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WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - LONG TITLE An Act to consolidate, simplify and amend the Law relating to the Protection of Wild Birds.{1} [13th October 1931] General Protection of BirdsIllegal methods of exposing to injury, taking, or killing birds. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 1 1.[(1) It shall be unlawful for any person (a)to fix or set any spring, trap, gin or other similar instrument calculated to cause bodily injury to any bird coming in contact therewith; (b)knowingly to permit, suffer or cause any such instrument to be fixed or set; (c)to take or attempt to take any bird by means of a hook or other similar instrument, or a net; or (d)to use any mechanically propelled vehicle, boat or any aircraft in actual and immediate pursuit of any bird for the purpose of killing, injuring or taking such bird: Provided that it shall be a good defence for a person charged with an offence under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this sub-section to prove that the fixing or setting in respect of which he is so charged was reasonably and properly done in the ordinary course of farming or gardening operations.] (2) If any person is guilty of an offence under the last preceding sub-section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds, or alternatively, or in addition thereto, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 2 Illegal methods of taking or confining birds. 2.(1) If any person uses as a decoy any bird whatsoever, wild or domestic, which is tethered or is confined in a cage or other receptacle, or is secured by means of braces or other similar appliances, or which is blind, maimed or injured, or uses bird-lime or any substance of a like nature for the purpose of taking, or attempting to take, any bird, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. (2) Where any person is convicted of any offence under this section, the court may, in addition to any penalty that may be imposed, order any live decoy bird used by such person for the purpose of taking, or attempting to take, any bird to be forfeited and disposed of as the court may direct. [(3) If any person keeps or confines any wild bird, or any goose, guinea fowl or pigeon, at any time except (a)whilst being conveyed by land, water or air; or (b)whilst being shown for the purpose of public exhibition or competition during a period not in the whole exceeding seventy-two hours; (4) If any person is guilty of an offence under this section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds, or alternatively, or in addition thereto, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.[ WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 3 Absolute protection. 3. It shall be unlawful for any person (a)to kill or take or attempt to kill or take any bird on Sunday or during the period commencing one hour after sunset on any day and ending one hour before sunrise on the next; (b)to take or knowingly and wilfully disturb the nest or egg of any bird on Sunday.] WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 4 Shooting captive birds. 4.(1) If any person promotes, arranges, conducts, assists in, receives money for, or takes part in any meeting, competition, exhibition, pastime, practice, display or other event whatever at or in the course of which any captive bird whatsoever, wild or domestic, is liberated by hand or by trap, contrivance or other means, for the purpose of being shot at the time of liberation, or being the owner, or occupier, or person in charge of any premises, permits his premises or property or any part thereof to be used for any such purpose, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. (2) If any person is guilty of an offence under the last preceeding sub-section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds, or alternatively or in addition thereto, to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding three months. Classification of birds for purposes of Act. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 5 5. Subject as hereinafter provided, for the purposes of this Act the birds specified in Part I, Part II and Part III of the First Schedule to this Act are classified respectively as being in Category I, Category II and Category III; and references in this Act to those Categories shall be construed accordingly: Provided that the Minister of Home Affairs may, subject to the provisions of this Act relating to the making of orders, by order alter the classification of any bird from one Category to another, or except any bird from classification in any Category, or direct that this Act shall apply to any bird excepted from such classification for special protection under this Act as if such bird were included for such classification, and specify the Category under which such bird shall be classified; and on the making of any such order this Act shall have effect accordingly. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 6 Protection of birds according to categories. 6.(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person (a)to kill, injure or take, or to use any means for the purpose of killing, injuring or taking, any bird at a time when it is protected; or (b)except in the ordinary course of farming or forestry operations, to take or knowingly and wilfully to disturb any egg or nest at a time when it is protected; or (c)to sell, or expose or offer for sale, or to have in his control or possession, or to transport knowingly, any bird, or the skin or plumage or any part of any bird, or any egg or nest, at a time when a bird, egg or nest in the same Category is protected. (2) For the purposes of this section (a)birds classified under this Act as being in Category I and the eggs and nests of such birds shall be deemed to be protected at all times; and (b)birds classified under this Act as being in Category II shall be deemed to be protected at all times, but it shall be lawful for the owner or occupier of any land or other person belonging to his household or in his service or authorised in writing signed by him to act on his behalf, to kill or take any such birds on his land when necessary for the protection of his crops, game, fisheries or property from damage. The eggs and nests of such birds shall be deemed to be protected at all times; and (c)birds classified under this Act as being in Category III shall be deemed to be protected during the close season, and the eggs and nests of such birds shall be deemed to be protected at all times.[ WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 7 Sale for human or animal consumption. 7.(1) Where it appears to the Minister of Home Affairs to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of conserving bird life in the interests of agriculture, he may, without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Act, by order direct that, during such period as may be specified in the order, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell, or to have in his possession for the purpose of sale, for consumption in Northern Ireland or elsewhere by human beings or animals, any bird specified in the order or any egg of any such bird. An order made under this sub-section may be revoked or varied by a subsequent order. (2) Subject to the provisions of this section (a)any person who (i)at any time while an order made under the preceding sub-section is in force, sells or has in his possession for the purpose of sale for human or animal consumption any bird or egg in contravention of the order, or commits any other contravention of the order; (ii)during any period when a bird is specially protected under this Act, sells or has in his possession for the purpose of sale for human or animal consumption, or has in his possession for human or animal consumption, any such bird or any egg of any such bird; (b)any person who buys any such bird or egg as aforesaid; (i)for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months; (ii)for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months; (3) The Minister of Home Affairs may by order direct (a)that the provisions of sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of the last preceding sub-section shall not apply in respect of any bird specified in the order during any period so specified; (b)that any of the provisions of the last preceding section or of sub-section (2) of this section shall not apply in respect of any bird specified in the order killed or taken outside the British Islands, or any egg of any such bird.][ WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 7A Restriction on dealing in birds. 7A.Subs.(1)(2) rep. by 1953 c.24 (NI) s.80 sch.4 (3) Section three of the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland), 1928 (which relates to the register to be kept by a holder of a licence to deal in game) shall have effect as if the reference to game (a)where it secondly occurs in sub-section (1); and (b)in sub-section (2); Marking of packages containing birds. [ WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 7B 7B.(1) Every package containing any dead bird in course of transit shall be marked conspicuously on the outside with the words "Dead Wild Bird" or "Dead Wild Birds," and shall also have marked thereon or on a label affixed thereto the name and address of the consignor thereof. (2) Any person who in contravention of the preceding sub-section (a)sends or consigns any package for transit; (b)carries any package for reward, unless he proves that he did not know or could not reasonably have known that the package contained any dead bird; Liberation of imported birds. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 8 8. It shall be unlawful for any person without the leave of the Minister of Home Affairs knowingly to liberate imported birds of any species, but this provision shall not apply to pheasants, partridges, grouse, heath or moor game, black game, snipe or woodcock. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 9 Licences to kill and take birds, etc. 9.(1) The Minister of Home Affairs shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, have power to grant a licence to any person exempting the holder of the licence from any of the provisions of this Act relating to the killing or taking of birds of any Category, or to the taking or disturbing of the nests or eggs of birds of any Category, for any scientific or educational purposes. (2) A licence under this section may be granted for such areas, and subject to such conditions, as may be specified in the licence.[ WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 9A Licences for aviculture. 9A.(1) The Minister of Home Affairs may grant a licence to any person authorising that person, subject to compliance with any conditions specified in the licence, for the purposes of aviculture to have in his control or possession, and to transport, (a)birds of any description so specified which have been bred in captivity and are close ringed in accordance with the terms of the licence, and (b)the skin, plumage or other parts and the eggs and nests of any such birds which that person had or has in his control or possession by virtue of the licence. (2) A licence under this section (a)shall have effect notwithstanding anything in, or in an order made under, any other provision of this Act; and (b)subject to sub-section (3) of this section, may be revoked at any time by the Minister of Home Affairs. (3) The Minister shall not revoke a licence under this section unless (a)at least twenty-eight days' notice of the intention to revoke the licence has been served on the holder of the licence and he has been informed of the grounds upon which the revocation is proposed to be made; and (b)the Minister has considered any representations made to him by the holder before the expiration of the period of the notice.][ WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 9B Destruction of noxious birds. 9B.