PROVIDENCE, RI – A Portsmouth man has been sentenced to six months’ federal probation after admitting to a federal magistrate judge that he violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act when he shot hawks on and around his property, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to information presented to the court, from October 2018 through April 2021, eight injured or deceased hawks were recovered from the vicinity of property owned by Robert J. Ferreira, 65. Ammunition recovered from three of the hawks matched an air rifle belonging to Ferreira.
Appearing before a magistrate judge in federal court in Providence today, Ferreira admitted to using his air rifle to injure three Red-Tailed hawks and a Cooper’s hawk between October 23, 2018, and March 18, 2019. He pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges of hunting, taking, killing, or attempting to take or kill migratory birds…