RIP Pheasant

[John]

I'm sorry but I think I am going to upset a lot of people here by the look of it.

It is sad that the Pheasant has met an untimely end, as it is with all forms of wildlife that become roadkill, but I can't believe that you think that everyone that drives a car has to be so blinkered that they have to have wildlife continually on their mind. That is totally impossible and also very impracticable.

I have killed a few things in my time but those that have been driven by me know that I am no mad driver, quite the opposite, but you just can't second guess what's going to come at you whilst on the road, especially at night.

Pheasant are one of the stupidest birds on the road, along with Pigeons plus Rabbits really take the biscuit. They all seem hell bent on playing chicken with oncoming traffic.

I agree that there should be more awareness where there seems to be a road like the one werdnal mentions, but even on roads where hedges are high I have seen Pheasants come out of the hedge at the last minute. When they realise they have moved into a problem they still try to take off with no chance of gaining enough height, both to clear the car, and if they did to clear the hedge.

John

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by John

Pheasant are one of the stupidest birds on the road. They all seem hell bent on playing chicken with oncoming traffic.
John

I agree with John. We have lots of pheasants around here and they love to run out right in front of you. I have not hit one yet, but I am sure it is only a matter of time.

Having said that, it is awful to lose a creature that you have become fond of. So, I do sympathise but don't always blame the motorist.

Jenny

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

I also agree with John on this one

Pheasants are one of the daftest birds around, most of the time they will wait until you are within a few feet to make a dash across the road, luckily i tend to know this and slow down a little, but there is no way i'd swerve the car to avoid one, possibly causing a major traffic accident you don't have to be going fast to kill a small creature like a Pheasant, 15-20mph will easily do that. I've hit a few birds while driving in the past, a couple of blackbirds that flew straight in front of me, a sparrow that did the same, and a Wood Pigeon It's not nice when it happens but it's totally unavoidable

[ron1863]

Totally agree, pheasants are the dumbest birds

[brainfarmer]

i was trying to say that john but in a kind way. lets face it at 30mph its fairly hard to stop i dont see drivers hurtling down country lanes killing all wildlife before them. most people dont like to hit stuff if only for the mess it makes i speak as an ex driver.

[eeyore]

I tend to agree with john - pheasants are not going to win entry to mensa anytime soon - i got one last week while driving off road at under 10mph - the stupid thing jumped out of a hedge and ran between my front wheels then got caught by the back ones as i braked - doh , i guess its evolution in eaction though if the daft ones dont survive long enough to breed

that said i do have sympathy for werdnal , it is dificult when we become attached to any wild creature as they daily run risks which we cant protect them from - when i was a kid i was very attached to "my" woodmouse Horris who used to feed off cheese put on a window sill - obviously the various mice caught by the cat were never horris and he was still "alive" when we moved out 10years later - cynics have suggested that he was in fact a whole succesion of mice , but obviously this is beyond belief

[badgerwatcher]

Oh it's no good being resentful about it. It's just what's going to happen when people live among birds and animals. In the same way as seagulls turn out rubbish bags. We're living where they live.
I just hate to see the little bodies by the road.