04/16/2007

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POLICE wildlife crime officers were yesterday investigating the discovery of the body of a protected buzzard, killed by a shotgun, on a farm near Montrose.

The body of the bird of prey was found in woodland at Spittlemyre Farm, near St Cyrus. X-ray tests have now established that the bird had been shot, possibly in December.

Constable Dave MacKinnon, a wildlife crime officer with Grampian Police, said: "I am keeping an open mind and do not suspect the land owner.

"The bird may not have been fatally wounded by the gun shot injury and may have been ground walking prior to its death.

People convicted of illegally killing a buzzard face a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment or fines up £5,000.

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