land & Estates,a caveat was been circulated to all Police Wildlife Crime Officers in the UK, and to all Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime members. This explained that those studying the paper would see that the data used was out of date, and that in using such information there was a danger that the research paper suggested a current situation. Circulated with that caveat was a letter from the Countryside Alliance's Moorlands Director that had been published in The Journal, which questioned the research, and highlighted the more current statistics for offences of this nature.
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