A group of birdwatchers spotted two teenagers allegedly taking aim at a flock of birds with an airgun at an Amtala wetland, on the southern fringes of the city, and stopped them from shooting on Saturday.

“We saw the teenagers take aim and one of them was about to shoot but somehow we stopped them. We asked them why they were shooting birds. One of them said they would eat the meat,” said Shantanu Sikdar, one of the birdwatchers.

The teenagers, residents of the area, then allegedly threatened to break the cameras of the birdwatchers if they did not let them go.

Sikdar then called up Diptimoy Ghosh, a traffic sergeant of Calcutta police, who directed them to Bishnupur police station. The birdwatchers took the teenagers to the police station.

“Police did not arrest them as they are minors. Their air rifle was seized and they were let go with a warning,” said Sikdar.

“We warned them of the consequences of killing birds. We also spoke to their relatives,” said a police officer.