At the time it was unclear how the bird died, but post-mortem results are now back from the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme at Lancaster University, who have confirmed that it was shot.
Lincolnshire Police wildlife officer Nick Willey said: “It is unlikely that someone actually fired a shotgun in the Brayford Pool area so it could have been shot upstream and been carried by the current and we know that the carcass was in pretty good condition, so it hadn’t been dead long when it was found.
A peregrine falcon. Photo: Joe Kosack
“The post mortem has shown it was a female juvenile, less than a year old.
“We don’t think that it is one of the birds from the Cathedral but it is clear that this was a concerted effort to shoot and kill a rare and protected bird of prey which I find absolutely despicable and I hope somebody has enough sense to ring in with information to the offender or offenders.”
The peregrine is afforded the highest degree of legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
Breaking this law can lead to fines of up to £5,000 and a six-months prison sentence.
Senior Investigation Officer for the RSPB Duncan McNiven said: “It’s shocking that such a fantastic bird of prey has been gunned down like this not far from where hundreds of people have taken immense pleasure from watching them around Lincoln Cathedral.
“Unfortunately, peregrines continue to suffer sustained persecution at the hands of elements within the game keeping, pigeon fancying and falconry community which has resulted in the species recently being added to the National Wildlife Crime Unit’s wildlife crime priorities for 2011/12.
“The RSPB fully supports the police in its efforts to track down the perpetrators and we appeal to anybody with any knowledge of this despicable crime to come forward.”
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Protesters appealed to Lincoln councillors from across all parties to join them in a minute’s silence to honour the victims of the Israel-Hamas war, but none participated.
Organised by members of the Lincoln Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (Lincoln TUSC) and Lincoln Friends of Palestine, the vigil took place outside the Guildhall during Tuesday’s full council meeting, where attendees called on local representatives to take a moment out of their busy agenda to join them in solidarity.
A new driver who caused the deaths of two teenage friends just 28 days after passing her test was spared jail after a judge heard moving pleas from her victims’ families.
Lara Jensen, 20, from Grimsby, was taking a group of young friends to watch the sunset before they all went off to university when she misjudged a triangular junction and crossed in front of an oncoming car.
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