If you can help with emailing your losses to newsdesk@countrysideherald.com .
2024 ж. 8 Сәу.
1 996 Рет қаралды
Please share the losses or problems you’ve had with birds send email with Lamb Deaths to newsdesk@countrysideherald.com #farming #sheep #honesty #nature #nofarmersnofood
I live in the east of the UK. We used to have a wonderful small bird population. I have noticed that since the reintroduction of red kites this has noticeably dropped. Not so long ago I caught a shadow pass across one of my windows and looked out to see a kite swooping around my garden after the birds that were there. They are bold to the point I have even had one hover a few feet above me for several minutes whilst just outside my house door. Waited for it to leave before I made the trip to my dustbin! It is sad for other wildlife they were ever reintroduced. I have no doubt they would attack pets and lambs and, under the right circumstances, probably even people.
@amandacombridge2616 How many cats have come into/are in your area? Not saying Red Kites aren't an issue but years ago there was a healthy population of rabbits and rodents for birds of prey, we took out the rabbits and cats are a HUGE problem for all small wild life.
Red Kites are scavengers. They will eat dead animals/ road kill small rodents and yes, birds. Cats are the biggest predators of birds. It is crows and magpies that peck out eyes and tongues of sheep and other animals.
@@htb123 I live in a small hamlet of 7 houses. Only one cat in the hamlet which is in the main a house cat. I had two kittens myself last year to keep control of the mice and rat population. Neither made it past six months. One I heard squeal which I presume was as the result of being taken by a predator, but when I tried to rescue it, I was too late. Several times I had to go out with them in the garden when they were smaller because the kites would be circling above them. I have even seen the kites having ‘dog fights’ with larger birds. When I saw my first kite I thought it was wonderful, but years later there are so many of them. Sorry, but now you will not convince me they are not a menace.
@@amandacombridge2616 Red Kites have an average wingspan of 5ft, what were the larger birds in the "dog fight"? Cats can also roam for many miles, also I am not saying that Red Kites aren't an issue there was always going to be an obvious learning curve and numbers if they succeeded would at some point get to a point where there is a need to control such numbers. If a predator moves into a new area anything that could be eaten tends to make a run for it. We've reintroduced this beautiful bird without providing a food supply, it's an apex predator. It's sad about your cats but if you knew the dangers why did you get them.. I know you're scared and I know a solution needs to be found but blaming everything on Red Kites, when Corvids raid nests eating both eggs and young, pecking out the eyes, tongues of lambs being born and cats are known around the world to be the most damaging introduced species, foxes play their part... Sadly the Red Kite is just another thing for farmers... and others to contend with, if you really feel this threatened then maybe try carrying a big bright umbrella and getting a BIG dog, the mice that you wanted the cats to control are also prey for foxes, birds and other life trying to survive... But on the brightside there is some amazing mice/rat proof containers available. Hate and fear should not be judges in this.
I had no idea about this. Nature is cruel.
Is this corvids? Ravens, crows etc or birds of prey? I think it maybe a corvid thing to do to eat the tongue, peck out eyes etc?
I know of a lowland English farmer with some higher ground (if that makes sense) a few years back were regularly losing 100-120 sheep and lambs to the Ravens. Don’t get me wrong, Ravens are fantastic to watch and very entertaining creatures but when you have several families feeding young on your livelihood you are entitled to feel desperately annoyed. The farm just seemed to accept that this was the situation they were dealt and it wasn’t worth the hassle of attempting to get the appropriate licence to remove them even if they could. I said that it was unsustainable for the farm business and I say that from the perspective of a mad keen birder and wildlife admirer. Best wishes, Tony.
They need to mention this on country file, i had no idea this happened andnhaving watched another channel who has had cows killed due to posssible tb, am so sorry 😢
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