Various Dead Birds

[Wrenna]

I have a local wildlife spot that I like to frequent. It's a stretch of canal which is usually a little haven, as it only attracts the odd fisherman and a cyclist or two.
We walk the dogs there three or four times a week, and I was there just yesterday.
Usually the mallards follow us up the canal, expecting some food. They are always quite active and quite vocal on the canal. Tonight though, something was different. The ducks were not in their usual place, and when I did come across them they were perfectly still in the middle of the water, not interacting with each other, not moving at all.
Next I saw the Canadian geese, who have two babies so normally have a bit of a hissing fit... but even they were subdued. One gave me the head-bobbing "stay away", but nothing more.
Last night I noticed a blonde duck with a new brood of ducklings. They were all swimming happily around. Tonight, however, she hurried her brood off when she saw us.
When I got around the corner I understood why. Two dead pigeons, a dead moor hen, a dead mallard, and something unidentifiable but larger than a pigeon and definitely not a waterbird.
All were fairly undamaged from what I could see, and all were floating in the canal within about 100metres of each other.
I would like to think that this has been a predator attack, but logic tells me that a predator would have taken the prey with them. I suspect that someone has been taking pot-shots at the birds.
Is it worth reporting this to the RSPB even though I have no hard proof (other than the existance of lots of dead birds)? I have taken a few photos, but nothing that really points obviously to why they died.

It's such a shame - it's such a lovely place.

[TeresaW]

I would definitely metion it to the RSPB, although if it was some idiot with an airgun, there probably isn't much they could do other than attempt to ask police to check it out.

But if it was something else, pollution or disease, less likely I know, but they need to know this.

[posie]

Hi Wrenna,
Yes I would definitely report it, somebody could then fish the birds out of the water and see what killed them...I'm not sure who to report it to but the RSPB would be a good place to start, I think each area has a Wildlife 'crime' officer, but whether it's on the Local Council, I'm not sure, but the RSPB would know...Good Luck, and let us know the outcome...Posie..

[Jim Ford]

If it's hooligans, then they'd had so much 'sport' that they'll probably be back again for some more. Best keep a look out!

Jim

[seamusagleann]

hi there! if you suspect that someone has been talking pot shots at birds, you can contact your local wildlife crime officer ,if he can he'll probably retrieve a bird and send it for a pm to find out cause of death,but as you say they were not taken away so could be a mink ,they are always around water! good luck in finding out!

[rossy]

try the rspca they will send a warden out , to investigate. rossy.

[Wrenna]

My other half and I went for an walk this evening, without the dogs, as we were determined to get to the bottom of this.
The moment we arrived at the canalside, one thing was apparent... this abundant wildlife haven was silent. Most of the ducks gone, all of the canadian geese (including the families with babies) gone, and everything else gone.
My partner even noticed that there were no pigeons around.

We soon found out why. As we neared the end of the stretch of the canal we noticed a man lurking quite literally in the bushes. He spoke as we passed him, and then my other half spotted his accomplices sitting tucked in a nook with something in their hands.
We changed our route, looped around and ten minutes later we walked back down the canal and lo and behold, there were four men with two air rifles.
I was all up for confronting them, but my partner told me not to do anything and to walk past quickly (in hindsight he was right, lol).
As we walked back to our starting point, a black headed gull flew over head, and then we heard shots. B'st'rds.

I went straight to the police station and gave them all the information. They were very helpful and were going to take action straight away. They will phone me with an update as soon as they have one.

Now going to see what the RSPB and the RSPCA think... I have photographic evidence (including a sly picture of one of the chavs holding the gun), and of the dead birds.

I'm gutted. I really am.
In the space of a week they have completely decimated what was once a thriving place.
I would have rather it been some kind of natural predator beserking it around the canal rather than a bunch of stupid chavs with new toys.

[aeshna5]

I hope the police nail them. It's distressing that a few mindless yobs can cause such disruption to what should be a peaceful haven.

[posie]

Hello Wrenna....a very sad story...hopefully your actions will put a stop to it, at least in that area..and after a little while it will recover..more birds will come in and live in the lovely place..I hope that the chaps doing the shooting 'see the light', this could be a turning point in their lives, let's hope so..Posie.

[mrbright]

hi wrenna, indeed a truly appalling crime, life will return to normal shortly, thanks to your tenacity and quick actions, hopefully these thugs will be caught and punished accordingly with their guns being destroyed.
well done both of you.