However, while the conservation groups suspect someone in the pigeon racing circle may have been responsible, this has been firmly denied by a representative of Glenarm HPS.

Peregrine surveyers from NIRSG discovered a live tethered pigeon beside the nest on the Dickeystown Road. This nest has been known to peregrine researchers since the 1950s and the body believes probably existed long before recording began.

NIRSG surveyers said that a single chick had fledged shortly before July 20 and was seen chasing and begging for food from the adult falcons. Later visitors found only the adult birds and the discovery of a tethered pigeon was made last week. They now suspect the young peregrine has been shot or poisoned.

Brendan Dunlop, part of the NIRSG monitoring team said: "The chick disappearance happened at the same time as the pigeon bait, which may have been used to lure the falcons close enough to be shot or may have been laced with poisonous chemicals".

Jim Wells, NIRSG chairman and peregrine researcher for over 30 years, condemned the loss, saying: "The fact that this activity has occurred at one of the longest known peregrine nests is devastating. The group has confirmed over 50 incidents of persecution during our peregrine studies and we suspect over a hundred more. There is no place in society for such illegal activity targeting raptors.

"We suspect these incidents are all linked to individuals within pigeon racing communities and their perception of peregrine falcon impacts on racing pigeons".

However, the claims have been firmly denied by a representative of the local pigeon racing fraternity.

"I can guarantee there's not a member of Glenarm HPS who would do a thing like that," the Glenarm man said.

"If a pigeon is found tethered then the automatic blame is on the pigeon men. Does anybody think about folk who hunt or farmers? There's no way any of our members would do a thing like that. Definitely not."
However, the incident has sparked a more widespread debate about the levels of birds of prey now living in the countryside.

The pigeon racer said the RSPB has a responsibility to make sure that it was not allowing birds of prey to overpopulate.
"Members of every club have lost young pigeons to birds of prey. I would say that in seven out of every ten times we would take birds out they would be hit by birds of prey. These are being released left, right and centre and other birds are suffering as a result. What about cuckoos and song thrushes? They are few and far between nowadays. Surely they have a right to survive too.

"It seems that the RSPB is able to guard birds of prey but people who keep pigeons have no way to guard their birds.

"If you ask any pigeon club they will tell you about the problems with birds of prey. We pay big money for breeding pigeons and a lot of effort in getting them right. We send pigeons to France and they get through England and Ireland and perhaps a couple of miles from home are attacked by birds of prey. It seems as if we have no way of protecting our sport and it is one of the reasons why pigeon racing is dying a death," he said.

The NIRSG and RSPB NI have been working together to look at the long-term trends in the peregrine population, and are concerned that recent research suggests a decline in the peregrine population may be linked to persecution. Dr James Robinson, Conservation Manager for RSPB Northern Ireland, said: "We welcome a meeting with pigeon racing associations in the autumn to discuss a way forward for addressing racing pigeon predation by peregrines".

Dr Marc Ruddock, a raptor researcher said: "We know peregrines kill some racing pigeons. The falcons cannot distinguish between wild and racing pigeons, but pigeons are not the only prey; peregrines eat a wide range of other birds. The killing or attempted killing of peregrine falcons is not the way to resolve the issue".

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating the incident and the tethered pigeon has been sent for forensic examination. This will include checking for the presence of poisonous chemicals. Police Service Wildlife Liaison Officer, Emma Meredith said: "Police are investigating a report that a live pigeon was tethered-down at the Glenarm peregrine site in order to attract larger birds of prey.