The national enforcement campaign to protect our nesting wild birds is underway for 2024.

The taking of wild bird eggs is a serious crime yet it remains an illicit hobby for some determined individuals. Whole clutches of eggs can be taken from some of the UK’s rarest birds and stored in secret collections. New risks to wild birds have also emerged in recent years with criminals taking eggs or chicks from bird of prey nests and trading them illegally across the world.

Detective Inspector Mark Harrison from the UK NWCU says: “Thankfully, egg collecting as a hobby has declined over recent years due to effective law enforcement and a change in attitude, particularly as younger generations realise the negative impact that this crime has on our wild birds and biodiversity. But, the problem still persists and new related risks have also emerged, including the increase in wild taken birds of prey, chicks and eggs that are being illegally laundered into the legitimate falconry industry. Recent examples of these crimes are the convictions of Daniel Lingham in Norfolk for prolific egg collecting and during Operation Tantallon, the father and son duo, Timothy and Lewis Hall who were stealing wild peregrine chicks from nests in Scotland, in order to sell them on. 

Operation Easter is one of the NWCUs longest standing operations for the protection of wild birds and at this crucial time of year when the birds are breeding we need to ensure that we are alive to the risks and ready to respond. The NWCU will continue to support all of the UKs police forces to prevent further crimes and pursue those criminals that commit offences. We will help to co-ordinate the policing response, ensuring dedicated Police Wildlife Crime Officers from the participating UK police forces receive up to date intelligence, operational support and access to specialist investigators from the NWCU. This year we will also be elevating Operation Owl with the support of key partners to ask the public to be our eyes and ears across the country to increase reporting of suspected incidents and intelligence. This will also help us to raise the profile of these wildlife crimes.”

Just one drawer from a collection

If you have any information on egg thieves, or those who disturb rare nesting birds without a license, you should contact your local police by dialling 101 – ask to speak to a wildlife crime officer if possible. Get a description/photo and vehicle registration if safe to do so. Nesting will be in full swing in April so please contact the police if you see anyone acting suspiciously around nesting birds.

Information can also be passed in confidence to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.