Here's an story to egg you on. :-(
Dan Victor, Seattle, WA <dvictor at u.washington.edu>

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HEADLINE: Police net 11,000 wild birds' eggs
PUBLICATION DATE: 26 September 1994
BY: By Helen Johnstone

POLICE seized 11,000 wild birds' eggs yesterday in a series of raids on
illegal traders and collectors. The haul is believed to include osprey,
golden eagle and peregrine falcon eggs.

Documents, maps and photographs were seized at nine premises across eight
counties. Two men were released after questioning and inquiries were
continuing last night to determine if any of the eggs were held legally.

``Operation Avocet'', named for the symbol of the Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds, was led by Wiltshire Police wildlife officers and RSPB
experts. Inspector Bob Philpott said: ``We have recovered so much stuff,
but we believe the rare eggs include things like golden eagles, osprey,
peregrines and other European eagles.''

The raids were in Brynmawr and Ebbw Vale, Gwent; Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire;
Whitley Bay, Northumbria; Brixham and Torquay, Devon; Carlisle, Cumbria;
Hartwell, Northamptonshire; and Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Derek Niemann,
of the RSPB, said last night: ``These seizures are very important. We are
very pleased with the results. There are at least 200 active egg collectors
in this country: many collect anything they can get.''

The investigation followed ``Operation Salisbury'', which culminated in a
police raid on the annual dinner of the Jourdain Society, a registered
charity which studies eggs, in Salisbury in July.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sets fines of up to Pounds 5,000 an
egg for possessing eggs of protected birds, unless they were obtained before
1982 when the act came into force.


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This article is from The London Times.