WHAT WE DO
Nest Guarding
ESPA offers on-site nest guarding assistance with specially selected and trained security officers performing both covert and overt (deterrent) surveillance services to vulnerable eyries in all four nations of the United Kingdom.
A complete site survey is offered in the first instance, covering capacity needs, identifying risks and threats, and their mitigation. The closing output will be a full Security Needs Assessment document that includes advisories and will dictate any further intervention.
In the UK, the primary species we guard are peregrine falcons, ospreys, golden eagles, and sea eagles. ESPA has considerable surveillance expertise in this field and uses high-tech thermal imaging and night vision, covert infrared camera traps, live feed remote surveillance cameras, concealed alarms, and other technologies to counter criminality. We work closely with local constabularies and other partners to counter raptor crime.
In the 2021 nesting season, ESPA guarded five peregrine eyries, and all successfully fledged.
For a nest guarding consultation please contact: info@speciesprotection.com
The Threat
The recent resurgence in peregrine egg and chick theft to supply the falconry market in the Middle East is staggering. It is believed many wild eggs are laundered through several legally registered but rouge breeders. Sadly, due to government cuts in the early 2000s, critical elements of the raptor registration scheme were disassembled, notably the scrapping of the captive-bred, bird of prey logbook system. Regrettably, this has undone much of the advantage in current crime detection techniques such as DNA testing. More than 700 captive-bred peregrine falcons are reared each year in the UK, hundreds of which are exported to the Middle East. Traffickers are exploiting the logbook loophole, and until tighter legislation is implemented, the threat to British peregrine falcons remains high.
Without protection, peregrines and the other raptor species are at risk to egg collectors, vandalism, and targeted persecution through misguided and outdated dogma.
Technology and training
ESPA advisors provide consultancy advice on contemporary technologies available to increase nest site security, capture evidence, and maintain boundary integrity.
ESPA offers wildlife custodians on-site and residential nest guarding courses, covering asset protection, covert and overt surveillance, crime scene management, and site security.
For information on nest guarding courses, get in touch with us on info@speciesprotection.com.
