Egg collector's hoard to help study of evolution

19/09/2019

A clutch of thousands of rare birds eggs, seized from an illegal Norfolk collector, are set to help with research into the evolution of birds after being donated to a national museum.

Daniel Lingham, 65, was sentenced to 18 weeks' imprisonment in November last year after more than 5,000 eggs were found at his home in Newton St Faith. He was also ordered to hand his entire collection of eggs to the Natural History Museum – where they are now set to provide researchers with insights into how egg shapes and sizes have evolved over time.

A researcher from the museum told BBC Radio Norfolk: "We're about to use these three clutches of lapwing eggs in a major study on the evolution of egg shape and size. One of the things that the team is most interested in is the changes over time."

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Couple find rare 100 year old birds eggs in dead relative's home

16th April

Emily Walker Chief reporter

AN EGG-straordinary donation of potentially illegal birds’ eggs have been handed over to a zoo.

The collection of more than 100 specimens was delivered to Drusillas Park in Alfriston.

The rare bird eggs were delivered to the zoo last week by a couple who stumbled across them while clearing out the belongings of a deceased relative. The collection includes eggs which are more than a century old but it has been illegal to take the eggs of most wild birds since the Protection of Birds Act 1954 and anyone caught with an unlicensed collection can face serious charges.

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Thousands of bird eggs found in Merseyside

Around 5,000 bird eggs have been voluntarily handed over to the NWCU and Police by a 44 year old from Merseyside

When the call came in the officials were expecting to collect a few hundred birds’ eggs, but instead they found several huge specimen cabinets filled with 1000’s of eggs, including osprey, golden eagle and many foreign species. Officers were also provided with a large number of data cards, some of which date back around 100 years.

Egg collecting in the UK was an acceptable hobby in Victorian times and the early 1900’s. However, it became illegal to take birds eggs in 1954 and the law was further strengthened in 1981 when possession of wild birds’ eggs was made an offence.

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Inverness man facing bird egg allegations

A man has gone on trial at Inverness Sheriff Court accused of illegally possessing 338 birds' eggs, including those of rare species.

Keith Liddell, 51, of Inverness, faces 16 charges alleging he broke laws protecting wildlife. He denies the charges.

The trial heard from a police officer who searched a house in Durham that contained thousands of eggs.

In the house were also boxes labelled K Liddell and with an Inverness postcode.

Thirteen of the 16 charges - which cover August 2004 to June 2009 - relate to allegations that Mr Liddell was involved in the illegal trade of birds' eggs.

Two other charges claim that he unlawfully possessed 338 eggs including those of osprey, peregrine falcon, black-throated diver, Slavonian and black-necked grebes.

The remaining charge relates to an allegation that he had a range of items for keeping and trading eggs.

Mr Liddell denies the charges.

The trial before Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood continues.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-20047870

Suffolk officer Michael Upson had 649 birds' eggs

Former PC Michael Upson kept detailed records of his egg collection at his home in Suffolk

A police constable amassed a collection of 649 rare birds' eggs by stealing from nests, often while on duty for Suffolk Police, a court has heard.

Michael Upson, 52, travelled across the UK to collect eggs, but most were taken from areas near his home in Halesworth, Norwich Crown Court heard.

He admitted having the eggs in his possession, contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Upson, who has since retired, is yet to be sentenced.

The eggs were found at his home in Sotherton during a raid by police officers and investigators from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

He kept detailed notes describing how and where he gathered them, including instances when he was working on nightshifts.

"... There were no people about and the darkness gave me some cover," he wrote in one diary extract.

Read on:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-20066126