Gruesome attacks on birds of prey (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Gruesome attacks on birds of prey

A BIRDWATCHER was shocked to discover the mutilated carcass of a bird of prey in Fairford this week.

Roger Smith, 63, who lives in Bettertons Close, found the headless buzzard while out with his dog in a field near his housing estate.

The gruesome find, which is the second such discovery made by Mr Smith in recent months, was promptly reported to Fairford police.

Last summer the Fairford resident stumbled across a sparrowhawk in the same part of the town. Again the protected bird was decapitated.

He said: "It's against the law to kill birds of prey and this is two I have come across. Something has got to be done if people are going to keep doing this.

"I shall be on the lookout for gunmen as buzzards are my favourite bird and this one was just left in a hedge.

"It was killed deliberately, but not recently - it had been there a few weeks."

Rural beat officer George Lager has made the police's stance with regard to this sort of killing absolutely clear.

He said in the past birds of prey have been targeted by gamekeepers because they are known to kill pheasants and other controlled animals.

He said: "It is a serious offence and people will be arrested if we can find out who is doing it. This is just old-fashioned prejudice against birds of prey.

"Anyone who knows about the illegal killing of birds should contact the police."

The Hawk Conservancy Trust, based in Hampshire, has also criticised the killings and reiterated the fact that hawks are protected species.

Spokesman Andrew Hinton said: "I haven't heard of anything going on like this at all - it's not common, although you do get the odd incident.

"Killing birds of prey is illegal and people certainly shouldn't be doing it."

Mark Robson, Gloucestershire police's wildlife crime officer, told the Standard two buzzards were killed in the Forest of Dean nearly two years ago.

He said: "We have had buzzards killed before. It's thought they were killed for the pheasant and grouse shoots, but there is no evidence the birds of prey are a problem and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds would say the same."

Officer Robson also encouraged people who come across dead birds of prey to get in touch sooner rather than later.

He said: "We need to be told and it will be treated like any other crime."

To report the unlawful killing of a bird of prey call Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234. For more information about hawks visit www.hawk-conservancy.org