Theres days and weeks you just wonder

[Guest]

Well there are days and weeks you just wonder wether it worth it.

 

I knew trying to fly birds here would be one hell of a job, but i never imagined quite how hard. I have had Peregrine Falcons chasing my small team of Ybs from virtually day one. I'm not sure if any actually been taken by them, they don't seem to hang around too long, a quick stoop swing around then gone. I don't think they acquired the taste of pigeon meat.........yet.

 

I have broken out all the old ones here that i intend to keep (see other thread), but i don't think many of these flew out before so find it a struggle when they do go out. I had one hit the wires the other day and is sliced right the way thru. His only saving grace was when he came in he started to chase his hen, so i thought he cant be that bad, and i have seen a lot worse.

 

My YBs like i said had luck against them since day one. The harsh enviroment is affecting their health now, they seem to always be ruffled up, and for firt time ever had droppings tested and were basically fine, so its just the weather i think. Also had 4 go missing after another raptor swoop. two appeared when i got home earlier. I then had them out and the other one appeared minus half its leg. I got them all in counted them up and realised i was one short, one i had taken a liking too, an opal chequer cock. About ten minutes later he appeared, hopping on one leg, another casualty of the dreaded wires. These wires and 50 or so metres from the house but seem to be causing more probs than everything else. Unfortunatly nothing i can do and have to say a problem i never ever envisaged, as my old loft was surrounded by wire hazards, and i think i lost 2 in 15 years.

 

My plan was for a small team, but that plan is changing rapidly, possibly 80-100 Ybs a season just to get thru a good team, thats if my patience keeps, my one biggest failure in birds- patience, well lack of it!

[Peckedhen]

Eh Mick,  I dont know about Ireland but, round here if they are phone lines, you can ask for markers to be put on them so the birds see them.

 

Different scale I know  but I'm having a **** breeding this year and it's mainly me own fault!  Scalped birds through allowing them to nest on the loft floor, squished babies in nest boxes and dropped and broken eggs (me).  

 

The ups and downs of pigeon huh? :-/ :-/

 

[ch pied]

mick , your are in one of the most rugged spot's on the island , hell's kitchen , in term's of pigeon's

[Guest IB]

Sounds like your YBs are avoiding the hawks, but not the wires, and these look to be turning out to be your biggest hazard. If birds are regularly being injured by wires, contact the electricity supply people, they will fit reflectors to them making them more visible.

[Guest]

Sounds like your YBs are avoiding the hawks, but not the wires, and these look to be turning out to be your biggest hazard. If birds are regularly being injured by wires, contact the electricity supply people, they will fit reflectors to them making them more visible.

 

Yes the wires, another casulaty today, possibly the worse so far, crop and throat split open.

 

No chance of reflectors here, hard enough getting them to answer the phone lol!!

 

 

[Guest REDFOXKRAUTHS]

lol mick after all youve been through i feel so sorry for you m8 but stick in there bud, your a credi to the sport and im glad you didnt jack in last year

[Guest]

Well this evening the first fatality. A young mealy i bred myself, just one of six, first time out, decided on a flutter just as getting dusk, hit the wires and no recovery for this one.

 

I really have had enough already, and only just the beginning, watch this space.

[ally mac]

Well this evening the first fatality. A young mealy i bred myself, just one of six, first time out, decided on a flutter just as getting dusk, hit the wires and no recovery for this one.

 

I really have had enough already, and only just the beginning, watch this space.

 

How near are the wires to the loft Mick? I have a pole right behind mine, about 6 ft away, with 3 or 4 wires coming from various directions but birds seem to have learnt to keep clear.

Saw a loft recently with cable ties hanging from the wires to make them more visible, must be phone wires I suppose.

 

Hope you can sort something out.

 

Al.

[bird man of meath]

bad day here as well lost 1 y/b

another 1 fell out of nest picked to death

some time u wounder is it all wourt while

 

[Guest]

Ally mac, they about 50 or 60 metres away, they are 11KV power lines, two of them, birds should not be anywhere near them, for the life of me i just can't see why. But when i let my Ybs out its like they drawn to them, they keep flying about them, some under some over some straight at them. Wrecking the old head to e honest, i let them out and just wait.

[ally mac]

Ally mac, they about 50 or 60 metres away, they are 11KV power lines, two of them, birds should not be anywhere near them, for the life of me i just can't see why. But when i let my Ybs out its like they drawn to them, they keep flying about them, some under some over some straight at them. Wrecking the old head to e honest, i let them out and just wait.

 

Thats not so handy, ou wont be hanging cable ties from these then Mick. Maybe the smarter ones will keep clear and in time you wont loose as many?

[Guest]

yes the birds get to know where the wires are but the problem comes when mr hawk comes calling the panic they just fly anywhere and forget all about them ive had about 6 since the start of the year the latest was to day this one broke its wing and was under my car the dog was going off on one till i found it i know how you feel mate but just hang in there it catn get any worse

[ally mac]

yes the birds get to know where the wires are but the problem comes when mr hawk comes calling the panic they just fly anywhere and forget all about them ive had about 6 since the start of the year the latest was to day this one broke its wing and was under my car the dog was going off on one till i found it i know how you feel mate but just hang in there it catn get any worse

 

I lost a lovely cock couple of month ago, a lad brought it over to me, found it in his garden, the crop was cut through horizontaly. It was at the time I was getting hammered by the hawk and am sure it was panicked as you say Frank. Really like the bird too.

[Guest]

the one yesterday and today there was no hawk or falcons in site. I sat and watched both hit the wires. Like i say the only time they should maybe near them is when chased, but i wonder if its to do with the electricity and the magnetism to as why they fly around them like they do, its suicidal, just watching you know its going to happen.

[Guest]

Another one dead today.

 

With that last post, i bid you all a fond farewell and good luck in the rest of the 2009 season!