THE RSPB is urging the public to be vigilant to help stop the persecution of birds of prey.
The appeal follows 196 illegal persecutions of birds of prey in the UK were detailed in its Birdcrime 2015 report.
The incidents include 34 in the Midlands ranging from shootings of peregrine falcons, poisonings and the spring-trapping of an Osprey.
Martin Harper, Royal Society for Protection of Birds director of conservation, said conservation groups, the shooting community and the public should be vigilant, in order to stop a minority from continuing to commit these kinds of wildlife crimes.
