Rhode Island man sentenced to probation after allegedly shooting at approximately 50-80 hawks

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.

Ferreira is alleged to have told a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent that he estimates that he shot at approximately 50-80 hawks, which he believed were a threat to squirrels that visited squirrel feeders on his property.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects certain migratory birds, including the Red-Tailed hawk and Cooper hawk, and forbids hunting, capturing, or killing these birds unless authorized by permit.

Ferreira was sentenced on Thursday by Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond to six months of probation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Lowell.

The matter was investigated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.