Stephen McClelland and his nieces and nephews mounted a rescue mission to ensure an injured Peregrine Falcon has a chance.

The bird is currently rehabilitating at the World of Owls centre in Randalstown. Peregrines are a protected species and bird experts say there are less than 100 known pairs of the animals in Northern Ireland.
The bird turned up in recent weeks at the Seacon side of Ballymoney.

Stephen told the Times: "My nephew phoned me saying there was a strange bird in the garden. I work half a mile away and was able to get down during a break. When I got there it looked like it was hurt.

"I thought it was a buzzard and it was holding its wing. We took it to Nigel Johnston the Riverside vet who examined it. World of Owls was then contacted and they said to bring it up to Randalstown and they said they could help it rehabilitate. That is where it is now and we hope it can make a recovery," said Stephen.

The peregrine is afforded the highest degree of legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.