Shot up Woody

[acherontia]

I don’t know if anyone noticed my post in ‘Bird of the Day’ on Sunday about the wood pigeon that had been shot?

Originally Posted by acherontia

..... the local 'big boys' were shooting all morning which somewhat spoilt the peace of the hide.
Then ,what I suspect is one of our regular wood pigeons managed to make it back here - he's currently still dying under one of the hedges - but he looks fairly peaceful so we haven't interfered.
You never know, with all those feathers he may just have recieved one pellet and may recover - if he survives the cold.
Acher

After two days .......... he seems to have made it!
He’s a bit shot up but he was feeding and drinking very well today.
I think the lump on his beak is some dried mud – probably collected when he hit the deck.
Yah boo sucks to the gunmen, eh? LOL LOL

Acher

[Jason Green]

Hi Acher,

Ahh, poor thing! So glad it survived. Let's hope it continues to do well

Take care,

Jason

[fairplay]

I had to read these 2 posts twice to believe what I was reading.

This is a just a wood pigeon dammit, have you any idea what a pest they are to farmers ?

Although I have used a shotgun myself many times, I have only shot at clays, but have used an air rifle quite a few times to reduce the local pigeon infestation, and strongly object to the term "local big boys" to describe probably quite decent lads doing a vital and legitimate job for the local farmer.

With luck, a female Sparrowhawk will quickly make a meal out of this injured bird.

Neil.

[Jason Green]

Hi Neil, for two people with a couple of things in common we're disagreeing again!

Originally Posted by fairplay

I had to read these 2 posts twice to believe what I was reading.

This is a just a wood pigeon dammit, have you any idea what a pest they are to farmers ?

We're just showing compassion to a poor injured bird that has probably been suffering a fair deal for 48hrs in cold, snowy conditions.

Originally Posted by fairplay

...and strongly object to the term "local big boys" to describe probably quite decent lads doing a vital and legitimate job for the local farmer.

...but highly ineffectively. If I've learnt one thing through the numerous Hunting threads it's that those with the guns kill instantly, without the bird suffering any pain or stress. This bird was hit, probably fell from a height and has lived with a pellet in it for some time, and been forced to hide - without mentioning the stress, pain and hunger that has prevented it from feeding.

All me and Acher were doing was sympathising - the question of hunting's rights and wrongs is irrelevant. To me, so far it's a nice story of how a bird can survive injury.

[fairplay]

Ah sweet. I prefer to live in the real world.

Neil.

[Jason Green]

My last post in this thread. It isn't 'Real World/Not Real World', just differing viewpoints

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

My last post in this thread. It isn't 'Real World/Not Real World', just differing viewpoints

Exactly, so respect mine please.

Neil.

[SheffieldLass]

He's not got a white neck patch so must be a juvenile. From the thumbnail I thought he was a Stocky not a Woody until I clicked on the larger photo. Glad he has survived.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

He's not got a white neck patch so must be a juvenile. From the thumbnail I thought he was a Stocky not a Woody until I clicked on the larger photo. Glad he has survived.

[Picidae]

You want to tone it down a bit Fairplay? Whatever your views on pest control and what species of birds/animals might come under that, it shouldn't endorse a callous acceptance of the prolonged suffering of any species of bird or animal - that's below the dignity of any human being (regardless of 'what world they claim to inhabit'.)