Story by Rich Scinto

A racing pigeon enthusiast from Westbury was sentenced to one year of probation for killing red-tailed hawks and Cooper's hawks in Connecticut. Thomas Kapusta, 63, will also have to pay a $5,500 fine and perform 90 hours of community service at a local animal shelter.

The hawks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut. Kapusta constructed a pigeon coop at 330 Weed Ave. in Stamford, Conn. He and Adam Boguski viewed the hawks as a threat to their pigeons and specifically captured and killed them, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.



Kapusta told Boguski to call the trap a breeding cage because he knew trapping was illegal, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Kapusta pleaded guilty in February to one count of conspiracy to take, capture and kill red-tailed hawks and Cooper's hawks, and four counts of taking, capturing and killing red-tailed hawks or Cooper's hawks. Boguski pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to take, capture and kill red-tailed hawks and Cooper's hawks, and two counts of taking, capturing and killing Cooper's hawks.

Boguski remains to be sentenced.

Judge Robert Chatigny ordered several special conditions of Kapusta's probation that restrict his ability to engage in his racing pigeon hobby, including allowing his pigeon coop in Stamford to be randomly inspected by federal and state environmental authorities.