pheasants

[nightshade]

all the fast stretches of road around here are decorated with many dead pheasants I counted over twenty(ran out of fingers and toes)but probably more .what is it like out there why do they do it
not to get to the other side please

[Helen]

Yes they are rather prone to walking out in front of cars aren't they.

I suspect the scene is the same up and down the country regarding pheasants and roads. Not just fast stretches of road either. Even the small "back" roads out in the country have their fair share, no matter how slow one is going, if a bird decides to walk out in front of you, there isn't much you can do

[wildone]

Hi Nighthade, it is probably because 1) Pheasants are reluctant fliers 2) Each species has a preditor with an optimum speed and 3) Cars seem to be getting ever faster. On 2 I once heard that 45 miles is the fastest that any creature can get away from. At the present rate of vehicles I wonder if in 100 years there will be anynng left to get killed.

[nightshade]

wildone there are so many speed restriction and cameras now that pheasants should be on the increase!

[wildone]

Only when drivers observe the limits. I know, my road is supposed to be 30mph but drivers see the field on one side and decide that 60mph is what they will do. I have even had , while turning right into my drive, no vehicle in sight when I indicate, but in the few seconds that it takes to get opposite the drive I have somebody trying to overtake. How many drivers can honestly say they never exceed the speed limits. Birds can sometimes be very careless in their use of the road. A few days ago I hit a wood pigeon although by then I had slowed to 20mph. Not something that I enjoyed I can assure you. There had been nowhere for me to go and a silly driver far too close behind me to be able to throw out all the anchors. I have since wondered what I would have done had it been a rare bird. Probably had the car behind hit me. Incidently cameras are rarely positioned near to where pheasants are likely to roam. By the way they are on the increase. The shooting fraternity make sure of that. Another reason there are so many killed on the roads.