Egg collector Matthew Gonshaw has got a six month prison sentence, and an ASBO preventing him from traveling to Scotland during the breeding season for 10 years. He's also been prevented from visiting RSPB and Wildlife Trust reserves for the same time. This is his FOURTH prison sentence!!!
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
I think it's always a bit weird when they conviscate the eggs. Surely it just gives them a reason to do it all over again? You know, clean slate to start again from the beginning. I'm not saying they shouldn't conviscate them, as it acts a deterrent, but still...seems a bit odd.
Home again, home again.
Check it: http://sarahwestsblog.blogspot.co.uk/
You would think that but egg collectors are fanatical and having the collection will not stop them building it up. This isn't just a trainspotting collection type record but these eggs will be hidden and false coded records made up. They do have a wish to collect eggs from various years and various colours. These eggs can end up in museums so they have a use.
The Cotswold Water park sightings website
My Flicker page
I agree with Jenni - fourth prison sentence!
A link to the story in the press.
Tiger Signature
Interesting comment in that article that 'he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of birds'. These people do and I wish it could be directed beneficially.
Agree with that point Bob,if all that knowledge could be used in coservation people like this would be a great asset
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
All for one and one for all.
Unknown said:the last two posts make good sense!! If only these people could or would use their knowledge to help rather than destroy.. How much better would it all be. But six months...I ask you.... Six months per egg would maybe be a deterrent..
Sounds like a very good idea.
Perhaps it should be 3 months a year for 10yrs over the breeding season!!
I also agree that its a shame that we aren't able to encourage these people + to share their knowledge in a possitive beneficial 'to all' manner.
'In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks' John Muir.
Excuse wobbily dyslexic spelling!
I may be out on a limb in this view, but I do think that the conviction and sentence demonstrate that the court has taken a serious view on the matter and imposed the highest penalty available, which is a positive step in regard to deterring further cases of this nature.
However, from what I have read about this case, the person concerned appears to have a pathological obsession in regard to collecting and cataloguing eggs. He has not made any financial gain from this obsession and appears to be carrying out the crimes without any accomplice. It would not surprise me if his behaviour lay somewhere on the autistic spectrum, hence a prison term, as has been shown, is unlikely to change his behaviour and he may be quite capable of attempting to dodge the ASBO subsequently. As has been mentioned, a specialised diversionary rehabilitation programme may produce a more satisfactory outcome for the birds, conservationists and taxpayers alike.
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake