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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 24th June 2019
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Seven clutches of little tern eggs ’stolen’ in Norfolk
Little tern at nest, wing stretching after incubating. Image: Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)

Norfolk police are investigating the suspected theft of seven clutches of little tern eggs from Winterton Beach, North Norfolk.

Little terns are one of the UK’s rarest seabirds, with around 1,500 breeding pairs in the country. Volunteers and staff from the EU Life+ Little Tern Recovery Project work shifts to monitor the nests in daylight hours, when the birds are most vulnerable to disturbance.

In the early hours of the morning on 20 June, however, RSPB wardens discovered that up to 20 eggs had been taken. Human footprints were found leading up to each nest.

Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird. Fabian Harrison, from the RSPB, called the suspected thefts “devastating”.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.