Anger as RSPB allows bird shoots on its land

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The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) hands out shooting licences on its land at Langstone Harbour, near Portsmouth, Hampshire - where wildfowlers kill up to ten birds a day for sport.

The shooting has been allowed since 1979 but was revealed publicly only when a pellet-riddled duck carcass was found by a walker.

Barry Hugill, of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "I find it exceedingly distasteful.

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Langstone Harbour, where wildfowlers kill up to ten birds a day for sport

"How on earth can it be a sanctuary if someone is going to kill the birds that are resident there? I hope the RSPB will reconsider its decision."

Conservationist Robert Hill, who discovered the dead widgeon duck, said: "This is a blood sport - a disgusting, macho, egotistical, self-gratifying act."

But Chris Cockburn, the RSPB warden for Langstone Harbour, said: "If wildfowling was banned the only way we could make it work would be by policing it.

"The reality is that would be very difficult - whereas by licensing it we are effectively controlling the amount of shooting."