RARE birds of prey and their chicks are being stolen from the Trough of Bowland by professional thieves.

Three Peregrine falcon chicks and six hen harrier eggs have been taken in recent weeks.

Police claim the determined thieves have an expert knowledge of birds of prey and are specifically targeting the Trough of Bowland, which is home to many different breeds.

"These thieves know exactly what they are doing," said PC Maria Thompson, Lancashire Constabulary's wildlife officer.

"They know where to look for them, how to raise them and then pass them off as legally bred. They are very unscrupulous and are having a severe impact on what are rare, protected birds."

In the first raid on May 9, a quarry worker noticed that two Peregrine falcon parents were acting strangely and further investigation revealed that three chicks had been stolen. The thief had to scale a 100 ft drop to reach the nest.

In the second incident, six hen harrier eggs at the point of hatching were stolen from a nest on open moorland. The Trough is one of the last remaining breeding grounds outside of Scotland for these rare birds.

"Last year only four pairs of hen harriers managed to breed successfully and the theft of each nest has a dramatic effect on the local population," added PC Thompson.

"We would ask walkers to be vigilant and to report anyone who is acting suspiciously close to where birds are nesting. Also, unwitting buyers could face fines of £5,000 per chick or up to two years in prison for their possession."

A new DNA testing technique offers hope that the missing birds could be identified. Developed by West Yorkshire Police last month, it provides detailed information about all birds of prey which are suspected to have been taken from the wild.

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