The principal legislation dealing with the control of birds is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The purpose of this section is to provide information on the legal background, as it stands at present.

This is a BRIEF GUIDE only and not meant to be an authoritative source of information.   Generally, it is illegal to capture, injure or destroy any wild bird or interfere with its nest or eggs.

The penalties for disregarding the law can be severe. .However General Licences issued by the National Assembly for Scotland (NAFS) allow measures to be taken against certain common species of birds on grounds which include the preservation of public health or public safety. Any action taken must be humane and the use of an inhumane method which could cause suffering would be illegal. The use of poisons or drugs to take or kill any bird is specifically prohibited except under very special circumstances and with a specific licence issued by NAFS.

The list of birds against which humane methods may be used includes Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls. However, only the owner of a building or the occupier can take action against the Gulls on it, or they can give someone else permission to act on their behalf.
In practice there are very few humane methods to kill birds which are likely only to affect a particular species and skill and experience is needed to deploy them Falconry services would discourage people from themselves attempting to kill Herring gulls which nest on their property.

Birds will tend to return to the same nesting site and unless action is taken to proof a building, problems associated with these birds may recur annually.

Rabbit populations are increasing, as they are becoming immune to the myxomatosis virus. Rabbits become sexually mature after just four months and breed rapidly, so they can readily replace themselves. The introduction of the disease myxamatosis into the rabbit population in the 1950's put a temporary reduction on the rabbit population. However, in the past 30 years or so, widespread resistance to the disease has resulted in greater numbers being seen across the country - in many places back up to 1950's levels.  

Rabbits are vermin & landowners have a legal obligation to control them.

PEST CONTROL THE WAY NATURE INTENDED