Man who caught 16 wild goldfinches and kept them in garden shed convicted

A man who caught wild goldfinches and kept them locked in cages in a shed in his garden has been convicted of animal welfare offences. The RSPCA has revealed shocking details of the case against Ali Heidari, from Salford.

A court heard investigators and Greater Manchester Police officers visited Heidari's home in Weaste, just up the road from an RSPCA animal hospital, in October, 2021. A total of 25 birds were found in cages in the shed.

In a statement after his conviction the RSPCA said: "RSPCA Inspector Beth Fazackerley reported that she and her colleagues had found many birds in cages in a garden shed in Heidari's back garden. They could see multiple goldfinch and mule (goldfinch X canary) type birds in small bird cages on each wall of the shed.

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"In total there were 25 birds; five mule type birds and 20 goldfinch type birds.

"The 20 goldfinches' behaviour suggested they may have been wild-caught (an offence if kept). They were flying into the sides of the cages, sitting on the floor of the cages rather than perching on the perches provided and were generally unsettled at being confined in cages.

"The 20 suspected wild-caught birds were seized by the police, transferred into the care of the RSPCA and taken to the charity's Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire. Following examination by an expert, 16 were found to be of wild origin. Sadly one of these had to be put to sleep due to a broken left wing, which had been left untreated, and another then died."

The RSPCA said the rest of the healthy wild-caught birds were released back into the wild.

Heidari, 44, of Oronsay Grove, Salford, pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences. At Manchester magistrates court, he was handed a 12-month community order for keeping 16 wild-caught goldfinches illegally and failing to meet their needs, including not seeking veterinary treatment for the injured bird.

He was also sentenced to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days and ordered to pay a £40 fine with a £95 victim surcharge.

The RSPCA said four remaining birds were identified as captive-bred, which are legal to keep. They comprised one mule and three Himalayan finches, one of which was put to sleep. The remaining three were returned to Heidari.

Inspector Fazackerley said: "It is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to trap or attempt to trap wild birds and this type of trapping causes immense distress and suffering to them. The illegal trapping and trading in wild birds has long been a problem. Taking a wild bird from its natural habitat and shutting it in a tiny cage is cruel.

"These birds can suffer immeasurably, not only physically but also mentally, and they often die shortly after being captured. Not only was Heidari keeping wild-caught birds illegally, but he failed to provide for their welfare needs, including causing unnecessary suffering by failing to seek veterinary care for one with an obvious wing injury."