This summer a Red-footed Falcon, a globally Near Threatened raptor, spent a month at Chatterley Whitfield Colliery in Staffordshire. A scarce annual visitor to Britain this beautiful bird was unusually confiding, giving wonderful views - and much joy - to the large number of people who went to see it. On the 24 November the RSPB released the awful news that it had been found shot in Cambridgeshire. They are offering a £1000 reward for information about the shooting.

We applaud the RSPB's response, and want to raise even more to encourage anyone with info to come forward. All raptors are - in theory - protected but they are suffering from illegal persecution. Across the UK they are being poisoned, trapped, and shot. Britain should be a safe-haven for all birds of prey - including rare extra-limital individuals like this Red-footed Falcon.

Immediately. If the money is paid to reward information about this crime it will send a powerful message that all of us who care about birds and wildlife are united in saying that crimes like this are unacceptable and that the perpetrator/s will be caught. If the money is unclaimed, BAWC will use it to promote their 3Rs campaign – helping everyone to Recognise, Record, and Report wildlife crime.

Any funds raised here will be added to the RSPB's £1000 reward for information about this scandalous killing. If the reward is not paid out, any money we raise will be donated to Birders Against Wildlife Crime (BAWC). This voluntary group have organised events such as Hen Harrier Day and the 'Eyes In The Field' Wildlife Crime Conference, and our donation will help them continue to raise awareness about raptor persecution and all other wildlife crimes.