A Sunderland University environmental research lecturer has been found guilty of deliberately disturbing protected rare birds in their nests. Andrew Dixon, 31, was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay Pounds 500 costs by Salisbury magistrates after the prosecution argued he could not have collected diaried information about birds' nests without having disturbed the birds. A university spokesman said Dr Dixon was continuing his research. Dr Dixon said he was considering an appeal.