It’s Illegal to Kill Herons!
Grey heron males have again returned to their Wilden Marsh family nesting site and await the arrival of females to begin raising the next generation. When a female arrives at the nest, the male heron usually collects the necessary raw materials and she carries out nest repairs and improvements prior to egg laying. A pair of herons will have one brood each year.
I hope our herons are not shot this year by a few young and not so young high-powered air rifle owners.
To sustain themselves, herons eat fish, small birds such as ducklings, and small mammals like voles and amphibians.
All wild birds (including both eggs and nests) are protected by law. Some species have additional protection when nesting. Many bird habitats are also protected and local planning authorities (LPAs) have a duty to conserve their biodiversity.
In Great Britain herons are protected at all times under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with fines or prison sentences available for anyone killing or attempting to kill one (see A brief guide to birds and the law, linked from this page, for further details). The heron is also protected under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
Government licences to kill small numbers of herons can be issued in very limited circumstances. These would normally be issued to owners of commercial fisheries where all other non-lethal methods have been shown to be ineffective.
It’s also illegal to take, injure or kill a crow, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.

It’s Illegal to kill herons
How stupid and mean to shoot herons. I hope they don’t.
This is true, Sherry, but I need to stop it happening. People on Facebook have given me a few ideas about how to proceed.
If herons knew how to shoot I’d buy one a gun.
That doesn’t stop the crass rednecks in our very rural area, unfortunately!
It’s probably the same everywhere, Tom, but to different degrees. It’s impossible to solve a problem by giving up.
I think we would all be in trouble if herons were armed with guns.
It is depressing that you have to think about such possibilities.
Thanks for your comment, Tom. Fortunately, I’m not depressed about it; If anything, I am realistic and try to be proactive. I can’t afford to let it get me down. I can’t solve the problem without a high degree of positivity.
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