Is Egg Collecting Alive and Well in Devon?

Even in the 21st century, egg collectors are still a very real threat to our breeding birds. The following is a press release issued today by the Devon and Cornwall Police..

Police in South Devon today teamed up with the RSPB to conduct searches and seize illegally-held wild bird eggs.

Officers targeted three addresses simultaneously in South Brent, Bittaford and Totnes this morning and seized more than 50 of the eggs.

Acting on information received from the public, local officers and Force wildlife officers teamed up with National Wildlife Crime Unit officers and members of the RSPB to conduct the morning raids.

At an address in Rattery, South Brent, 50 wild bird eggs were located and seized. The owner of the property is due to attend Totnes Police Station at a later date for interview in connection with these offences.

Eight eggs were also seized at a property near to Ivybridge. The owner of the property is still being actively sought in connection with the offences.

And in Totnes a number of exhibits related to the theft of wild bird eggs, such as diaries and related literature were also seized.

It is extremely important for birders and people interested in wildlife to continue to report any suspicious circumstances when out and about. Particularly during the nesting season. Today’s searches were possible because information was provided to police by members of the public. Please continue to contact police with any suspicious sightings including descriptions and vehicle registration numbers.

Further details will be published shortly in the local media

PC 1776 Josh Marshall

Torquay Response

Wildlife Crime Officer

Devon and Cornwall Police

And HERE IS A LINK to the story on BBC news.

It bears repeating that it really is the course of wisdom NOT to publish anything on the internet that may hint at the location of Schedule 1 breeding birds. The excuse that 'everyone knows that such-and-such a species breeds at so-and-so anyway' is not actually an excuse.