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Welsh photographer recently stood trial at Swansea Magistrates Court, where he was found guilty of violating the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. He reportedly disturbed the nest of a rare bird species, resulting in the unsuccessful incubation of one of its eggs. And for this, he received a fine exceeding £1,600 ($2,040).
John Paul Haffield (68) from Neath, South Wales, was accused of disrupting a nest containing a breeding pair of honey buzzards, the sole recorded nest in Wales. Haffield visited nest sites of protected birds throughout Wales, capturing photographs of them, their young, and their eggs, which he later sold on his website. In total, the website featured over 200 images of protected species.
Police constable Mark Powell expressed his distress over the incident. “This was a particularly upsetting case,” Powell said. “The defendant was actively taking photographs of birds protected under Schedule 1 and offering them for sale.”
“Climbing to nests causes extreme stress to adult birds, resulting in eggs not being properly incubated. On the honey buzzard nest there were two eggs and one failed.
The honey buzzard is one of the UK’s rarest breeding birds and is shielded under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, with only 33 breeding pairs remaining in the UK, as they lay a maximum of two eggs per year. Legislation.gov.uk states that it’s an offence to “intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird or their eggs or nests.” According to the same source, there are special penalties for “offences related to birds listed on Schedule 1, for which there are additional offences of disturbing these birds at their nests, or their dependent young.”
The Natural History Museum, London says:
“Be respectful of spaces. When photographing an animal, take the time to study it and its environment, so that you can make sure you capture your image without disturbing it or interfering with its home . Do not alter the habitat to create a better setting, for example by pruning back branches or moving logs or rocks around.”
This case serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between capturing the beauty of wildlife and preserving it for the future. It underlines the necessity for photographers and nature enthusiasts alike to respect conservation laws and guidelines. Only this way can we ensure that our passion for wildlife doesn’t harm the very subjects we admire.
[via Digital Camera World]
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