Buzzard shot down over Bishop's Cleeve
A bird of prey was shot down as it flew over Bishop’s Cleeve.
Wildlife rescuers were able to save the buzzard after it was rescued by a woman who spotted it lying injured on a footpath.
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Buzzard
She took it to Vale Wildlife Hospital in Beckford near Tewkesbury, where it is receiving treatment.
An X-ray revealed two pellets were stuck in the bird’s wing, which was fractured.
Martin Brookes, who works at the rescue centre, said: “It is illegal to shoot any bird of prey, so someone has committed an offence.
“It was grounded and a bird like that is vulnerable to predators.”
Martin said the wounds on the bird’s wing were causing it a problem, so they had been strapped down to stop them flapping.
“There are a couple of pellets left in the wing because the surgery to remove them can do more harm than leaving them there,” he said.
He added that the buzzard was making progress, but was not “out of the woods”.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds this week sent a petition to the Government about bird of prey shootings.
Gloucestershire spokesman, Tony Whitehead, said: “It is a practice we want to see stopped. It is against the law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
“If you come across an injured bird, take photos with a camera or mobile phone and report it to the police. However, the public do need to take caution when approaching an injured bird in case it has been poisoned.”
32 Comments
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by julie, cheltenham
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 9:05PM
“Well aren't they just pathetic. Mindless thug/s!! Poor bird thankfully saved by vigilant woman.”
by JBNTS, Stroud(ish)
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 8:16PM
“Annabelle
From which part of my post did you possibly get the impression that I considered discharging shotguns at protected birds of prey in any way justifiable? It isn't - ever! I simply commented that as demises go it's preferable to a drawn out and painful one through carburofan poisoning.”
by Mikeyb, Bishops Cleeve
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 6:40PM
“The rubbish who pulled the trigger is no better than the vermin that the Buzzard feeds on. Someone must have a clue who he is- No doubt at some point he'll boast about it to his cronies in the pub. Get his name out in the open, his picture in the Echo and shame him, if indeed such a moron is capable of feeling any shame!”
by Caroline Gould, Vale Wildlife Hospital, Beckford
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 6:05PM
“Luckily, birds of prey do not breed at this time of year & so there is no risk of youngsters starving in this case.”
by Annabelle, chelt
Wednesday, February 03 2010, 5:28PM
“Just because the shot gun is a so called 'more humane' form of killing a bird of prey it doesn't justify shooting it. In fact no justification for the use of any form of persceution of any bird of of prey.
These birds have a specalist natural species that they hunt but if they cannot find enough of those species in a given area, then they are often versetile enough to hunt other special such as grouse or perhaps pheasants orother ground nesting birds.
After all they would use their beaks to pluck feathers. It is worth noting that raptors breed though late autumn winter and will therefore be feeding young at this time of year. As the shot conitained lead is is possible that some lead passed into bird's system before it was found so if the buzzard doesn't survive it's young my or may not survive depending on their age.
These birds have more nutural right to these things than us. Just because the farmer uses defense of livestock as a from for their crime it just mean the have the power or right to do it. Game birds are not livestock I the same way as chickens therefore farmers sould accept that they may take phesants partridges or grouse.
Even in the bird does survive it may not live the wild agains.
I am not a bird watcher but I do watch a lot of natural history documentaries”