A 3-year old male Peregrine Falcon ringed in Sweden was captured south of Casablanca by poachers on 18 December 2015. It was released by Karim Rousselon after negotiations with the captors.
Un Faucon mâle pèlerin d’origine suédoise de 3 ans capturé par des braconniers le 18/12/2015 au sud de Casablanca. Remis en liberté par Karim Rousselon après négociations. Les infos ont été transmises au Swedish Bird Ringing Centre.
After communicating with the Swedish Bird Ringing Centre, Karim got the following response:
The Peregrine male CX was born in captivity in 2012 and released by hacking technique (at the age of 35 days) on a water tower in Västerås, a city located some 100 km west of Stockholm.
In 2013, he returned and seemed to set up territory in the city. He often perched on the tower of the local cathedral (= the tallest building in town).
Next year – 2014 – he attracted a one-year old female. They tried to breed in a nest box we put up on another tall building in the harbour area but they failed. Maybe the female was too young.
In 2015, they both returned but a 2nd female appeared and took the place of the young lady. She and the male CX successfully reared 3 young. This was the first breeding of Peregrine falcon in central Sweden for 60 years. The female is spending the winter on the breeding site, I see her most days.
It is very interesting for us to hear the news about CX from you.
To learn more about the introduction project of the Peregrine Falcons in Västerås, central Sweden, see this article (in Swedish but easily understood with translation): Så blev Västerås till slut med pilgrimsfalkar.
You can also read about the story of this bird (also in Swedish) here: Svensk historisk pilgrimsfalk fångad och frisläppt i Marocko.
Poaching in Morocco:
While the situation is not as bad as in some eastern Mediterranean countries, poaching – killing and taking of birds and other protected animals – in Morocco is nevertheless still exist. Here are a few examples:
- French satellite-tracked Montagu’s Harrier shot in Fquih Ben Salah region.
- Eurasian Spoonbill ringed in The Netherlands shot by a hunter in Kenitra.
- Griffon Vulture shot by hunters in Azilal region.
