Two wild birds of prey, a short-eared owl and a common kestrel, which were illegally kept in captivity in terrible conditions, were found and handed over to BirdLife Malta by members of the public in the last few weeks, the conservation organisation said yesterday.

Both birds were examined by an independent vet, who confirmed that the kestrel had an old and poorly healed gunshot injury to its wing, which rendered the bird incapable of flight. Furthermore, its wing feathers had been crudely hacked off and had painful abrasions on its forehead and wings.

The short-eared owl was in such a bad condition that its wing and tail feathers were worn down to half their normal length due to being confined in a small space. The bird’s legs were covered in burns caused by standing for prolonged periods of time in its own faeces. The bird was emaciated and starving when found.

“The people behind these acts are not only breaking the law by keeping protected birds in captivity, but are also torturing these animals by chopping off their feathers and keeping them in such terrible conditions,” BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager Dr Andre Raine said yesterday.

“This is a very sad fate for such majestic birds that are used to soaring free in the sky, but instead end up starving and mutilated.”

The owl was delivered to BirdLife after it was dumped in a field and found by a farmer in Siggiewi.

In a separate incident, the police contacted BirdLife about a kestrel that had been found by a member of the public in Rabat.

BirdLife Malta reported both cases to the Office of the Prime Minister as well as the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. The birds are currently being rehabilitated.