19 June 2019 09:33
CONCERNS have been raised after people were seen on a webcam apparently interfering with puffin burrows at Sumburgh Head late on Monday night.
Viewers of the popular ‘puffin cam’ appeared to see a couple of people with torches climb over the wall at the Sumburgh lighthouse towards the nesting birds.
A third person was also seemingly captured on camera staying put behind the wall.
Voices could be heard on the webcam footage as the individuals were just metres away from audio recording equipment.
The incident happened at around 11pm.
The RSPB is aware of the footage, while local police are keen to hear from anyone with information about the identity of the people and their intentions.
Officers also reminded people that tampering with birds can be an offence.
All wild birds in Great Britain are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Andy Steven, who runs the Shetland Webcams website, said he watched the incident live and checked with the RSPB to see if there was anything “official” happening.
“The activity did look planned and suspicious with three people involved,” he said.
“They did not appear to realise they were being streamed live and they were tampering with the puffin burrows just a few metres from our sound recording head, so their voices were captured too.”
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