POLICE are hunting a cruel gunman after a number of birds were found shot dead in Caernarfon.
The incidents took place in the Maesincla area over the past few weeks.
The discovery of the dead birds follows a seperate incident where two duck carcasses were found floating in the pond in Parc y Dre.
Gwynedd Council have said they are aware of the incident, and will continue monitoring the area.
Paul ‘Trike’ Jones, of Maesincla, had found a number of dead birds outside his house over the past few weeks, but initially had no reason to be suspicious.
When he saw a Dunlin dying after being shot, he decided to contact the police and the council.
He said: “Over the last couple of weeks I noticed a couple of dead birds, a robin and a blue tit, on seperate occassions, but I just assumed a cat had got to them or something.
"I disposed of the bodies because it’s not a nice thing for kids to see.
“Then last week I popped out of the house, and I heard a shot. I went round the front and I saw a bird bleeding from a wound in its chest. It looked like someone had shot the poor thing with an air rifle.”
As listed in the provision of the EU birds directive, the Dunlin is a protected species, and the Police have confirmed they are looking into the matter.
Mr Jones added: “It’s absoloutely bonkers. Who the hell would shoot an innocent robin or blue tit? Whoever is doing it is just showing blatant disrespect.”
A spokesperson from the RSPB Cymru said: “These birds are protected by the Wildlife Protection and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to shoot them. If there is any evidence of such a crime taking place it should be reported immediately to the Police Wildlife Crime unit at North Wales Police.”
Anyone with any information about the incidents is urged to contact Caernarfon police station on 0845 6071001 (Welsh) or 0845 6071002 (English).