Man and woman fined after destroying over 40 protected bird eggs

Storm Curtis, 21, and Morag Morrison, 22, each pled guilty before Tain Sheriff Court.

11th Nov 2022

A man and woman have been fined for the destruction of bird eggs in the Highlands.

Police have branded the act “appalling” after Storm Curtis, 21, and Morag Morrison, 22, each pled guilty to the destruction of over 40 protected bird eggs on a small island west of Duress.

On Tuesday, May 17 earlier this year, 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.

The pair took the eggs from nesting birds during breeding time.

Police tried to recover protected eggs from the water.

Appearing before Tain Sheriff Court on Friday, Curtis, from Ullapool, was fined £1,200 while Morrison, from Edinburgh, was fined £600.

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.”