Scary moment, lesson learned.

Veracocha · #1 (**permalink**) 31-05-2009, 07:58 PM

Whilst checking my feeders today I noticed a Starling flapping wildly on the ground. When I picked it up (juvenile) it had a fat ball attached to it's tongue. The mesh had completely tightened around it. I had to get the smallest pair of scissors between the tongue and the mesh but with care I managed to do it.

It was horrible, my daughter thinks I'm a hero but I know what a complete (choose any word) I was to have left the mesh on; never again.

Pam_M · #2 (**permalink**) 31-05-2009, 08:05 PM

Thank goodness you were there to free the Starling! Thanks for highlighting the need to remove the netting from fatballs, I never leave the netting on the fatballs. I cannot see why the manufacturers need to mesh them at all to be honest!

Cazzie · #3 (**permalink**) 31-05-2009, 08:07 PM

Oh please don't be hard on yourself, it's just like you say... a lesson learned

I've no idea why the suppliers sell the fat balls in these awful and dangerous green plastic netting slings - surely someone has told them it's dangerous for the birds by now - feet and beaks can easily get caught up in them!

I had a similar experience with a shepherds crook feeder that I bought a couple of years ago. Where the two bends met on the one pole a starling managed to jam it's leg down the gap and got stuck! After freeing the poor bird (who was ok thankfully) I used packing tape and taped across the gap!! - it didn't look nice, but hey it stopped it happening again

Hedge Witch · #4 (**permalink**) 31-05-2009, 08:07 PM

I think many people have no idea of the dangers posed by this sort of mesh. It's good that you were open and honest enough to admit you made a mistake and tell us what happened, it might just make some people more aware

Ruth Daniel · #5 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

I think many people have no idea of the dangers posed by this sort of mesh. It's good that you were open and honest enough to admit you made a mistake and tell us what happened, it might just make some people more aware

Well said HW and thanks for highlighting the problem Veracocha.....glad all ended happily for you,your daughter and the Starling!