(1) The Minister of Home Affairs, after consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, may grant a licence to any person authorising that person, subject to compliance with any conditions specified in the licence, to use any poisoned, poisonous or stupefying substance of any description so specified, or any gas of such a description, for the purposes of killing or taking such birds mentioned in Part IV of the First Schedule to this Act as may be so specified. (2) A licence under this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything in, or in any order made under, any other provision of this Act and notwithstanding anything in section eight of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (prohibition of placing on land of any poison or poisonous matter), and, accordingly, sub-section (2) of section seventeen of the said Act of 1911 (notice of laying of poison, etc., to be given) shall not have effect with respect to anything done under the authority of such a licence. (3) A licence under this section may be revoked at any time by the Minister of Home Affairs, but no such revocation shall take effect until notice of it has been served on the holder of the licence. (4) The Minister of Home Affairs may by order add any bird to, or remove any bird from, Part IV of the First Schedule to this Act. (5) The Minister of Home Affairs shall from time to time consult the Wild Birds Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland with respect to the exercise of the powers conferred on him by this section to grant and revoke licences; and, without prejudice to the provision for the prior publication of proposals for orders of general extent which is contained in sub-section (6) of section sixteen of this Act, he shall also consult the said Committee with respect to each exercise of the powers conferred on him by this section to vary the list of birds in Part IV of the First Schedule to this Act.] WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 10 Creation of bird sanctuaries. 10.(1) With a view to the creation of bird sanctuaries the Minister of Home Affairs may, subject to the provisions of this Act relating to the making of orders, by order direct that in any district defined by the order all birds, with or without any specified exceptions, shall in that district be deemed to be classified in Category I, and on the making of any such order this Act shall in that district have effect accordingly: Provided that no such order shall be made except with the consent of the owner and occupier of any land comprised in the district to which the order relates. (2) The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of this Act empowering the Minister of Home Affairs to alter the classification of any bird, or except any bird from classification or direct that any bird excepted from classification be classified. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 11 Wild Birds Advisory Committee. 11.(1) There shall be established a Wild Birds Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland consisting of such members as may be appointed by the Minister of Home Affairs. (2) The duties of the Committee shall be to advise the Minister of Home Affairs upon any questions which he may refer to the Committee in connection with the administration of this Act, or with projected schemes for the protection of birds. Offences. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 12 12. Subject to the provisions of this Act any person who (a)commits, or attempts to commit, any act declared by this Act to be unlawful; or (b)acts, or attempts to act, in contravention of or fails to comply with any orders made under this Act; or (c)being a person in whose case a licence granted under this Act has been cancelled [or revoked] applies for a new licence and conceals the fact that his licence has been so cancelled [or revoked], or (d)during any period in which a licence granted under this Act to him is suspended, applies for a new licence and conceals the fact that his licence has been so suspended; or (e)being the holder of a licence granted under this Act infringes any of the conditions attached to the licence; Penalties. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 13 13.[(1) A person guilty of an offence under this Act in respect of which no other penalty is provided shall on summary conviction thereof be liable (a)for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding ten pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month; (b)for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months; (2) In addition to any other penalty which a court has power to inflict for an offence under this Act the court before which a person is convicted of any such offence shall order that any bird, skin, egg, or nest, in respect of which the offence was committed shall be forfeited, and, if it thinks fit, deposited in a public museum, and shall order the liberation or destruction, as it thinks fit, of any bird illegally taken, and may order that any gun or other instrument in respect of or by means of which the offence was committed shall be forfeited or otherwise dealt with as the court may direct, and may also order that any licence under this Act, held by the person convicted, shall be cancelled, or shall be suspended for such period as may be specified in the order. [The powers of a court under this sub-section shall include power to order the sale of any dead bird in respect of which the offence was committed, and which is fit for human consumption, to a holder of a licence to deal in game, and the proceeds of such sale to be dealt with in the same manner as a penalty; and where such an order is made the provisions of sub-section (2) of section seven of this Act shall not have effect in relation to any dead bird which is the subject of the order.] [(3) Where any offence under this Act was committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent or approval of, or to have been facilitated by any neglect or default on the part of, any director, manager, member of the committee, secretary or other officer of the body, he, as well as the body, shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.] WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 14 Legal proceedings. 