Police discovered two live and two dead chicks in a nest in the Cloughmills area.

It is thought the two parent birds were also killed by shotgun.

The police said "circumstantial evidence suggests the birds have been killed".

Someone has clearly gone out and shot or poisoned the two adult birds, knowing full well they were leaving the four chicks to die from starvation

Jim Wells Assembly member

Democratic Unionist Party assembly member Jim Wells, who is also a bird enthusiast, said it was a terrible act of cruelty.

"This was the nastiest most despicable incident of persecution of rare birds in Northern Ireland I have experienced in recent years," he said.

"Someone has clearly gone out and shot or poisoned the two adult birds, knowing full well they were leaving the four chicks to die from starvation.

"We have rescued two birds but unfortunately the other two have died."

Mr Wells appealed for public help in identifying those responsible.

He said the offenders faced a �60,000 fine and the loss of any firearms license.