Laser shone at peregrines 'could have been fatal'

The laser incident was caught on the nest's webcam

A laser shone into a bird box containing nesting peregrine falcons "could have been fatal", a conservationist said.

The incident at St Peter and St Paul's church in Cromer on Saturday evening caused the female peregrine to flee her nest and chick, and not return for hours.

Chris Skipper, from the Cromer Peregrine Project, said if the chick had been younger and more reliant on its mother, "God forbid what could have happened".

Norfolk Police said it was reviewing webcam footage captured from inside the bird box.

Peregrines are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and it is a criminal offence to disturb nesting birds.

Mr Skipper said it was the first time a laser has been shone at peregrines in Cromer

Mr Skipper said: "She [the female peregrine] stood on the chick as she took flight. Thankfully it was only on its tail, but if it had been on its head it could have been bad news.

"And if it had happened a couple of weeks back when the chick was a lot younger and its mother was gone a few hours, it could have been fatal."

The female laid her first egg of the season in March, eight days earlier than last year.

However, one egg failed and one chick died leaving just one chick, Mr Skipper said.

The Cromer Peregrine Project was set up in 2018 and every year the birds nest at the church, attracting thousands of visitors.

Volunteers and the church's cafe described the incident as "mindless"

Christine Lockwood, 72, who works at the volunteer-led church cafe, said: "It's just a mindless, senseless act. Why would someone want to do that to a bird?

"They're very precious birds and they're under conservation, so they're very sensitive and anything can affect them."

Ray Loten, 74, who also works at the cafe, added: "I really can't understand it. I'm no expert, but the thing that bothers me is a laser shone at anybody can damage their eyesight.

"I just hope the truth comes out."

Norfolk Police said it was trying to determine where the laser was shone from and anyone with information should contact the force.

"I'd like to think it was just somebody messing about with a laser pen," Mr Skipper added.

"I'd like to think it wasn't aimed at the birds as such, but until the person's caught we'll never know."