Q17: Are all birds protected?

All birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This Act makes it illegal to cause harm or suffering to any bird, or to damage/destroy nests, eggs or chicks. Some species of birds are afforded extra protection under the Act, prohibiting any disturbance whatsoever.

For more information relating to the laws protecting particular species of bird, you should contact the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). A link to the RSPB website is listed in related information.