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.

Thursday, 13 June 2019

RSPCA launches appeal after heron shot in skull and neck


07/06/2019

An appeal has been made by the RSPCA to find the person responsible for shooting a Grey Heron in the skull and neck with an airgun outside Old Trafford stadium in Greater Manchester. Despite being rushed away for emergency veterinary treatment, the bird had to be put to sleep to end any suffering.

The injured bird was found in a puddle of blood in the middle of Railway Road by Old Trafford, home of mid-table Premier League football club Manchester United, on Sunday 2 June. RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) Steve Wickham was sent to the incident and could see blood coming from the bird's head. Having swiftly been taken to a vet, an x-ray revealed that the heron had been shot in the skull and in the neck. 

The bird also had a broken leg so the vet decided to put it to sleep. Wickham said: "The bird was alive and stood in a pool of his own blood when I picked him up but I didn’t know what had caused the injuries until he was x-rayed. He must have been suffering terribly with severe wounds to the skull and neck. 


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