Suspected poisoning of protected birds

Police help to recover Red Kite birds in Katesbridge.

Police have helped rescue three Red Kite birds in the Katesbridge area, which are suspected to have been poisoned.

On June 3 a member of the public reported concerns about a possible poisoning incident to Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who subsequently contacted local police to request their assistance with recovering the birds.

Officers accompanied the PSNI Wildlife Officer and representatives joined with the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group (NIRSG) and (RSPB) to recover the birds.

A Red Kite adult female and two chicks were found dead and recovered from a tree.

Sergeant Pollock, Banbridge Response, said: “We need the public’s support to help us safeguard these birds and other animals which are protected under the Wildlife (NI) order 1985.

“Red Kites are a protected species.

“Four years ago the RSPB released 80 of these birds in Northern Ireland as part of a reintroduction initiative.

“It is believed that there are currently 60 Red Kites in the province and many of them are nesting in the South Down area.