An experienced owl breeder from Norfolk has been fined for offences relating to the sale of owls.
 

On 15th May 2015, Michael Geoffrey Horne 45 yrs, of Church Road, Tilney St Lawrence, pleaded guilty at Norfolk Crown Court to 3 offences contrary to the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997. 

In May 2014, Horne sold a young Tawny owl to another keeper from Norfolk.  Tawny owl is a species that is included on Annex ‘A’ to the COTES Regs.1997, so to be sold or used for a commercial purpose lawfully, each specimen must be fitted with a unique leg ring and it must be covered by a permit known as an Article 10 Certificate. The owl sold by Horne had been accompanied by, what appeared to be a valid Article 10 Certificate, which indicated that it had been bred in captivity by Horne.  However, when the new owner examined the document closely, he noticed that according to the certificate, the bird had been bred in June 2013, but that was not consistent with the owl’s plumage, which was still had downy feathering, suggesting that the bird had only been hatched in 2014.  The new owner returned the bird to Horne and the matter was reported to the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Norfolk Police assisted by the NWCU, executed a search warrant at Horne’s home address and he was interviewed.  Although he initially made no comment, he subsequently admitted that he had recycled two rings of owls that had died the previous year.  He also admitted that he had recycled the Article 10 Certificates in order to save himself money.   Horne admitted selling two tawny owls with recycled rings and certificates.  He also admitted reselling the owl that had been returned to him. 

Horne was fined £250 on each of the charges and ordered to pay £250 costs (total £1000).  The court ordered that two further charges lie on the file.