A mother and her teenage daughter were walking though a reserve in Llanarth on Friday evening when they came across the magpie.

"It was just standing still on the path and I was wondering why it wasn't flying off," the woman, who asked not to be named, said.

It was then that she noticed the arrow, which had impaled the bird.

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Although it had suffered a horrific injury, she said the bird wasn't "wobbling" or making any sounds of distress.

"It wasn't, and it actually looked very well; it just couldn't fly," she said.

She quickly returned home to get her husband, so he could help to contain the magpie.

A call was put in to WIRES for assistance and the magpie was later taken to Stewart Street Veterinary Hospital for treatment.

Although it was hoped the bird could be saved, a spokesperson for WIRES said that "the risk of complications during a recovery were deemed too great and it was humbly euthanised".

"The body and the arrow are being held at the vets for possible further investigation," they said.

The woman who found the bird was shocked someone would be so cruel as to shoot an animal with an arrow.

She is also concerned about where the incident occurred, given that the magpie, which could not fly, was found in a residential area.

She said she wanted the community to be aware of the incident, because she feared for the safety of people who use the walking paths around Endurance Court and Eglinton Road if someone is out there using a bow and arrow.

"There is always people on that path and kids, so I think the public should know," she said.

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WIRES CEO Leanne Taylor also expressed her frustration at the incident and asked for anyone with information to report it.

"Acts of cruelty involving bows and arrow are amongst the worst injuries we see at WIRES and cause great distress to the animals as well as the dedicated volunteers who are called rescue them," she said.

"The prognosis for survival is very low with many of these animals heading off into the bush with the arrow still embedded to then suffer and die from infection.

"Native animals are protected by law in NSW and we encourage anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the police and RSPCA."

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has also slammed the incident and called on people to come forward if they have any information.

"This is a cowardly and senseless act against a protected native animal," a spokesperson said.

"Harming native fauna is an offence under the Biodiversity Conservation Act. The maximum monetary penalty for harming a protected animal is $110,000 for a corporation and $22,000 for an individual.

"Anyone with information is urged to contact NPWS via Environment Line 131 555 or report the information to police."