Lapwing nest predation

[jall55]

We don't have enough flags or chimps to put them in...

That makes perfect sense as normal

Have a good day

 

[crow killer]

I my area there are hundreds of acres of Lucerne it will be cut soon then a second cut and possibly a third, the machines move fast so also a thick crop.
Lots of creatures will circum to the cutters but there is nothing that or will be done as the contractors have a job to do,
I rarely use this term but " It is what it is "

yes that why theres not many ground nesters , man has completely fluffed up much of our planet. Is what it is, but help where we can, with many ways,

 

[crow killer]

Get some help. There must be someone local, who like many of us here, has a serious passion for these birds, who can spend a few hours a few times a week doing a bit of overwatch with a .17hmr or 223 knocking off the crows or foxes?

Other than that reach out to the GWCT and see if there's any of their advisors local that can have a look and see if you would be eligible for any grants or advise on what you could do to improve the success rate.

Ive just 115 acres I own, theres another fellow across the valley thats had a lot of foxes over the years, but theres many different owners, I cant go around asking permission for other folks to go on their land, its in a very rural area, not anyone much, bothering with it. But a few stalkers on a forestry block nearby.
Next year ill be retired and will certainly have more time for keepering, ive a full time job and running the farm as well.

 

[jall55]

Ive just 115 acres I own, theres another fellow across the valley thats had a lot of foxes over the years, but theres many different owners, I cant go around asking permission for other folks to go on their land, its in a very rural area, not anyone much, bothering with it. But a few stalkers on a forestry block nearby.
Next year ill be retired and will certainly have more time for keepering, ive a full time job and running the farm as well.

You can do a hell of a lot with 115 acres - You will love retirement !

 

[jall55]

Ive just 115 acres I own, theres another fellow across the valley thats had a lot of foxes over the years, but theres many different owners, I cant go around asking permission for other folks to go on their land, its in a very rural area, not anyone much, bothering with it. But a few stalkers on a forestry block nearby.
Next year ill be retired and will certainly have more time for keepering, ive a full time job and running the farm as well.

Have you tried ladder traps ? In the right place they can take serious numbers of corvids in short spaces of time

 

[jall55]

Crow killer - be worth engaging with GWCT - they are conducting research in Wales on how to detect waders and protect them in grass for silage

On another note - i dont like fences - but i put some up 5/6 years ago to protect new hedgerows - Its just sheep netting with wooden posts
I will be taking some - lots more of this down - You are more than welcome to it if you think it could be used to fence your fields for waders

 

[Tim.243]

yes that why theres not many ground nesters , man has completely fluffed up much of our planet. Is what it is, but help where we can, with many ways,

What would you suggest that would improve the way Lucerne well all machine cut crops are cut as %99 of it is time dependant, also most is cut at ground level with by-products being bailed after cutting.

 

[jall55]

What would you suggest that would improve the way Lucerne well all machine cut crops are cut as %99 of it is time dependant, also most is cut at ground level with by-products being bailed after cutting.

Thermal drones spotting nests - and exclusions squares being fenced
Its not hard to make a difference - its getting people to care enough

I walk stuff out of our hay - there is always a solution - or at least some way we can help

 

[Tim.243]

Thermal drones spotting nests - and exclusions squares being fenced
Its not hard to make a difference - its getting people to care enough

I walk stuff out of our hay - there is always a solution - or at least some way we can help

My cousin does 175k bales a season, one wheat field on a 600 acre farm is 180 acres there is not the staff or time when the crops are at moisture (% wise) ready to carry out that practise. Come harvest time everything looks hot, tall osr/beans you can't walk through as it is so thick also not practical to walk it through.

 

[jall55]

My cousin does 175k bales a season, one wheat field on a 600 acre farm is 180 acres there is not the staff or time when the crops are at moisture (% wise) ready to carry out that practise. Come harvest time everything looks hot, tall osr/beans you can't walk through as it is so thick also not practical to walk it through.

Thats correct - but these monocultures are less of an issue tbh as they are so less desirable for things to nest in anyway and hopefully by harvest what little in there has had half a chance to breed and get out

 

[kevtherev]

Exceptionally difficult to spot curlew or peeweet nests off a tractor on early silage cutting if they are spotted either put a marker and go round it if possible.
Badgers and foxes clear up lot of the ground nesting birds unfortunately.
Remember moving some young leverets whilst topping rushes some years ago only to see them being taken by buzzards even though I placed them in cover.

 

[jall55]

Exceptionally difficult to spot curlew or peeweet nests off a tractor on early silage cutting if they are spotted either put a marker and go round it if possible.
Badgers and foxes clear up lot of the ground nesting birds unfortunately.
Remember moving some young leverets whilst topping rushes some years ago only to see them being taken by buzzards even though I placed them in cover.

Yes - hopefully technology will catch up and detectors become normal place on tractors - maybe wishful thinking ? Who knows
I also appreciate its hard once 99 percent of the cover is gone for a nest to then be a success

 

[jall55]

Exceptionally difficult to spot curlew or peeweet nests off a tractor on early silage cutting if they are spotted either put a marker and go round it if possible.
Badgers and foxes clear up lot of the ground nesting birds unfortunately.
Remember moving some young leverets whilst topping rushes some years ago only to see them being taken by buzzards even though I placed them in cover.

Maybe in the future government money is thrown at these places with the last of the Curlew / Lapwing strong holds NOT to cut for silage
Serious money like the amounts that get spent reintroducing beaver and pine marten and eagles !

 

[kevtherev]

GWCT are doing a lot of work on Welsh hill farms with curlew at the moment I’ve not read too much about it though.

 

[jall55]

GWCT are doing a lot of work on Welsh hill farms with curlew at the moment I’ve not read too much about it though.

Yes i mention it further up the thread - they are indeed using thermal drones

 

[Tim.243]

Thats correct - but these monocultures are less of an issue tbh as they are so less desirable for things to nest in anyway and hopefully by harvest what little in there has had half a chance to breed and get out

Very little that uses crops for cover come harvest with x2 10m headers running day and night escapes them.

 

[kevtherev]

Another topic that’s relevant to disturbance of ground nesting birds is the rise in dog walkers in the countryside.
Lot more about now as say 30 years ago

 

[jall55]

Another topic that’s relevant to disturbance of ground nesting birds is the rise in dog walkers in the countryside.
Lot more about now as say 30 years ago

A clip on Insat - Curlew Action page showing a dog snaffling a nest

 

[kevtherev]

Dare I say it but wind farms and the associated infrastructure not helping curlews.

 

[Ratel]

Incidentally the biggest kills I've ever experienced in pheasant pens were by badgers . Straight through the wire , ignoring the electric fence then killing as good as any fox could.

A Pine Marten makes a badger or a fox look like a novice, in a release pen.