A Thames Valley Police spokesman said "We have received a report of red kites stealing cooked food including sausages from a hot barbecue.
"We have also received a report of a red kite taking a fully-grown male Mallard duck off the water. "
Anyone with confirmed reports of red kites killing young livestock or domestic pets should call police on 101."And just what do you plan to do about it? Will the farce helicopter be joining in the
Blimey, I'd think you'd want to avoid birds for a bit - you’re already a laughing stock over that swan!
H/T: Scaryduck via Twitter
The identity parade would be worth seeing:
ReplyDelete"Now, madam, can you tell us which of these birds was the one that attacked Bijou?"
While on the subject, the police seem to be rather behind the times: even back in 2010, it was clear the birds hadn't read the books that said they only ate carrion...
ReplyDeletehttp://mrsrigbysays.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/bustards-and-red-things.html
I suppose it's only a matter of time before someone puts it all down to the re-introduction depriving them their cultural heritage.
Macheath, it's illegal for a farmer to leave carrion of any kind on their land. So...
ReplyDeleteStill, it may solve the dog (and kitten) problem of the UK: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/petshealth/9228685/Red-Kite-tries-to-fly-off-with-handbag-sized-Pomeranian-toy-dog.html
However, we won't be having any serious fun until the UK greenies start to bring in bears and wolves to 'balance nature', like they did in mainland Europe.
Absolutely magnificent birds and masters of aerial ballet .. but like all of the Kite family (Black Kites, Brahminy Kites etc) they will take advantage of an easy meal .. hence the nickname "Shite Hawks" given to them by British soldiers in India and the Middle East, who were careless enough to leave unguarded mess tins of food lying around ..
ReplyDeleteThere are also breeding populations of Red Kites in Yorkshire, around Harewood House, near Leeds (and I know of one very good nest site in E.Yorks) .. populations also present in Scotland, Northamptonshire (Rockingham Forest), the North East (around Newcastle) and of course in mid Wales ..
I've also been lucky enough to visit the release site for the Great Bustard Re-Introduction Project on Salisbury Plain ..
These birds were once numerous on English fenland & were usually hunted when it was too wet for Hawking .. They form part of the armorial bearings for the City of Cambridge ..
Great to see both these iconic British birds back where they belong ..
Though quite what Thames Valley Police hope to do about it (other than make fools of themselves) is something of a puzzle ..
The police, instead of just being the guardians of Facebook Terms and Conditions, are now searching the skies for antisocial birds, though diversity training means they must make allowances for brown owls, blackbirds and yellowhammers.
ReplyDeleteHF - careless of me; I should have specified 'meals that don't run away fast' (which, incidentally, have included my nephew's lunchtime sandwiches).
ReplyDeleteThey may not find carrion on farmland but their partiality to roadkill necessitates constant vigilance when driving round corners on the local country lanes.
I saw a dog bark at a cat. Should I call the police?
ReplyDeleteMaceath, yeah, there are those moments in life where one needs to step on the accellerator. :)
ReplyDeleteA special Weidmanheil wish to the hero who was responsible for this happy ending: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdeutschlandecho.org%2Findex.php%2F2012%2F04%2F24%2Fwesterwald-erster-seit-uber-120-jahren-gesichteter-wolf-erschossen%2F
I had the impression this government licensed Prince Harry to resolve problems concerning rare and protected birds.
ReplyDeleteThe lad dutifully culls the offending species, patrolling the palace grounds in the family Panzerkampfwagen Tiger tank which, for an unrelated reason, is kept in full battle readiness.
If the guilty one is gaoled then it will be truly "doing bird".
ReplyDeleteClearly a hate crime.
ReplyDeleteA wild bird nicks a sausage and someone reports it to the police?
ReplyDeleteWTF?
What law is being broken please?
sack the numptey in charge sack the numpty below him then glare at the cowering remains The people who dislike these predators are the same who like to shoot em divies
ReplyDeleteWhat will they do? Don't you know, you should by now!
ReplyDeleteThey will prosecute the BBQ user for feeding the birds unsuitable and dangerous food and putting them at risk of course.
"The identity parade would be worth seeing.."
ReplyDeleteIndeed it would!
"Macheath, it's illegal for a farmer to leave carrion of any kind on their land."
Proving they knew an animal had died on what might be many acres could be hard.
"Great to see both these iconic British birds back where they belong ."
Yes, it is! I saw one soaring over Woburn when I went to the safari park last year.
"...though diversity training means they must make allowances for brown owls, blackbirds and yellowhammers."
:D
"I saw a dog bark at a cat. Should I call the police?"
ReplyDeleteHeh!
"What law is being broken please?"
Gawd knows!
"They will prosecute the BBQ user for feeding the birds unsuitable and dangerous food..."
I wouldn't be a bit surprised!