Swans shot at Windsor

DURING the past few days 'snipers' have been using swans on the Thames at Windsor as target practice shooting them in the head and neck.

Twelve have now been shot, it has been discovered, by both air rifles and catapults, birds either having pellet holes from rifles or ball bearing holes from catapults.

Property of the Crown

These swans are the property of the Crown, with a number of the birds having to be put down by a vet having life threatening injuries.

All the swans were shot in the head and neck and it is believed that those responsible are targeting them with a high powered air rifle and a catapult firing steel ball bearings.

Separate attacks

To date there have been two separate attacks that have prompted local residents in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to join the police on the banks of the river to attempt to catch the people behind the shootings.

In the first attack four swans were shot, and later eight swans were shot. The ball bearing in one case shattered a cygnet's skull.