- guardian.co.uk, Thursday May 24 2001 01.35 BST
The gruesome find was made yesterday morning by walkers at the National Trust nature reserve at Marsden Bay, South Tyneside. The killer had used 73 kittiwakes to spell out the word death. A pigeon had been killed and placed next to the birds as a makeshift full stop. Another 10 dead kittiwakes - which are small gulls - were found on the beach and on ledges.
Peter Collins, the National Trust warden in the area, said: "This has to be the work of someone with a very sick mind. There have been problems with air guns in the past, but this has a definitely sinister element. It is the most disturbing and barbaric incident in more than 10 years."
He said the birds would have been sitting targets as they were protective of their nests and would be reluctant to move.
Last year, the kittiwake population in the area had increased by 300 birds to around 2,300 pairs. Mr Collins said efforts to conserve the species were not helped by idiots shooting them.
David Hirst, of the RSPB, said: "I find it unbelievable that these kind of barbaric acts can still take place."
He said anyone convicted of the offence could be fined up to £5,000 for each dead bird and/or face jail for up to six months under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
"I hope that the police will pursue the incident with the utmost vigour and that if anyone is convicted, the courts will deliver an appropriate sentence," he said.
The RSPB believe an air rifle was used to kill the birds. PC Bryn Jones, of Northumbria police, who was called to the scene, said it must have taken some time to kill these birds and he urged anyone with any information to contact the police immediately.