14.(1) Where any person is found in control or possession of any bird, or the plumage or skin or any part of any bird, or the egg or nest of any bird, [or any part of any such egg or nest], and it appears to the court before which any proceedings are taken in respect thereof that there is reasonable ground for believing that the bird, egg or nest was killed or taken at a time when it was specially protected under this Act, the bird, egg or nest, as the case may be, shall, unless the person against whom the proceedings are taken satisfies the court that it was not, or that he had reasonable grounds for believing that it was not, so killed or taken, be deemed to have been killed or taken in contravention of this Act. Subs.(2) rep. by 1978 c.23 s.122(2) sch.7 (3) All offences under this Act may be prosecuted by an officer or constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary or by any other person, and all fines thereunder shall be recovered in manner provided by the Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Acts, and a person aggrieved by a conviction or order made by a court of summary jurisdiction on determining any information or complaint under this Act, may appeal in manner provided by the Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Acts. (4) A court of quarter sessions shall on an appeal under this Act have power to make any order which a court of summary jurisdiction could have made under this Act, and to confirm, quash or vary an order which has been appealed against: Provided that no appeal shall lie against an order made under this Act for the liberation or destruction of any bird, or the sale or destruction of any bird, egg or nest. (5) In all cases of prosecutions for offences under section six of this Act the complaint may be made within twelve months from the time when the cause of complaint has arisen notwithstanding anything contained in the Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Acts. Powers and duties of officers or constables of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 15 15.[(1) Where a person is seen or found offending or is reasonably suspected of offending or having offended against this Act, an officer or constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary may, without warrant, stop, detain and search him, and if his name and address are not known to the officer or constable, and such person fails to give them to the satisfaction of the officer or constable, the officer or constable may, without warrant, apprehend him; and the officer or constable may, whether so stopping or detaining or apprehending the person or not, detain and examine any bird, egg, nest, gun or other instrument, vehicle, boat, package, vessel or other thing to which the offence or suspected offence relates, and may seize and, pending prosecution, detain any such thing as aforesaid.] [(1A) Where an order made under sub-section (1) of section seven of this Act is in force, then, without prejudice to any other provision of this Act, any officer or constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who has reasonable ground to suspect that any person is or has been guilty of any contravention of the order may (a)stop and search any person conveying or believed to be conveying birds, and inspect any birds which such person is found to be conveying, and for that purpose open and search any vehicle, vessel, package or thing in which such birds are or may be or are believed to be conveyed; (b)enter at all reasonable times and search (i)any premises in which birds are or are believed to be sold, or kept, exposed or stored for sale; (ii)the premises of any person engaged in the business of carrying goods for reward; <(iii)any pier, quay, wharf, jetty, dock or dock premises; <(iv)any ship, boat, railway wagon, motor lorry, cart or other vessel or vehicle used or believed to be used for the conveyance of goods; (v)any aerodrome or premises used in connection therewith, or any aircraft; (c)examine any birds found in any place or thing entered by virtue of this section, and for that purpose open any package found therein and containing or believed to contain birds; (d)take, remove and detain in his custody any birds (whether with or without any package containing them) found in the course of the exercise of any power conferred by this section, in respect of which an offence under this section is being or is suspected of being committed; (e)demand and take the name and address of the person having custody of any birds, and demand and take from such person the name and address of the owner or consignor of such birds.] (2) If any person obstructs or impedes or assists to obstruct or impede an officer or constable in the execution of his duty under this Act the officer or constable may, without warrant, apprehend such person. [(3) When an officer or constable takes and detains in his custody under the authority of this Act any bird, egg or nest, he shall as soon as conveniently may be (a)take such steps as may be proper to have any person believed to be guilty of the offence committed, or believed to have been committed, in relation to such bird, egg, or nest brought before a court of summary jurisdiction; (b)produce such bird, egg, or nest to a justice of the peace or resident magistrate who may order such bird to be sold, liberated or destroyed, or such egg or nest to be sold or destroyed. (i)is convicted of an offence under this Act, the proceeds of such sale shall be added to and dealt with in the same manner as any fine imposed in respect of such offence; (ii)is not so convicted, the proceeds of such sale shall be handed over to him; and an officer or constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who pursuant to a written direction given by a justice of the peace or resident magistrate sells or destroys any bird, egg