Arctic Tern killed on the Farne Islands

[rlchew]

My apologies if this has already been posted somewhere .... it does date from 7th June although I have only just seen it.

An Arctic Tern has been killed by a visitor to the Farne Islands who objected to the bird defending its nest site in the normal manner.

An understandably angry post from the wardens ....

Tern down

Apart from also making me very angry that such a beautiful bird has been killed, I am totally confused as to why someone would take a trip on a boat to an offshore island nature reserve and then behave like this.

Hopefully the "village idiot" was forcefully pecked by all the other terns although this I suspect would be a minor inconvenience compared with if the WAB membership got hold of him.

Richard

[stigofthedump]

I'm speechless, What a good-for-nothing...........WAB rules now Vince.

I cannot fathom some people



Vince

[NicolaB]

Absolutely livid to read this There are plenty of warnings about the terns being aggressive before you even book your tickets, so what did he expect? If you're visiting a bird reserve, the birds come first, we're the visitors, they're the residents, they're only doing what comes naturally and defending their young.

The tern peck injuries don't even hurt that much, I'd got kind of immune to them by the end of the day! However, even the day we were there a few of us witnessed someone equally brain deficient waving a spiked walking pole above their heads in defence..grrr.

Really upset by this

[Ladywell]

I cannot imagine why someone would visit the Farne Island unless it was to view the wildlife? Farne Island is on 'my wish list' of places to visit.

Why was the person not arrested - if someone one the mainland was seen to maim or kill a wild creature then the police would have been involved.

Incidentally, there is some brilliant footage of 'tern attacks' on Farne on last night's Countryfile.

[aeshna5]

Unbelievable! Weather permitting I'll be making my first trips to the Farnes next week + looking forward to it. Hopefully no morons like this individual will be present. Hope they throw the book at him.

[Gill Catton]

Is he being prosecuted? After all birds are protected from being killed or injured. It would be crazy to let such a bang to rights case slip through the fingers.

[stigofthedump]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Is he being prosecuted? After all birds are protected from being killed or injured. It would be crazy to let such a bang to rights case slip through the fingers.

Thats what I thought Gill, wonder why the police were not waiting on the mainland for the returning boat.



Vince

[DOXHOPE]

Ive been to the Franes every year for many seasons now, and Ive never heard anything like this..I like them sitting on my head, and the pecking dosnt bother me one little bit
Im there this Friday 25th on the all day trip, if anyone else is, please say hello, Im tall dark, handsome and will have a red carnation in my lapel.. and if I see anyone waving sticks at terns I will pull their head off and put pics on WAB