P
peter hayes
Guest
This is from today's Western Morning News, the morning newspaper for the West Country. I thought it might be of interest.
Peter
RARE BIRDS IN DANGER FROM EGG LOOTERS
More of Britain's rarest bird species which nest in the Westcountry could soon be wiped out if illegal egg collectors are not stopped in their tracks. The grim warning came yesterday from the police and wildlife groups in the wake of a clutch of thefts which have already led to the extinction of several populations in the region.
Now an impassioned plea has been made to the public to help stem the tide and put egg-snatching gangs behind bars.
Officers claim the region is one of the richest in rare species in the country, the area being equalled only by Merseyside, Coventry and the North East.
But with more "obsessed looters" travelling to the area to satisfy their mania for collecting eggs, police claim that thriving populations have already been wiped out.
Roy Adams, wildlife liaison officer for Devon and Cornwall Police, said laws came into force two years ago to clamp down on anyone stealing or collecting rare birds' eggs.
"Easter time is particularly busy because birds lay their eggs," he said.
"Some collectors go manic. They are not interested in any financial benefits, they're simply collecting eggs.
"They operate in gangs and we have heard that some of them even dream of stealing the eggs.
"They plan months in advance and usually have a partner to help them with information. Stealing the eggs is the culmination of their illegal activities - a trophy, if you wish."
He said that 20 years ago Chudleigh Knighton Heath in South Devon was home to a watch of nightingales, which had now disappeared completely.
Also a sedge of bitterns once seen in the area never returned to their nest after it was looted in 1997.
"Other offenders stole rare honey buzzard eggs from Haldon Forest or looted cirl bunting and Cettis warbler nests in Slapton Ley," he said.
"Police forces nationwide are involved in an operation codenamed Easter which targets all collectors interested in Schedule One species - Britain's rarest birds.
"We rely on the public to give us information on anyone trying to snatch eggs. Torbay is a particularly vulnerable area, with populations of Cettis warblers or cirl buntings.
"We need to tell everybody that it is an arrestable offence to steal or collect eggs. The offence carries a jail sentence of from three to six months."
PC Adams revealed that the police net was closing in on the gangs, who were thought to be switching to the Continent because of recent police successes.
RSPB investigations officer Guy Shorrock said it was vital to keep in touch with the public.
"I don't care if I get information from the worried neighbour or from the disgruntled girlfriend. Whoever has anything on these obsessed looters are welcome to get in touch with us," he said.
"Egg snatchers are putting our wildlife at risk and anything to stop them will be of great help."
Earlier this month a special 24-hour guard was put in place in Cornwall to protect a pair of choughs from egg thieves. The bird, the emblem of Cornwall, had not bred in Cornwall for 50 years until last summer when three chicks were born.
Since the Countryside and Rights of Way Act came into force in 2000, six egg snatchers have been sentenced - the latest being Anthony Higham, who admitted stealing 850 eggs, including some Cettis warbler eggs from Slapton Ley in Devon.
The divorced father of two from Runcorn, Cheshire, filmed himself carrying out some of his raids.
After Higham's sentencing at Northwich Magistrates Court in Cheshire on Thursday, Clare Collier, reserve officer at Slapton Ley, said: "We've got such a good population of Cettis warblers in Devon. We can hear plenty and that makes us a target for these egg collectors to come and steal their eggs."
The court heard how police and RSPB officers who raided Higham's home had found birds' skulls and implements to blow the contents out of stolen eggs.
Higham, who had earlier pleaded guilty to 13 offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, was sentenced to four months in jail. At the sentencing hearing, Anthony Smith, prosecuting, said: "This is one of the most important cases of egg collecting to come before the courts in this country."
Peter
RARE BIRDS IN DANGER FROM EGG LOOTERS
More of Britain's rarest bird species which nest in the Westcountry could soon be wiped out if illegal egg collectors are not stopped in their tracks. The grim warning came yesterday from the police and wildlife groups in the wake of a clutch of thefts which have already led to the extinction of several populations in the region.
Now an impassioned plea has been made to the public to help stem the tide and put egg-snatching gangs behind bars.
Officers claim the region is one of the richest in rare species in the country, the area being equalled only by Merseyside, Coventry and the North East.
But with more "obsessed looters" travelling to the area to satisfy their mania for collecting eggs, police claim that thriving populations have already been wiped out.
Roy Adams, wildlife liaison officer for Devon and Cornwall Police, said laws came into force two years ago to clamp down on anyone stealing or collecting rare birds' eggs.
"Easter time is particularly busy because birds lay their eggs," he said.
"Some collectors go manic. They are not interested in any financial benefits, they're simply collecting eggs.
"They operate in gangs and we have heard that some of them even dream of stealing the eggs.
"They plan months in advance and usually have a partner to help them with information. Stealing the eggs is the culmination of their illegal activities - a trophy, if you wish."
He said that 20 years ago Chudleigh Knighton Heath in South Devon was home to a watch of nightingales, which had now disappeared completely.
Also a sedge of bitterns once seen in the area never returned to their nest after it was looted in 1997.
"Other offenders stole rare honey buzzard eggs from Haldon Forest or looted cirl bunting and Cettis warbler nests in Slapton Ley," he said.
"Police forces nationwide are involved in an operation codenamed Easter which targets all collectors interested in Schedule One species - Britain's rarest birds.
"We rely on the public to give us information on anyone trying to snatch eggs. Torbay is a particularly vulnerable area, with populations of Cettis warblers or cirl buntings.
"We need to tell everybody that it is an arrestable offence to steal or collect eggs. The offence carries a jail sentence of from three to six months."
PC Adams revealed that the police net was closing in on the gangs, who were thought to be switching to the Continent because of recent police successes.
RSPB investigations officer Guy Shorrock said it was vital to keep in touch with the public.
"I don't care if I get information from the worried neighbour or from the disgruntled girlfriend. Whoever has anything on these obsessed looters are welcome to get in touch with us," he said.
"Egg snatchers are putting our wildlife at risk and anything to stop them will be of great help."
Earlier this month a special 24-hour guard was put in place in Cornwall to protect a pair of choughs from egg thieves. The bird, the emblem of Cornwall, had not bred in Cornwall for 50 years until last summer when three chicks were born.
Since the Countryside and Rights of Way Act came into force in 2000, six egg snatchers have been sentenced - the latest being Anthony Higham, who admitted stealing 850 eggs, including some Cettis warbler eggs from Slapton Ley in Devon.
The divorced father of two from Runcorn, Cheshire, filmed himself carrying out some of his raids.
After Higham's sentencing at Northwich Magistrates Court in Cheshire on Thursday, Clare Collier, reserve officer at Slapton Ley, said: "We've got such a good population of Cettis warblers in Devon. We can hear plenty and that makes us a target for these egg collectors to come and steal their eggs."
The court heard how police and RSPB officers who raided Higham's home had found birds' skulls and implements to blow the contents out of stolen eggs.
Higham, who had earlier pleaded guilty to 13 offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, was sentenced to four months in jail. At the sentencing hearing, Anthony Smith, prosecuting, said: "This is one of the most important cases of egg collecting to come before the courts in this country."