Norfolk bird-breeder accuses RSPCA of intimidation

Question

Hi there 
 
A retired schoolteacher charged with possessing wild birds has accused 
the RSPCA of &ldquo;intimidating&rdquo; bird breeders across the country. 
 
 http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norfolk_...ation_1_809170 
 
A retired schoolteacher charged with possessing wild birds has accused 
the RSPCA of &ldquo;intimidating&rdquo; bird breeders across the country. 
 
Edward William Easter, 71, appeared at King&rsquo;s Lynn Magistrates&rsquo; Court yesterday for the start of 
his trial on six wild bird charges....... 
 
Now this to me just takes the biscuit, or is it the taking mick of the rights 
of all wild birds the right to have a free life, and it is illegal - end
 of story! 
 
I'm in shock!!!! 
 
Regards 
 Kathy and Dave

Bob Philpott · Answer

Blackbird / Sooty. The following makes no comment on any current case. 
 I will try and explain the legislation in very basic terms and it isn't easy. Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act provides protection for wild birds, other animals, plants etc. The basic presumption is that all wild birds ansd eggs are fully protected from the golden eagle to the peregrine to the robin to the carrion crow to everything. Some (known as Sched 1 birds ) have greater protection than others and are protected against disturbance etc. 
 If you have any wild bird in your possession, without good reason, you would commit an offence 
 It is possible to have birds and other animals in your possession without any problem if those birds (and their parents) are born in captivity. So although these might be the same species as a wild bird you would not commit an offence and in most common cases would not need a 'licence'. 
 However there are lists of birds and other animals etc for which you need to have a 'licence' to do certain things even if captive bred. The main one for the subject we are discussing here is Schedule 4 of this Act which gives a list of birds which must be ringed and registred if kept in captivity. That list can be changed without new legislation. Bearing in kind the number of species on the british list there are only about 50 or so on Sched 4 . and some of those have been removed incuding some Birds of Prey. 
 Alongside that there are species protected under international CITES legislation that have to be registered in a similar way. For British species they tend to be the same birds. 
 There are other licences (general and specific) that allow to you do certain things to birds etc. This covers ringing, phptpgraphy, shooting of crows etc etc which lay down specific guidelines you must adhere to. 
 One site to look at is the JNCC site or naturenet. 
 That is as simple as I can make it. My back ground is that I spent 16 years as a Police Wildlife Officer and still work within that field.