As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Wednesday 4 May 2016

Red kite shot in 'shocking act of cruelty' in North Yorkshire

28 April 2016

A protected bird of prey found shot in a field was killed in a "shocking act of cruelty", police have said.

The red kite was discovered injured by a walker on farmland around Nidd, near Harrogate, on Saturday.

North Yorkshire Police said it had been shot multiple times while it was flying and had to be put down by a vet because "its wing was so severely damaged".

It is the second rare bird to have been shot in the county within the last month.

An adult female red kite was found injured at Low Marishes, near Malton, on 25 March and was treated at a rescue centre.

Red kites are protected under schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and anyone found killing one can face up to six months in jail.

Officers said the rare bird had survived the shooting but was unable to fly. It was found by the walker two days after it had been shot in the chest and underside of its wing.

PC Gareth Jones said: "Red kites are majestic birds that mainly feed on carrion and pose no threat to game birds, farmed animals or pets. It has taken many years to re-introduce red kites after their extinction from the UK by persecution.

"People in Harrogate have become used to seeing red kites soaring above the town and will be shocked by this meaningless and cruel act.

"I would ask members of the public who were in the areas of Nidd, Brearton and Scotton on Thursday or Friday last week to contact North Yorkshire Police if they have any information that could assist the investigation."

There are about 1,000 red kites in England.



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