Bird killer

[Breezy23]

Some b*****d shot a crow off my roof this morning. Heard a shot and this crow flew/fluttered down and then promptly keeled over in next doors climbing rose bush, blood dripping down the foliage. Whilst the crows aren't my favourite as they pinch the bread put out for the smaller birds, and I do shoo them, no way would I ever condone shooting them.

I have found on the internet that all birds and animals are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Even pest species can only be shot by "authorised persons".

We are in a built up area, so it could be a human next time or somebody's pet. Any suggestions as to what I could or should do. Would any of the powers that be even be interested. Should I see what happens tomorrow when the birds come down, thought I knew all the neighbours, now everyone is suspect.

[Snappy]

I live near a farm where there are regularly crows shot dead and left by the road. Yesterday i found a lot of feathers on the grass and a few feet away lay a pigeon with its head cut off and lying next to it!!

[noxlumos]

Hi, Can you have a look at it and find out what it was shot with? Was it a small air rifle pellet or something more sinister, as the local plod will have info on anyone with a firearms licence and be interested if they have discharged a gun in a public place. I'm not mad keen on kiling anything just for fun, it's not morally sound to me, don't mind if you eat it, but to kill for killings sake is just pointless, so sorry about your crow.

[Breezy23]

Hi Noxlumos,

My next door neighbour was going to get her son to retrieve it this evening. I was wondering if an airgun would make enough damage to cause blood to drip from the bird so maybe it was something more sinister. Bird is stuck in rosebush about 8 foot up, happened just before I had to leave for work otherwise I would have retrieved it as my neighbour doesn't have the stomach to do so. I will see if it's still there when I get home, if so I'll take a look.

[WendyS]

Crows arn't my favourite birds either but they have to live too and at the moment they also have their own babies to feed so I think that was a pretty diabolical act. As noxlumos suggests, if you still have the bird I would take it to the police.It could contain evidence of what it was shot with and your local police should have evidence of who has a firearms licence. As we seem to be living in an increasing gun culture and you live in a residential area I would also be getting together with your neighbours to protest to the police as there is a danger of a child or adult being accidentally injured.

[hammerman]

Now i love crows.....they're entertaining ******* and should be left alone.

As mentioned, take the bird to the police and make a complaint....it is still an offence to let off an air rifle in public under the firarms act and can carry a 10 year prison sentance. I'm pretty certain that the police will treat any firearms offences very seriously.

Good luck

[Rabelais]

An authorised person just means someone with permission of the land owner. Which, if you are certain it was on your land, would be you. We has crows building a nest in our chimney last month and I nearly had to resort to shooting them, but through dint of patience (and not having a fire after the children nearly succumbing to CO poisoning) and spending a daft sum of money I had all the pots recovered and two bin liners of material removed. It's a shame the squirrels in the attic could not have been dealt with so magnanimously.
This could be the actions of the corvocidal manic that might, as you suggest be, be a danger to your neighbourhood or a child experimenting with a new toy, but it might also be somebody who just needed to shoot a crow. I would suggest some polite but precise discussions with the neighbours might be called for first to find out which. Certainly before wasting the time of the police.

Mr Simon Harding says it's otherwise fine to shoot a crow. See
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/regulat/form s/cons_man/wlf100087.pdf />

[ugly_bob]

You can only shoot the listed birds in order to conserve others. Doesn't sound like this was the case - �5000 fine and/or 6 months in jail max penalty

[Rabelais]

Oops you quite right if you kill them you are covered by this law http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/regulat/forms/cons_man/wlf100088.pdf

[Rabelais]

Oh and this one

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/regulat/form s/cons_man/wlf18.pdf

[Cetti]

This is serious Breezy as this 'person' is not authorized to kill Pests and therefore committing an offence under the Firearms Act. Not only that but on private property (yours) which is another offence.

Defra is a good site for information but this one is very clear and easy to read. Do contact the Police as it must be terrifying not knowing if or when this imbecile could strike again. Please let us know the outcome if you can.

[Breezy23]

Bird had already been disposed of, another neighbour had assisted, but they were out last eve so no chance to enquire about extent of injury. Have spoken to significant neighbours who will also keep a look out.

Discussed with local CID friend who, whilst confirming it is against the law, did say that realistically I have no chance of local police even bothering.

Now have camera ready, when birds come down will be doing my own Neighbourhood Watch. Have been told that with photographic evidence and witnesses already involved may enable something to be done.

We have our suspicions as to property which may be involved, however guess that nowadays these things can travel a fair distance so could even be road behind us, it does have clear view over bungalow opposite.

Will wait and see, hopefully it was a one off, the crows were a tad noisy yesterday.

Thanks to all for responding.

[ruthann58]

could the rspca look into it