Buzzard shot near Audlem

A cyclist on the Audlem to Nantwich road found a dead buzzard on Wednesday just on the Cheshire side of the border near Swanbach. The bird had been shot.

Audlem Online has been asked to put out an appeal for information or witnesses who should contact the police. The killing of birds of prey is illegal yet persecution still goes on although, according to the RSPB, more often by poisoning than shooting.

The killing of all birds of prey was made illegal in Britain in 1954 when many raptors were in severe danger of disappearing from Britain.

Buzzards have seen a spectacular spread across the country in the past decade or so. They were rarely, indeed never seen, in the Audlem area as recently as the early 1990's but now are seen overhead or perched prominently on fences and in trees every day. They may even visit gardens. The buzzard is the most numerous raptor in Europe.

Curiously, a pair of Goosanders were found shot last year in a similar location to the dead buzzard. These razorbill ducks are occasional visitors to the area and can be seen on the canal although they disappear pretty quickly once spotted. 

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