Scops Owl shot for singing too loudly
The owl died from a single gunshot wound (© Birdlife Austria)
The dead Scops Owl was found by children in their garden in the district of Neunkirchen (Lower Austria).
Officials were called to investigate the noise by a resident who was annoyed at the ‘loud’ singing. During this inspection shots were heard to ring out. No body was found at the time and the bird was not heard to sing again.
On Friday 8th May children found the dead bird at the base of a tree.
"That a weapon is immediately used because a harmless bird is singing, shocked me a lot, ”says Johannes Hohenegger, bird of prey expert at BirdLife Austria.
He added “It is particularly painful as Scops Owl is a rare breeding bird in Lower Austria”
The police are now investigating the crime.
15 May 2020
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