A decades-long campaign to tackle illegal rare bird egg collecting is returning for another year.
Operation Easter is a national effort led by police and conservation agencies to protect nesting birds from illegal egg collectors.
The crackdown, in its 29th year, coincides with the beginning of nesting season in April.
Detective inspector Mark Harrison, from the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, said: “Operation Easter highlights the continued commitment of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit and our partners to tackle the illegal taking of wild bird eggs.
“This is not a harmless pastime, it causes real harm to some of our most vulnerable species and undermines decades of conservation work.
“We will be working proactively throughout the nesting season to identify and disrupt those involved, and we urge the public to report any suspicious activity so we can take action.”
To collect the rare eggs, offenders will raid the nests of vulnerable bird species, sometimes taking entire clutches with
The spokesperson said: “Despite decades of enforcement, education, and public awareness, the illegal taking of wild bird eggs persists. Recent intelligence shows the scale of the problem is evolving rather than disappearing.
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“In 2024, Operation Pulka dismantle a major transnational egg-trading network. Around 20,000 eggs were seized during co-ordinated warrants across the UK, with further high-value collections recovered in Australia and Norway.
“The case underscored the continued demand for wild bird eggs and the sophisticated methods used by offenders.”
Anyone with information on egg thieves or people disturbing rare birds can report it by calling 101 and asking to speak to a wildlife crime officer.
Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.