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| Twitchers accused of bird's death | Twitchers accused of bird's death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A complaint that a group of twitchers "hounded" a rare starling to death will not be investigated, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has said. | A complaint that a group of twitchers "hounded" a rare starling to death will not be investigated, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has said. |
| It comes after one of its members, Carole Barnes, 66, reported the "thoughtless" behaviour of about 30 bird watchers in Winterton, Norfolk. | It comes after one of its members, Carole Barnes, 66, reported the "thoughtless" behaviour of about 30 bird watchers in Winterton, Norfolk. |
| A RSPB spokesman said the incident involving a young rose-coloured starling was "isolated and unproven". | A RSPB spokesman said the incident involving a young rose-coloured starling was "isolated and unproven". |
| It is believed the bird, which usually winters in India, was blown off course. | It is believed the bird, which usually winters in India, was blown off course. |
| Several are spotted in Britain each year. | Several are spotted in Britain each year. |
| Mrs Barnes told the Daily Telegraph newspaper the birdwatchers had pursued the starling from garden to garden after it turned up in the coastal town last weekend. | Mrs Barnes told the Daily Telegraph newspaper the birdwatchers had pursued the starling from garden to garden after it turned up in the coastal town last weekend. |
| There is a bird watchers' code of conduct and we would always ask people to follow that and be good ambassadors for bird watching RSPB spokesman | There is a bird watchers' code of conduct and we would always ask people to follow that and be good ambassadors for bird watching RSPB spokesman |
| "It was tired and desperate to feed but they wouldn't leave it alone. They were running up and down like lunatics and weren't interested in its welfare at all," she told the paper. | |
| She found the starling dead in her garden on Tuesday. | She found the starling dead in her garden on Tuesday. |
| The RSPB said its officials were not aware of any widespread problems regarding the behaviour of twitchers - people who travel long-distances at short notice to photograph rare species - or bird watchers. | The RSPB said its officials were not aware of any widespread problems regarding the behaviour of twitchers - people who travel long-distances at short notice to photograph rare species - or bird watchers. |
| He said: "We have spoken to Mrs Barnes and she is clearly unhappy and I do sympathise. | He said: "We have spoken to Mrs Barnes and she is clearly unhappy and I do sympathise. |
| "But we weren't there and we can't say for sure what happened. We have had reports that the bird had ticks which may suggest that it was unwell. It may also have been tired because of the bad weather. | "But we weren't there and we can't say for sure what happened. We have had reports that the bird had ticks which may suggest that it was unwell. It may also have been tired because of the bad weather. |
| "But we do not plan to launch an inquiry. We are not aware of any widespread problems with twitchers. We would regard this as an isolated local incident. | "But we do not plan to launch an inquiry. We are not aware of any widespread problems with twitchers. We would regard this as an isolated local incident. |
| "There is a bird watchers' code of conduct and we would always ask people to follow that and be good ambassadors for bird watching." | "There is a bird watchers' code of conduct and we would always ask people to follow that and be good ambassadors for bird watching." |
| The spokesman added: "Sometimes people can get carried away. But there are more birdwatchers than ever, yet fewer examples of bad behaviour." | The spokesman added: "Sometimes people can get carried away. But there are more birdwatchers than ever, yet fewer examples of bad behaviour." |