(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A West Yorkshire Police wildlife officer has urged people to remember that "wildlife is protected for a reason" after a man shot and killed a starling with an air weapon.
PC CJ Newsome, a Kirklees Wildlife Crime Officer, shared details of the incident on social media after the person responsible was issued with an out-of-court disposal on Thursday, September 24.
According to the officer, the incident happened in West Yorkshire earlier this year when a starling was shot while perched on the roof of a house.
Although the bird was injured, it managed to fly into a neighbouring garden before dying in the hands of a resident who had been trying to help.
Man believed he could shoot any bird in his garden
PC Newsome said the man responsible believed he was entitled to shoot any bird that entered his garden.
However, she stressed that this was "simply not the case".
Wild birds, along with their nests and eggs, are protected by law, although some exceptions and licences exist for specific species and circumstances, such as preventing serious damage to crops or property.
The officer said that owning an air weapon does not give someone the right to shoot wildlife simply because it is on or around their property.
Officer issues update
Sharing an update on the case, PC Newsome said: "An out-of-court disposal was issued this afternoon, and the individual is no longer in possession of air weapons and, more importantly, there should not be a repeat."
Reflecting on the incident, she added: "As for the poor starling, it was probably doing nothing more than sitting on a rooftop, probably singing its little heart out, and picked the wrong roof to sing from."
The post was shared by West Yorkshire Police's Wildlife and Rural Crime team, and reminded the public that wildlife offences can be reported online or by calling 101.
Anyone witnessing a wildlife crime in progress is urged to call 999.