A buzzard died after flying into overhead power cables.
The female bird, the mother of fledlgings, got caught in the lines close to Provender Lane, near Faversham.
WARNING: Distressing images below
When she was first spotted it was believed she was still alive.
Both fire crews and Kent Wildlife Rescue Services (KWRS) attended in the hope of rescuing her.
They then requested UK Power Networks (UKPN) turn off the power but claim the company didn’t manage to do so until three hours later.
Vivien Smith, a spokeswoman for KWRS, said: “She was alive for some time, but eventually her wing dropped and came into contact with another line and she was electrocuted.”
The electricity cables lay across the bird’s regular line of flight from its nest in nearby trees to its hunting grounds.
Fortunately, the fledglings have not been abandoned by their father, who has since been seen with them in the field.
The bird’s body was later recovered once the power was turned off on Thursday evening (July 25).
According to the wildlife charity, UKPN has since agreed to a request to install bird diverters on the power lines to try to prevent such tragedies reoccurring.
The hanging signals are designed to help keep birds safe and maintain reliable electricity supplies.
UKPN has been contacted for comment.
