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Driver kills 34 rare birds at coast

03:41 PM PDT on Monday, June 29, 2009

Associated Press

OCEAN PARK, Wash. -- Authorities say a young motorist repeatedly sped through shore birds at Ocean Park, killing dozens of them.

Heerman's Gull

State Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Dan L. Chadwick says he has 34 bird carcasses. The only known survivor, a Caspian tern with a broken right wing, is at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast near Astoria, Ore.

Chadwick says the 20-year-old man drove an older Jeep Wagoneer up and down the beach Friday for three hours Friday with two friends, ages 19 and 21, roaring through flocks of gulls and other birds at 40 to 60 mph.

Chadwick says the driver turned himself in and is cooperating with authorities. He adds that the young man could face a $5,000 fine and a year in jail for each dead and injured bird.

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