The Law

The two major acts that cover the protection of wild birds are the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

Basic protection

All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence, with certain exceptions, to:

• intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird 
• intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst it is in use or being built 
• intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird 
• have in one's possession or control any wild bird, dead or alive, or any part of a wild bird, which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954 
• have in one's possession or control any egg or part of an egg which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954 
• use traps or similar items to kill, injure or take wild birds
• have in one's possession or control any bird of a species occurring on Schedule 4 of the Act unless registered, and in most cases ringed, in accordance with the Secretary of State's regulations (see Schedules) 
• intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird.