THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 Normaly I take all I shoot away with me but a few weeks ago I left 3 crows for the fox. Normaly they have in the past (years since I done this) taken them away & I have seen fox's burying food for later. This time, a week later there was feathers where I left them, looked like all or most of the feathers, no bones at all. That week I left a Pigeon that come down in the next field behind the hedge (part of the farm) this time the same again, a pile of feathers but also the breast bone was left. A slight puzzle as there was also 2/3 Magpie feathers. Fox, Corvids, Buzzards, Kestrals, Squirrels are known to be in the area, possibly rats but no positive sightings. I know Buzzards pluck as that's happened in front of me, I know corvids do take bones away. My thoughts are fox would take away whole, buzzards would leave bones, corvids don't pluck ? This was on stubble about 20yds from a hedge / tree line. Thoughts ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggy74 Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 Badger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted September 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 47 minutes ago, eggy74 said: Badger? Possible, no sightings & no know sets. I'll add all crow feathers looked neat over a slightly expanded area, x3 "footprint" as if the complete body had decomposed leaving just feathers, the pigeon feathers looked more random & widespread but still looked neat rather than frantic plucking. I've not seen the remains of a badger meal so maybe a badger is a possible ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 Any bird will peck and larger birds carry stuff off. If a fox is undisturbed it may eat where it picks up. I put bait at the top of the field here and its hard to tell what has been in eating just from the remains. If I put rabbits sometimes they are eaten on the spot and sometimes carried off by a fox. Buzzard will pick away for hours but also carry off if disturbed. Badgers don't eat neatly, stuff would be everywhere. I have seen them walk past shot birds so its not a preferred choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted September 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 Obviously over a week it could be several creatures takeing "shares". Over the years leaving food from shooting it's a first to find neatly plucked remains. Previously whatever just disapeared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjaferret Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 I KNOW, I KNOW....................Something that was hungry.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted September 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 3 minutes ago, ninjaferret said: I KNOW, I KNOW....................Something that was hungry.................. No doubting that if they ate crows ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spr1985 Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 It could be the local moggy. We left a couple of pigeon out under a camera to see what was taking stuff and sure enough the local cat sat and ate one pigeon early hours of the morning and came back a few hours late and took the second one away IMG_0239.MOV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 20, 2022 Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 I have never known a fox take a corvid to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted September 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2022 1 hour ago, jall25 said: I have never known a fox take a corvid to be honest I've got my doubts myself but I suppose anything could be possible. Normaly I wouldn't give it a second thought but the feathers were so neat on the ground & seen nothing like it before. Previous occasions I've left the odd crow & next visit either a few feathers remained at most or it wasn't touched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 A buzzard will stay and clean a carcase up if they are hungry but if your not finding the carcase then maybe a buzzard had a go but then decided to take the rest away. My night crew here clean up anyhting I leave, mainly squirrels but a magpie left alongside a hedge last week was still there five days later but another couple of days it had gone just a few tail feathers. So many possibilities hard to put it down to one species. I agree on the crows and fozes, foxes don't seem to like them as I have had them hanging in fields to deter others for weeks and never touched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 It could be a whole host of different scavengers. You would need a cam’ to find out for sure. Badgers don’t normally bother with them until they are a little pungent. Rats are also quite often partial to a dead bird - and eat them in situ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 It could be maggots, if the bird was left there for a week, in good weather. A corvid is smaller than this chicken, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 When I get a goose, I de-breast it, tie the rest to a tree and put out the trail camera: (OK, so I'm in Canada....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 11 minutes ago, kitchrat said: When I get a goose, I de-breast it, tie the rest to a tree and put out the trail camera: (OK, so I'm in Canada....) Amazing ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted September 21, 2022 Report Share Posted September 21, 2022 On 20/09/2022 at 21:12, jall25 said: I have never known a fox take a corvid to be honest They do I often use them as bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 5 hours ago, oowee said: They do I often use them as bait. Have you actually seen a fox take them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 I have left corvids outside fox earths and they have never been eaten, I have seen remains near badgers setts, but never seen them actually eating one. They are also about the only things my ferrets would not eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 5 hours ago, jall25 said: Have you actually seen a fox take them ? Yes. I stake them down like a kabab skewer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 On 20/09/2022 at 21:12, jall25 said: I have never known a fox take a corvid to be honest Me too , maggots eat them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jall25 Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 49 minutes ago, oowee said: Yes. I stake them down like a kabab skewer. Fair play I have never seen it before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 The only things I have found they wont eat is dead toads I find them dead in the fire pit when they are breeding. Behind my house where I have a bait platform and sacrifice tree (for hanging carcases) the things will eat anything including dried sheep poo. Of less interest is the dear ribs but even that they will eat eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted September 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 Maggots are certainly a possible but no bones except the pigeon breast bone so I discounted maggots straight away. I'm starting to think a trail cam is needed & a repeat doing. Time to Google trailcams & see what to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeydredd Posted September 23, 2022 Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 a raptor will tend to pluck so I'd say Buzzard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEINVISIBLESCARECROW Posted September 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2022 Had a look today (walked past the pigeon) & the breast bone has gone. Guess I'll never know 100% but thanks for all the interesting replies. Might even be shared between a few different creatures. At some time I'll get a trail cam & find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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