Seven wild peregrine falcon chicks found during police swoop on home in Berwickshire
A loaded rifle was also discovered lying on the bedroom floor
Last updated 15th Jan 2024
It's emerged seven wild peregrine falcon chicks were found at a home in Berwickshire by police investigating concerns over eggs missing from nearby nesting sites.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard officers were initially told they were from two adult birds kept in an outside aviary, but that DNA evidence proved that not to be the case.
Forty-eight-year-old Timothy Hall - who has been described as a part-time game-keeper - and his 23-year-old son Lewis, admitted being involved in the illegal trade of the protected species following the swoop in Lamberton in May 2021.
The court heard they sold the peregrine falcons - which are highly-sought after in the Middle East, where they are used for racing - for sums of up to £25,700.
Procurator fiscal Iain Batho said: “On the 11th of May 2020, Lewis Hall registered three separate clutches of eggs - consisting of 14 chicks - to the Animal Health and Plant Agency. He gave the hatch date and details of who their shared parents were.”
But he then declared that each of the three clutches - allegedly laid by the same female falcon - had hatched 22 days apart which is biologically impossible.
Mr Batho said that Hall was able to obtain the official certificates meaning he “was able to sell to legitimate buyers”.
An examination of their records showed that Hall had registered several chicks using parent birds that were either already dead or belonging to a third party.
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Timothy Hall also admitted possession of seven wild birds - contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act - and failing to properly secure a rifle in his possession, which was found lying on a bedroom floor loaded.
In addition, he pled guilty to keeping nine birds in enclosures that were too small and with inadequate perches.
The court heard the aviaries were littered with soiled bedding and that none of the birds had access to fresh water for drinking and bathing - which was blamed for their poor feather condition.
Sentence has been deferred until next month for more information on how much the pair benefitted from the enterprise.
Sheriff Peter Paterson said: “These are very serious matters. I want to know what’s happened to the money. They claim they have limited assets and income.
“According to the background report for Lewis Hall, and I quote, ‘it’s clear these criminal actions have been carried out over a lengthy period of time and with great scale’. I will be informing HMRC and I’ll ask them to investigate any further charges.”
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