Protection of Birds Act 1967

7 Special protection in severe weather

(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient, in consequence of severe weather conditions, that any wild birds included in Schedule 3 to the principal Act should be protected during any period outside the close season for those birds prescribed by or under that Act, he may by order declare any period (which shall not in the case of any order exceed fourteen days) as a period of special protection for those birds.

(2) An order under this section may be made with respect to the whole or any specified part of Great Britain.

(3) Sections 1 and 2(2) of the principal Act (which prohibit the killing or taking of wild birds included in Schedule 3 to that Act in the close season) shall have effect as if any period of special protection declared under this section for any birds formed part of the close season for those birds, and sections 4 and 10 of that Act (which provide for exceptions to the prohibition in the said section 1) shall have effect accordingly.

(4) Before making an order under this section the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) a person appointed for the purposes of this section by the appropriate advisory committee ;

(b) the Natural Environment Research Council; and

(c) a person appearing to the Secretary of State to be a representative of persons interested in the shooting of birds of the species proposed to be protected under the order.