Dead Kingfisher

[camo]

Hi

I recently found a dead Kingfisher, it was after the really cold spell with all the local lakes frozen. I had the opportunity to see how delicate the bird was with virually no weight, and i guess we should all realise that anything so small whether it be a mammal, bird or insect is at the mercy of changing conditions. I understand the winter of 1963 almost wiped out Kingfishers and i wonder what the effect of this winter has had on such a delicate system.

Roy

[nigel_b]

Thats very sad. I saw one of our local ones only a couple of days ago after all the snow had melted, and photographed a couple of goldcrests this weekend just gone so hopefully the recent cold spell wasnt too tragic.

[FUDGEY]

Did you keep it? I would really like one stuffed, such a shame a beautiful bird like that going to waste. As an appeal, bit of a long shot, but if anyone else finds one would they freeze it and send me it? I will pay all coosts thank you.

[Cowgirl]

I used to work with someone like you fudgey, he had us all collecting any dead (small!) bird wherever we found one, road/window kill, had us all filling our freezers, then he used to take a load for stuffing. He had a good collection after several years!

No kingfishers 'round me unfortunately (not near a river or body of water) but will keep an eye out!

[Synn]

A dead swan was found on a loch near me that apparently died from the freezing temperatures D:

[FoxtonWildlifeRescue]

We didn't see the Kingfisher that lives by our local canal for ages during the freeze. We were very relieved to see it again just a few days ago.

It was probably off looking for other food sources like streams that didn't freeze.

[camo]

Hi fudgy

i did collect it but handed it in to the ranger (Paxton Pits) who will i hope use it as part of his collection to show people and children. When i first saw the bird its colours were bright but i was not able to collect it until a week later when the water had subsided and by this time it had lost a lot of colour. I did photgraph the bird but decided not share the picture.

When i find things i will always consider how it can be useful after death or if its death helps in some way like understanding why it died but i will also consider that often some animals rely on the death of others to get through winter. So things like rabbits badgers foxes and deer i will tend to move out of sight of passer bys but somewhere where a buzzard fox or beetle will find it.

Roy