Swan shooting fury

Man charged, residents fear for cygnets after death

A SMALL Channel community is up in arms over the illegal shooting of a muchloved black swan whose five cygnets had just hatched.

The swan, a protected species, was shot dead on Saturday at Barretta, 20km south of Hobart.

Residents said two men had walked on to the property of their neighbour, who was away at the time, and one then shot the male swan.

Police have charged a 32year-old Barretta man over the incident. Locals were furious and saddened over the death of the swan, which, along with its partner, had been a popular feature of the bay for years.

“We heard it, a crack ringing out, and then realised what was going on,” resident Wayne Tierney said.

“This shooting was not only heartless and cruel but completely reckless, dangerous — someone could have been injured, killed. People walk along the foreshore all the time.”

Mr Tierney was also concerned about the now fatherless cygnets, which hatched about 10 days ago, being targeted by birds of prey.

“When the swans have been attacked in the past the two parents have always got between the family and danger,’’ he said.

“Now, with just one female for protection, they will be exposed.”

Another resident, who asked not be identified, said a neighbour cried after hearing the news.

“Oh my god it was distressing, those swans have been around here for about five years breeding,” the resident said.

“Everybody in this neighbourhood looks after them.

“When they walked up and down our little dirt road here everyone would be careful not to hit them with their cars. They’ve never done any harm, all they’ve done is eat the grass.”

Another resident highlighted the danger of incident.

“You’re shooting inside a residential area, you don’t know what happens when you pull that trigger ... an experienced shooter wouldn’t have done that,” they said.

“If they’d misfired and shot through our neighbour’s house what could have happened?”

Don Knowler, who writes the On the Wing column in the Mercury, said the incident “was especially tragic because swans pair for life”.

He recalled an incident in London park where a swan was maliciously killed.

“The swan’s mate pined for her partner, would not eat and starved to death,” he said.

Neighbours said they heard from police the man had been caught preparing to eat the bird. Police said a man would be charged with firearms and wildlife offences and would appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court.

This shooting was not only heartless and cruel but completely reckless, dangerous ... someone could have been injured, killed — WAYNE TIERNEY