Gnome of the Woods Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-13614326 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-13614326 Probably when you consider they were as common in Towns and Cities 300 years ago as gulls are now. Spectacular birds...I love em.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 We dont have any in chesire but would they compete with the buzzards and the keepers Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZ550Kevlar Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 I can`t believe a woman farm worker says "they need culling a little bit", there are plenty more species of birds that need a little bit of culling way before these are targeted, i would enjoy seeing them around here, we only have buzzards at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rede2Kite Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 (edited) We dont have any in chesire but would they compete with the buzzards and the keepers Mark No they wont compete with Buzzards As Buzzards Kill and eat Rabbits , Pigeons , Occasional Pheasants , Mammals , Bugs and Carrion etc l found out recently that Buzzards and other BOP will target the weak and infirm before killing/catching healthy prey as its easier and it makes sense Red kites eat carrion and occasional very small mammals and bugs Sometimes both Birds will go for shot pigeons and left out rabbits whilst you are Hunting/ shooting Have they an impact on our hunting / shooting for Rabbits and Pigeons Noooooooo Just dont feed them and their population will sought itself out Must admit Several years ago l fed them 5/6 times in the garden , purely for my own pleasure to get some great photos of them swooping down . I would be hiding in the hedge and be about 2/3 metres from ... Awesome Urban Fox - Dont think so Do they go through our bins ! Also they need updrafts and thermals made from hilly surrounding areas . Towns just dont do that for them !. Never seen them swoop down in the High street of High Wycombe . Well not for a squashed Maccy D ! Edited June 1, 2011 by Rede2Kite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 "Have they an impact on our hunting / shooting for Rabbits and Pigeons Noooooooo" Does that include game as well or just rabbits and pigeons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rede2Kite Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 "Have they an impact on our hunting / shooting for Rabbits and Pigeons Noooooooo" Does that include game as well or just rabbits and pigeons? Hardly an impact on game as they eat so little If they eat too much They cant fly ... They might catch game but they will feed on it and not eat ( sometimes for Days ) as they cant fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 Kites may not kill much mature game,but chicks are definately swept off the ground. Buzzards are devastating on pheasants from chick to adult. One of the bigger problems people dont take into account is the disturbance factor. Whether its a buzzard or a kite ,any silhouette of a BOP will send birds into cover in a flash. When you have to cope with 19 BOP,s(11 Buzzards &8 kites) along the edge of a fairly small wood with a release pen in it .Thats when you get first hand experience of the impact they have!. Thats just one wood. One of the chats with the RSPB folk,I told them I had seen 31 Buzzards and kites in the air at the same time!The most they had seen was 72!!! They do have quite an impact on game and wildlife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 I can`t believe a woman farm worker says "they need culling a little bit", there are plenty more species of birds that need a little bit of culling way before these are targeted, i would enjoy seeing them around here, we only have buzzards at the moment. all depends on where you are, having seen 25 last year in a group on our shoot I thought though lovely it was excessive. At the point where they are stealing lunch and injuring schoolchildren as well as peoples chickens etc Simple fact is it won't be long before they are a complete pain in the backside. Nipper I was talking to a guy who shoots up your way a few times a year the keepers are loosing more to buzzards than they ever have to foxes. Be nice if BOP found a balance but personally I can't see it simply because if we intend to farm things like chickens and run shoots there will always be plentiful food for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Must admit Several years ago l fed them 5/6 times in the garden , purely for my own pleasure to get some great photos of them swooping down . I would be hiding in the hedge and be about 2/3 metres from ... Awesome Lets have the photo's up then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 RedeKite, You say they need hilly areas but I seen them over the west side of london, also I thought years ago they used to frequent central londons rubbish tips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 The Kite is actually a true bird of prey which has over the last 300 years adapted its feeding habits as a result of intervention from Man. Before colonising Towns and Cities it was a bird of open countryside and its diet was generally small mammals and carrion. It might be of interest to read the following which may dispell some myths about the bird, its habitat and behavior. Its an interesting bird indeed.. http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/features/red-kite2.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Also in germany they live in flat areas, i think people associate them with hills because of the welsh population. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rede2Kite Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 (edited) Also in germany they live in flat areas, i think people associate them with hills because of the welsh population. Dont forget the Chilterns where they were introduced 20 years ago ! Interesting info about Germany , l didnt know Learn something every day Big thing On BBC news about Red kites Specialists also saying dont feed them and population will sought its self out ... Simples ! Common Sense really ! Edited June 2, 2011 by Rede2Kite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trentotter Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 we have dozens of red kites round leeds area,and they dont just eat carrion!!!! they take poults,young rabbits and even partridge...been out this afternoon and at any one time i could count 5 in the sky...ive even heard farmers saying that they need "sorting" but thats a big no-no for me as i enjoy watching them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Specialists also saying dont feed them and population will sought its self out ... Simples ! Common Sense really ! except that while they are eating rabbits, partridges, leverets and poults we'd have to loose them from the countryside before the numbers sought themselves out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Highlander put up an interesting topic! http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/168782-nature-is-worth-lbillions-to-the-uk/ Puts the damage that could be done into a different light.Depending which side of the fence you are on ? A bit of give and take on both side would be the ideal answer.Unfortunately thats not the case at the moment.Its all a bit one sided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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