Attacked by an eagle

[John D]

It's certainly not what the Reverend expected from above.

BBC News - Sea eagle attacks cleric defending his geese

John D

http://johnswildworld.zenfolio.com/

[eeyore]

The RSPB said it had visited Mr Farquharson in 2008 after the first attack and paid for the installation of netting to keep his birds safe, but that these protection measures had since been removed.

and that being the case i have very little sympathy for him - if he knew there was a risk why did he remove the netting ?

still it wont be long before some numpty is claiming they carry off small children and calling for a cull

[King Edward]

It sounds an odd precedent to set, the RSPB paying for netting to be installed. Are they going to do this for all goose owners once these eagles become widespread?

[rossy]

did any one witness the attack ? and how do they know it was the same bird as in 2008 ? bit odd the to say the least. rossy.

[fairplay]

Now the reverend can truly say, hand on heart, there really is something great in the heavens.

Neil.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by King Edward

It sounds an odd precedent to set, the RSPB paying for netting to be installed. Are they going to do this for all goose owners once these eagles become widespread?

I presume it was to do with proximity to a release site - once the birds become widespread there wont be the same concentration of immature birds in one area

[The Woodman]

The story about the incident in the BBC's DailyTelegraph link puts more meat on the bones.

It wasn't the same eagle that visited in 2008 - "it" in the BBC report refers to the RSPB as I read it, the bird was a locally raised Norwegian chick released ten days before the incident and was "naive" according to the RSPB.

I'm not surprised the Very Reverend gentleman got scratched, he is reported as catching the bird by covering it with wire netting and handing it to the RSPB!

It's an interesting subject, factually reporting an incident!

[Tringa]

From the Telegraph article is appears he was attacked before he caught the bird.



Mr Farquharson, Provost of St Ninian’s Cathedral in Perth, said he was "horrified" to find the goose, worth about £300, "ripped to shreds".

He went inside to phone the RSPB, a partner in the reintroduction project, but then heard a "terrible noise" as the eagle chased his champion gander Bertie.

When he tried to intervene the raptor jumped on his back, tearing his shirt, leaving a 4in wound below his shoulder and cutting his head.

Mr Farquharson said: "It was very, very frightening. The geese have been traumatised by it. They have not laid since. And I'm traumatised too. I'm 6ft 5in, but it was such a shock."

When the young eagle tried to fly away it bumped into a shed and he managed to trap it by throwing wire netting over it while it was on the grass.



However, am I the only one who thinks the Reverend may have a point?

Should sea eagles have been released into an area with a relatively high population density and therefore more easily available sources of food?

Why, if food is available, would an eagle (or any other predator) move elsewhere?

Has the release in Fife possibly set up the circumstances for conflict?

Dave

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Tringa

From the Telegraph article is appears he was attacked before he caught the bird.



Mr Farquharson, Provost of St Ninian’s Cathedral in Perth, said he was "horrified" to find the goose, worth about £300, "ripped to shreds".

He went inside to phone the RSPB, a partner in the reintroduction project, but then heard a "terrible noise" as the eagle chased his champion gander Bertie.

When he tried to intervene the raptor jumped on his back, tearing his shirt, leaving a 4in wound below his shoulder and cutting his head.

Mr Farquharson said: "It was very, very frightening. The geese have been traumatised by it. They have not laid since. And I'm traumatised too. I'm 6ft 5in, but it was such a shock."

When the young eagle tried to fly away it bumped into a shed and he managed to trap it by throwing wire netting over it while it was on the grass.



However, am I the only one who thinks the Reverend may have a point?

Should sea eagles have been released into an area with a relatively high population density and therefore more easily available sources of food?

Why, if food is available, would an eagle (or any other predator) move elsewhere?

Has the release in Fife possibly set up the circumstances for conflict?

Dave

doesnt adress the issue of why he took down the netting that the rspb had previously paid to have put up after the last time one of his geese was attacked.

also - i have really difficulty believing either that the eagle was 'chasing' his goose, or that it jumped on his back - sea eagles can fly - and would have no difficulty catching a goose without a prolonged chase

its also difficult to believe that a goose would be worth 300 quid - what was it, one that laid golden eggs

[solus]

Perhaps the Eagle was aware of the Very Reverend gentleman's first name and decided to get its revenge in first!


OK, I'll pick up my coat on the way out....