Sutton police to patrol Carshalton nature reserve after dad lets son smash rare bird's nest

9:00am Wednesday 21st May 2014 in Sutton

By Mike Murphy-Pyle, Chief Reporter

Police have stepped up patrols around a nature reserve after a man allowed his son to kick the nest of a rare bird.

The incident was spotted by nature wardens at Wilderness Island in Carshalton at the end of April.

The man was leaning on the bank while his eight-year-old son kicked a kingfisher's nest - despite signs indicating it is a nature reserve and that wildlife should not be disturbed.

A pair of the birds had been nesting at the site but have not been seen since the incident.

Kingfishers are a rare and easily disturbed bird and are afforded the highest level of legal protection meaning it is an offence to take, injure or kill a Kingfisher or to take, damage or destroy its eggs, nest or young.

Continued