‘A world first’ in research is the end result of Fermanagh woman Helen McMorris’s final year undergraduate dissertation project at Abertay University in Scotland.

Forensic scientists at Abertay - including vital team member Helen from Ballinamallard, who played a leading role - have identified the most efficient way of recovering fingerprints from the feathers and eggs of birds of prey - publishing the world’s first academic research paper on the subject. To have her undergraduate research published in ‘Science and Justice’ is described as “a huge honour” by Helen, who admitted this week: “I never would have thought to see my name in print as ‘first author’ in such a prestigious journal.

Although there has been anecdotal evidence of fingerprints being recovered from feathers before, this is the first time that a tried and tested method looking specifically at birds of prey has been established and the results published.

A representative from Abertay University points out that “in the UK all wild birds, their nests and their eggs are protected by law. However, wildlife crime is on the rise: since 2006, 2,578 incidents of bird crime involving or targeting wild birds of prey have been reported to the RSPB.” Shooting, poisoning and trapping are the most frequent methods used. Additionally - despite the illegal collection of the eggs of birds of prey being in decline - the practice continues.

Helen, a former pupil of Devenish College, Enniskillen, who studied Forensic Science at Abertay, explained that she had 12 weeks to work on the project. “I undertook the entire practical work myself but was guided and supported by my project supervisor, Dennis Gentles – a retired scene of crime officer who now lectures at Abertay.” Dennis explained that “there are some surfaces where recovering fingerprints remains elusive - human and animal skin, for example. And, until now, feathers were on that list.

“We had heard anecdotally that it had been achieved, and were keen to see if we could develop a method that produced consistent results and could be used by the police in an investigation.

“So, what we have done is establish which fingerprint powders would be most effective at developing fingermarks on the flight feathers of birds of prey.” Helen pointed out: “We haven’t developed a brand new fingerprint recovery technique but instead have used all existing methods available to us to find the most effective, which in terms of the feathers was green and red magnetic fluorescent powders – not commonly used in day to day crime scene examination. For fingerprint recovery to work, you need a colour contrast between the mark and the surface. We were working with feathers from red kites, buzzards, sparrowhawks and various types of eagle, including the golden eagle which is well known and loved by everyone, and these feathers varied in colour from brown to black and sometimes even white so contrast was an issue. The fluorescent powders glow under specialist lighting and therefore stand out from the background, regardless of its colour.” She pointed out: “We didn’t always recover an identifiable fingerprint on the feathers but what we can now prove is exact areas of direct human contact with the bird, pinpointing precise areas on the body of the bird that could be swabbed for DNA as the powders used do not degrade DNA. It would then be hoped that a DNA profile could be recovered and the individual responsible identified.” She noted that “in relation to the bird of prey eggs, previous research, again undertaken at Abertay, had found fingerprints could be successfully recovered on food items such as hens eggs using black magnetic powder – one of the most common powders used by crime scene examiners at house break-ins, etc.” She acknowledged: “It proved just as effective on the bird of prey eggs.” Helen, daughter of Howard and Valerie McMorris, said “it is hoped that this research will provide wildlife crime officers with another string to their bow when it comes to trying to form that vital link between the dead bird of prey and the perpetrator.” She mentioned that they have now provided “a way of confirming human contact with the bird via the recovered finger marks which could in turn be swabbed for DNA, leading to the identification of the individual responsible.” Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations at RSPB Scotland, says “this work carried out by Abertay University is a great step forward in the development of forensic techniques and can only assist in the fight against those who threaten some of our most iconic raptors.” Full details of the methods used are in the research paper, which has been published in the journal Science & Justice and is available online: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1355030614001695