A Portsmouth resident, Robert J. Ferreira, has been sentenced to six months of federal probation after admitting to violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

The court heard that from October 2018 through April 2021, eight injured or deceased hawks were found near Ferreira's property. Ammunition from three hawks matched an air rifle owned by Ferreira.

In a federal court session in Providence, Ferreira confessed 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 related to hunting and harming migratory birds.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act safeguards certain migratory birds like the Red-Tailed hawk and Cooper hawk against unauthorized hunting or killing.

Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond sentenced Ferreira on Thursday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton prosecuted the case with help from Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Lowell.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.