Really sad news :-(

It gets worse. A third Osprey has vanished from Rutland Water just when it should be in "good provider" mode.  Shooting is suspected and this male Osprey vanished in approximately the same location that its missing predecessors did.

Police are investigating.

KatTai said:

Just got a text from my friend - she has been watching a pair of swans for years and they had six cygnets two weeks ago.  She text me today to tell me all six cygnets AND both parents have been shot dead with an air rifle :-(  There are some sick, twisted people out there and it is high time air rifles were under the same restrictions as other guns!  People shouldn't be able to pick up an air rifle like a toy waterpistol.

Hi KatTai. 

I read this in the paper today and it makes me so bloody angry, what the hell is it with these people??? if they want to shoot things Join the Army....having said that they wouldn't have the guts to join the Army as they are just bloody cowards and would Crap themselves if faced with a real life situation involving guns being pointed at THEM instead of them fireing at innocent wildlife !! 

As far as I'm concerned it's about time this country brought back national service to teach these gutless little twerps some respect.

Hi KatTai

The thing that worries me most what type of person gets enjoyment from doing something like this.

Robert

There seems to be little control on the sale of air guns if they are under a certain power yet these lower powered guns still seem capable of doing a lot of damage.Back in the days when I did a little shooting, both for the pot and target shooting,the regulations were quite strict and I would expect them to be even stricter nowadays,maybe the sale of them should be banned all together but that would affect those who wish to use the gun for legal purpose.

Hi all

It is very sad when we have idiots like this.  Only last week we had 2 starlings nearly fledged, the parent was on it's own as the other one had got killed last Friday.  

On Saturday the adult was feeding them from our table, then the next day I did not se them.

My husband noticed and pointed out to me on Tuesday that 3 starlings had flown on to our roof, then flew over to the nest, which was in the eaves of their roof, all 3 looked in one by one then flew off.

Today I noticed they had a strip of wood which now covers where the chicks were.  i am livid to think that a family would do this

Luckily we do have 3 chicks being fed by their parents.

Jenny

There are some horrible people in this world...

Air gun ownership needs bringing under the same control as other guns - people shouldn't be able to get hold of them so easily, and if they get hold of them illegally then that's an additional crime they can be done for in court!  

Have to question the mental stablity of those that do things like that too, certainly don't think they should be left loose with the rest of society!

yes a neighbour of mine takes pot shots at the regular heron, it is far less regular now. Although my local wildlife officer has now said to just call the normal police if I see him with the airgun, as he is still behind houses.

They should be locked up.IMO a life is a life regardless of the species!!

I find stories like this infuriating i also read in the news when we were off air that a red kite had been shot dead (sorry cant remember where ) it makes my blood boil