Went to the kitchen to make a cuppa and noticed some activity in the backyard, two HUGH crows standing in a pile of feathers – OMG. Immediately our chooks came to mind, where are they? raced downstairs and out into the yard whereupon the crows soared away their powerful wings threshing the air. I looked around for the chooks and spotted them huddled together under the bay leaf tree near the back fence – relief!

Above: The murder victim is the very common backyard pest – the spotted turtle dove.
To the right and below centre of picture.

Above: top of picture and to the left of centre.

Above: Poor thing is mutilated.

Above: Brutal attack, patches of skin have been ripped off the reveal bare flesh.

Update: they were back again this morning, returned to the scene of the crime!