Man and woman fined for destroying protected bird eggs - Durness

Police Scotland has welcomed the conviction of a man and a woman after they pled guilty to destroying over 40 protected bird eggs on an island west of Durness in the Highlands.

The incident happened on Tuesday, 17 May, 2022, when the pair were seen throwing and smashing the eggs on the ground and into the water at Boralie Island on Loch Boralie near the Kyle of Durness.

Storm Curtis, aged 21 from Ullapool, was fined £1,200 and Morag Morrison, aged 22 from Edinburgh, was fined £600 at Tain Sheriff Court on Friday, 11 November, 2022.

Police Scotland wildlife officer Daniel Sutherland said: “This was an appalling act that destroyed a large number of eggs from protected species. It was particularly callous in that they took the eggs from nesting birds at breeding time and deliberately smashed them and threw them around.

“The island has large numbers of common gull, black headed gull and sandwich terns. It is also one of the few places on mainland Britain with breeding corncrakes.

 “Police Scotland will always investigate reports of wildlife crime fully and robustly. I would urge anyone with information on wildlife crime to report it via 101, or 999 if an emergency.”