A SWAN that was left with three pellets embedded in its head after an airgun attack is being nursed at Fife’s Middlebank Wildlife Centre.

The male bird was taken into the SSPCA centre near Inverkeithing a week ago after it was shot four times in Livingston. A vet managed to remove one of the pellets from the bird’s neck.

Staff are still not sure whether the bird will survive the injuries.

Wildlife assistant Jackie Henderson said, “The swan seems to be fine and he’s on medication, but we still don’t know whether he’s going to survive or not.

“We took him up to the vet because it was thought he had lead poisoning, but then the vet saw that he had been shot.”

Swans are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and, if caught, the culprit could face a six-month jail sentence and a £5000 fine.

Ms Henderson appealed for the public to report any incidents of animal cruelty to the SSPCA.

With the breeding season getting under way, there are fears the bird may have been one of a pair.

“When swans are in a pair they work as a team to sit on the eggs in the nest,” said Ms Henderson.

“If the swan was in a pair, it would mean one parent has been left to bring up the cygnets on its own.”

Ms Henderson also warned dog owners to be careful around swans at this time of year. Last weekend a swan was brought into the centre after it was attacked by a dog. Unfortunately, it had to be put down.

She said, “The male was left sitting on the eggs, and it now has a harder job to do to raise its young.

“The thing to do is keep dogs on a lead where there are swans about, to protect the dog as well as the swan. A swan will have a good go at anything to protect its babies. You have to be sensible around wild animals.”

Meanwhile, householders have been warned they could face hefty fines if they disturb nesting birds.

The craze for property development has made it more difficult for birds to find breeding spots and house-proud residents have been destroying nests.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, damaging or interfering with nests could result in a jail sentence and a £5000 fine for each nest, egg or bird destroyed.

Wildlife adviser Sandra Bonar said Middlebank often had to care for injured house martin chicks.

She said, “House martins endure long flights from Africa to breed in our country.

“Their preferred site is under the eaves of houses, where they make a cup-shaped nest out of mud.

“Unfortunately, many people don’t like the mess from their droppings and sometimes use high-pressure hoses to destroy the nests of these delightful little birds.

“Many people who try to evict birds from their property are unaware that what they are doing is illegal and their actions could result in a heavy fine and even jail.”