Protected bird of prey found dead amidst Council maintenance work

A protected bird of prey has been found dead at a park in Maghera where Mid Ulster District Council’s contractors had been cutting trees and hedges recently.
A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that the bird had been found dead.
“Police received a report of a dead sparrowhawk in the Tobermore Road area of Maghera on Wednesday, 6th March. Enquiries are ongoing.”
The woman who found the dead sparrowhawk says she has been regularly inspecting the work carried out by the council and has documented everything through photos and videos.
She is worried about the future of Maghera Park, near the former Maghera High School where the works took place.
“We suspected a wildlife crime,” she said.
“I examined the bird as best as I could with a wee stick, I did not lift it. I just looked, there were no major injuries.
“The post-mortem has to come back so I can't say what happened to that bird.”
However, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, all birds of prey, amongst other birds, their nests, and eggs are protected at all times by special penalties under Schedule 1 Part 1 of the Northern Ireland Wildlife Laws.
The Police took the bird for a post-mortem examination to better understand the cause of death.
It was found in a zone where Mid Ulster District Council’s contractors were cutting trees and edges and under DAERA’s Cross-Compliance rules, trimming, laying or cutting hedges, trees or scrub is forbidden from March 1 to August 31 due to the beginning of the nesting season.
The simple facts of cutting hedges after March 1 can be considered a criminal offence under Wildlife (NI) Order 1985.
According to the woman who found the dead sparrowhawk, Mid Ulster District Council’s contractors cut part of the trees and hedges on March 2, 2024.
“The Council is aware of this matter and is liaising with the relevant authorities to investigate what happened,” said a spokesperson from Mid Ulster District Council.
“Maintenance work, which has now been stopped to allow for the investigation, was being undertaken on the site, in accordance with the relevant legislation, and informed and led by the appropriate bird breeding and pre-nesting inspection surveys that have been carried out, as well as an ecologist remaining on-site working alongside the contractors to approve the continuing progression of the works with due regard to the existing ecology.”