After owls, U.K. government figures identify kestrels, common buzzards, and peregrine falcons as other raptors most likely to end up as roadkill. Leggett agrees, based on the evidence of birds people bring to his studio.
He said: "If people find a dead bird of prey, they'd rather keep it than throw it in the dustbin. They all say the same thing: They want this beautiful animal preserved. Taxidermy gives them that opportunity."
He says commissions often come from people who spend a lot of time on the road, such as sales reps.
Other birds come from animal rescue centers, where many road causalities are taken but subsequently die. Government scientists are another source, once they have tested roadkill raptors for traces of organochlorines, harmful compounds found in insecticides which tend to accumulate along food-chains.
Contrary to people's perception of roadkill as being horribly squashed, Leggett says most birds aren't hit in direct collisions but caught by traffic turbulence and end up on the road verge.
"They get knocked to the ground by the force of a vehicle going past and are often hardly harmed physically, but die from shock," he added. "They might have the odd broken bone but that's all. From a taxidermists' point of view they're perfect."
Harry Potter
Leggett noticed a big increase in demand for his owls, which retail from £200 (U.S. $365) upwards, following the success of children's author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter stories. "People would phone me saying, 'Can I have an owl please? Preferably an eagle owl or a snowy owl.' I would point out you don't get many of those lying around British roads, so they settled for a barn or tawny owl."
Unfortunately, in the real world, owls don't possess magical powers. Though the barn owl is a most haunting bird, especially when seen hunting low over meadows at dusk, on slow, noiseless wings, it's defenseless against the thundering highways.
The Barn Owl Trust says the bird is particularly vulnerable on major roads because they have wide verges and embankments dominated by rough grassland. This habitat attracts many small mammals, including the field vole, the barn owl's favorite prey.
In its recent report, the BOT outlines measures it believes could significantly reduce the impact of road traffic on barn owls.
BOT spokeswoman Sue Booth said: "We've recommended changes in agricultural policy that would encourage farmers to provide rough grassland away from major roads. And in order to obstruct low-level flying across [highways] we've suggested putting continuous hedges or closely spaced trees adjacent to the sides of the roads."
Other recommendations include provision of nest boxes away from main roads and changes to government transport policy to reduce the need for additional major roads.
"It's also about raising awareness," Booth added. "For instance, we want highways maintenance staff to keep a record of the road casualties they witness so we can get a more accurate picture of what's going on."
Taxidermists such as Leggett already compile and submit their own lists of roadkill raptors. So while they might be stuffing these birds, they may also be helping towards their conservation.
If this means eventually freeing up some room in his freezer, David Leggett would be the last to complain.
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