It’s not just in Malta that birds of prey are killed illegally, of course.
My nearest station is at Wellingborough, and because I am always early I get to do a few minutes birding from the station platform every now and then. Waxwing, a flock of them, is my ‘best’ bird from the station but Red Kites are the sightings that make me smile as I wait for an expensive train in to London.
I wonder whether it was one of the kites that I regularly see that was shot earlier in April (click here, here, here and here) and although picked up alive had to be euthanased just like that Montagu’s Harrier on Malta.
Who is wandering around the Northamptonshire countryside in April with a shotgun? It isn’t the shooting season for any bird species. Kids – crikey, I hope not, with a shotgun? Farmers? Who?
If you have any information then the RSPCA would love to hear from you on 0300 123 8018.
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A bit further east, I’ve seen a Red Kite with what appears to be a gunshot hole in the back of the wing, flying over Mid-Norfolk. Clearly there are people firing on Red Kites. Obviously, beyond that we’re in the realms of conjecture. But when you begin to narrow down means and motives, you’re left with a very small sector of society.