or nest so seized, shall not be liable to any legal proceedings for any such sale or destruction or for any loss caused by such sale or destruction.] (4) No officer or constable shall be liable for any loss or damage occasioned by or in the course of the exercise of any of the powers conferred on him by this Act, unless such loss or damage was caused by such officer or constable, wantonly or maliciously. (5) Every person who obstructs or impedes any officer or constable in the exercise of any of the powers conferred on him by this Act, or refuses to give his name and address, or gives an untrue name and address when such name and address are demanded under the powers conferred on an officer or constable under this Act, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. (6) An officer or constable shall, if he has reasonable cause to suspect that any offence under this Act has been, is being, or is about to be, committed on any land, have power to enter on the land without the consent of the owner or occupier and inspect the land. (7) If a justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that an offence under this Act has been, is being, or is about to be, committed, he may grant a search warrant authorising any officer or constable named therein to enter at any time any house or premises named in the warrant, if necessary by force, and to search the house or premises, and seize and pending prosecution detain any bird, egg, nest, gun or other instrument which he may find in the house or premises in respect of which or in connection with which he has reasonable ground for suspecting that an offence under this Act has been, is being, or is about to be, committed. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 16 Orders of Minister of Home Affairs. 16.(1) From and after the passing of this Act the Minister of Home Affairs shall, for the purposes of this Act, have power to prescribe from time to time by order: (a)the variation or revocation of the time of special protection for any bird, (b)the time of special protection for any bird not specially protected in the First Schedule to this Act but which may hereafter be specially protected by order, and (c)any modification of the provisions of this Act with respect to the special protection of the eggs and nests of birds. (2) The powers by this section conferred on the Minister of Home Affairs shall be deemed to exclude any exercise or further exercise of any like power heretofore conferred on any other person. (3) Any order made under this section may be made to extend generally or to such district as may be specified in such order. (4) Orders made under this Act shall have effect as if enacted in this Act. (5) All orders made by the Minister of Home Affairs under this Act shall be published in the Belfast Gazette and in such other manner as the Minister may direct. (6) At least one month before making under this Act any order which is to extend generally, the Minister of Home Affairs shall cause notice of the proposal to make the order and of the purport thereof to be published in the Belfast Gazette and in such other manner as appears to him to be desirable, and shall consider any objections to the proposal made within such time as may be prescribed in the notice. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 17 Minister of Home Affairs may exhibit orders. 17. The Minister of Home Affairs may cause to be exhibited any order made by him under this Act in such manner as he may direct, with a view to bringing the contents thereof to the notice of the public.[ WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 17A Grants to voluntary organisations. 17A€. The Ministry of Home Affairs may, with the approval of the Ministry of Finance, from time to time make grants to any body of persons corporate or unincorporate (not being a body carried on for profit) having for its object or among its objects the protection of wild birds.] WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 18 Definitions. 18. In this Act unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say: "Bird" means any wild bird or wild fowl, except grouse, partridge, pheasant, heath or moor game, black game, snipe and woodcock; "Specially protected" means protected under section six, or by virtue of section sixteen, of this Act; "Close season" means the period from the first day of March to the twelfth day of August, or such other period as may be prescribed; "Land" includes water; "Crops" include fruit and vegetables; "Occupier" includes every person having any right of hunting, shooting, fishing or taking game or fish; Definitions rep. by 1968 c.5 (NI) s.2(2) WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 19 Repeal. 19.(1)[Subject to sub-section (2) of section nine B,] nothing in this Act shall prejudice or affect any enactment applying to birds and contained in the Protection of Animals Act, 1911. Subs.(2) rep. by SLR (NI) 1952; subs.(3) effects revocations; subs.(4) rep. by 1954 c.33 (NI) s.48(1) sch. WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1931 - SECT 20 Short title. 20.(1) This Act may be cited as the Wild Birds Protection Act (Northern Ireland), 1931. Subs.(2) rep. by SLR (NI) 1952 All birds, their eggs and nests, shall be specially protected at all times, exceptthe following birds, their eggs and nests: The following birds shall be specially protected at all times, except when it is necessary for the owner or occupier of any land, or a person belonging to his household or in his service or authorised in writing signed by him to act on his behalf, for the purpose of protecting the owner's or occupier's crops or property from damage, to kill or take these birds on the land of the owner or occupier; and the eggs and nests of these birds shall be specially protected at all times: The following birds shall be specially protected during the close season, that is, from 1st March to 12th August and their eggs and nests shall be specially protected at all times: Second Schedule rep. by SLR (NI) 1952