Operation Easter
14 Apr 2014 04:21 PM
Egg thieves will
go to any lengths to raid the nests of rare species but a major initiative,
developed in Scotland, is determined to stop them in their tracks.
Operation Easter
is a campaign by the police, involving the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU),
and RSPB. It targets egg thieves by monitoring their activities and sharing
intelligence across the UK. It also raises awareness by giving general advice
to the public about suspicious activity and also specialist advice to police
officers.
Staff at NWCU have
seen an increase in internet adverts offering wild bird egg collections for
sale. Irrespective of the age of the collection offered this is likely to be
illegal, with the potential penalty the same as had the eggs been newly
taken.
The initiative
which was developed in Scotland is now UK wide and involves regular liaison
with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The operation is managed by
former Tayside wildlife crime officer Alan Stewart, who launched the idea 17
years ago.
Operation Easter
is backed by the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland
whose chairman, Scotland’s Environment and Climate Change Minister, Paul
Wheelhouse said:
“While much
of the attention surrounding crimes against wild birds is quite understandably
focused on raptor persecution, egg theft is another very serious crime which
can have a devastating impact on wild bird populations and can have connections
to serious and organised criminals. This is one Easter egg hunt we’re
determined to stop.
“It is
shocking what egg thieves will do to target some of Scotland’s most
famous and scarce birds and their disregard for the sustainability of species
is utterly appalling. I applaud the efforts of Police Scotland and the NWCU as,
once again, they tackle this difficult crime and would ask the public to report
any suspicious activity.”
Mr Stewart
said:
“Early
nesting birds such as the raven and heron may already have been targeted. As
the season progresses the nests of white-tailed eagles, golden eagles, chough,
peregrine, hen harrier, osprey, red-throated and black-throated divers and many
more rare birds will be sought out.
“In the past
egg thieves have removed a gate to use as a ladder, used an inflated tractor
tyre tube as a dinghy to reach nests on small islands, or have even used a
chain saw to access a woodpecker’s nest in a tree.
“These
criminals take the whole clutch of eggs, and for them, the rarer the bird the
better since the eggs will have more value. By value I do not mean that in a
financial sense, since eggs are seldom sold. The value is in the prestige of
having a particularly rare birds’ clutch of eggs, or a rarity such as a
clutch of three golden eagle eggs or a clutch of four osprey eggs, something
different from the norm.”
Notes To
Editors
People can help by
reporting suspicious behaviour, which may include egg thieves beating bushes,
undergrowth or heather in order to flush a nesting bird. They may be seen to be
hiding items, (possibly eggs in a container) for collection later. A good
description of the suspect should be noted, and a photograph may even be
possible, from a distance. Car registration numbers should be noted and if
possible a six figure map reference of where the person was operating. Dialling
999 (in an emergency) or 101 for non-emergency gives you contact with the
nearest police station.
PAW Scotland offer
a free iPhone app which can be used to record details of a suspected wildlife
crime and email them to the police. This can be downloaded via www.PAW.Scotland.gov.uk.