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Legislation All breeding birds are protected under Section 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This protection extends to intentionally killing and injuring, and to the destruction of nests, eggs and dependent young.
The only exceptions are with certain game species
(listed in Schedule 2), which can be killed during specific seasons (see Section 2), and to certain pest species, which can be controlled under licence (Statutory Instrument 3010, 1986).
Additional protection is offered to bird species listed on Schedule 1 of the The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which are protected for example, from disturbance whilst nesting or attempting to make a nest.
disturbance to intentional disturbance of Schedule 1 species as an offence.
The above is a summary of the legislation and the original Acts and Schedules should be referred to for the precise wording.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 added reckless