Suspect Wanted In Illegal Shooting Of 150 Robins

PIKESVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- One hundred and fifty robins killed in a single night. That's the one hard fact police know.

Alex DeMetrick reports what's not known is who killed the birds and why.

People found the birds when they showed up for work at a Pikesville office building on September 30. There were 150 dead American robins, a species protected by both federal and state law.

"We believe they were probably coming in [September 29] to roost and at that time targeted by person or persons unknown," said Natural Resources Police Cpl. Michael Lathroum.

At first, it was speculated the robins were killed by a disease or a powerful microburst from a storm. A federal lab found otherwise.

"The results of the necropsy showed that the birds had injuries consistent with gunshot wounds," Lathroum said.

Police would not say what kind of gun was used but it would have to be quiet not to attract attention or scare the birds away, indicating a BB or pellet gun.

American robins are popular on Youtube and in the wild. They were sleeping in trees at the edge of the parking lot when killed one after the other, in a matter of hours.

"If we identify the shooters, they could be facing 150 counts of hunting wild birds," Lathroum said.

Natural Resources Police is asking the public for help in that search.

American robins are protected under a century-old migration treaty after their numbers were reduced during a craze for colorful feathers on women's hats.