Anglers' barbaric attacks on birds

INCENSED wildlife warden Mick Wright told today of the barbaric scare tactics at a Suffolk lake where two protected cormorants have been found dead.Police are investigating the death of one of the birds, which it is alleged was shot.

By Richard Cornwell

INCENSED wildlife warden Mick Wright told today of the barbaric scare tactics at a Suffolk lake where two protected cormorants have been found dead.

Police are investigating the death of one of the birds, which it is alleged was shot.

The other, found with a broken wing, has been taken for a post mortem.

It is not known how the birds died or who was responsible.

Loom Pit Lake at Trimley St Martin is the subject of a bitter row between bird-lovers and anglers over bird-scaring – with the wildlife enthusiasts determined not to let the fishermen off the hook.

Mr Wright, warden at Trimley Marshes Nature Reserve, witnessed the bird-scaring, which he described as horrific and something that would live with him forever.

He said: "The estuary was quiet and peaceful, the sun had set and it was almost dark when one of the fishing club members set off a rocket, which exploded with an almighty bang over the centre of the lake.

"The noise from the birds as they simultaneously exploded out of the surrounding woodland and from the lake was thunderous.

"The firework had succeeded in disturbing the entire cormorant and egret populations from their night-time roost."

FULL DISTURBING STORY IN TONIGHT'S EVENING STAR