Wild birds and the law

Wild bird crime
Home > Our work > Policy > Wild birds and the law > Wild bird crime

Wild bird crime

Daniel Lingham illegal egg collection

In 2008, we received 1,206 reports of potential offences against wild birds. These included:

  • 210 reports of shooting and destruction of birds of prey
  • 133 reports of poisoning and the use of poisoned baits
  • 36 egg collecting incidents including confirmed robberies from 5 nests of Schedule 1 species
  • 42 reports of illegal taking, possession or sale of birds of prey
  • 64 reports of illegal taking, possession or sale of wild birds other than birds of prey, predominantly finches.

The 1,206 reports of incidents is the second highest number we've ever received (1,228 reports received in 2007 and the annual average number of reports received between 2003–2007 was 818). The higher levels of reported incidents in recent years are due in large part to improved recording and reporting, and efforts by the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit to collate figures. However, we believe that these published figures represent only a fraction of the total number of incidents, as many remain undetected and unreported, particularly those that occur in remote areas.

In 2008, the RSPB received information on 52 individual prosecutions involving offences committed against wild birds. These cases involved a total of 198 charges, of which 130 were proven. Of the 52 people prosecuted, 43 were found guilty and convicted on at least one charge. Fines for the year totalled Ł8,500 and five people were given prison sentences (two of which were suspended sentences).

For a full breakdown of the facts and figures, please download a copy of Birdcrime 2008.

What can I do?

Have you seen a crime against a wild bird? Use this form to report a wildlife crime to the RSPB.

Report a wildlife crime

Last modified: 26 August 2009

Downloads

Birdcrime 2008 (3.0Mb)
Birdcrime 2008 report
The illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland 2008 (999Kb)
A review of the illegal killing of birds of prey in Scotland in 2008.