PORTSMOUTH — A Portsmouth man has been sentenced to six months of 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.

The sentencing was announced Thursday, Dec. 12, by U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

According to information presented to the court, from October 2018 to 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, according to the complain. 

After his arrest in 2023, Ferreira is alleged to have told a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent that he estimates he shot at approximately 50 to 80 hawks, which he believed were a threat to squirrels that visited squirrel feeders on his property.

According to court documents, on various dates neighbors reported hearing popping sounds from the area of Ferreira’s property that were consistent with the firing of a weapon, and found approximately eight injured and deceased hawks on or near Ferreira’s property.

Appearing before a magistrate judge in federal court in Providence on Thursday, Ferreira admitted to using his air rifle to injure three red-tailed hawks and a Cooper’s hawk between Oct. 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.

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 misdemeanor charge was punishable by up to six months in prison and fine of up to $15,000.

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.

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