Lapwing nest predation

[Brad93]

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 I'll be retired and will certainly have more time for keepering, ive a full time job and running the farm as well.

When you're retired/have a bit more time, it might be worth setting up a curlew predation group, getting a few of the local landowners together and seeing if you can't persuade a few of them to allow shooting and trapping of corvids on their land.

As I said I'm sure you can find people here who would be more than happy to help with the trapping or shooting.

Unfortunately it is a case of knocking on doors half the time. Same as any shooter trying to pick up permission, except you're doing it from a purely conservation perspective.

 

[Brad93]

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

New research has shown they are great for the red squirrels though!

 

[Ratel]

This has brought on memories of searing hot August afternoons / late evenings after school, bale dust sticking to sweat down the back of the neck & shoulders, hole worn in palm of hand from launching the pike staff, learning to drive the Massey 135 /
165's, drawing a baler at the right speed & pulling the baling twine rope to let go a rook of bales.
Riding the huge swaying stack trailer lifting cables on the way to an illegal beer at the Egerton arms.

You should have been used to it by then. June haymaking would have hardened your hands. Pitching bales 5 high on a trailer, and those from the field hedge run were twice as heavy. Never pitched straw bales as a schoolboy but plenty of wheat and barley sheafs on to trailer then off to form a rick.
You would never have pitched the straw bales from threshing time, and the 12 stone bags of wheat were a bugger.

 

[Ratel]

New research has shown they are great for the red squirrels though!

Until they have killed all the greys. I've seen plenty of red squirrels killed by them, usually stalked on the ground or killed up the first 20 foot of trunk.

 

[Tim.243]

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

There are a lot more people than 30 years ago, also with the housing expansion they have to walk somewhere, around 12 million more.

All of this is a product of farming and population changes and that will not decrease.

 

[jall55]

There are a lot more people than 30 years ago, also with the housing expansion they have to walk somewhere, around 12 million more.

All of this is a product of farming and population changes and that will not decrease.

Lots of us have / are making real differences

 

[Smellydog]

Dozens of kites have turned up on one place. I feel like all my efforts are a waste of time, energy and money!
Farmer told me how a hen pheasant brought 12 chicks into the yard and hid them in a hedge in the yard. A few hours letter he noticed her leaving but only had four chicks following! I'm sitting in the yard bumping pests off and the kites are combing every inch! Which gormless idiot thought it was a good idea to release these bloody things?
The lapwings have left, I haven't seen a meadow pipet for weeks and I've only seen a few larks since the kites arrived.
The curlew have gone as well.

Why do these idiots just think of things they want to see easily and ignore the bigger picture?

 

[WW.]

There are a lot more people than 30 years ago, also with the housing expansion they have to walk somewhere, around 12 million more.

All of this is a product of farming and population changes and that will not decrease.

Would be nice if they stuck to the paths.

 

[jall55]

Dozens of kites have turned up on one place. I feel like all my efforts are a waste of time, energy and money!
Farmer told me how a hen pheasant brought 12 chicks into the yard and hid them in a hedge in the yard. A few hours letter he noticed her leaving but only had four chicks following! I'm sitting in the yard bumping pests off and the kites are combing every inch! Which gormless idiot thought it was a good idea to release these bloody things?
The lapwings have left, I haven't seen a meadow pipet for weeks and I've only seen a few larks since the kites arrived.
The curlew have gone as well.

Why do these idiots just think of things they want to see easily and ignore the bigger picture?

Feedback to the government on the current species consultation - i asked them to put gulls back on and badgers

 

[jall55]

Dozens of kites have turned up on one place. I feel like all my efforts are a waste of time, energy and money!
Farmer told me how a hen pheasant brought 12 chicks into the yard and hid them in a hedge in the yard. A few hours letter he noticed her leaving but only had four chicks following! I'm sitting in the yard bumping pests off and the kites are combing every inch! Which gormless idiot thought it was a good idea to release these bloody things?
The lapwings have left, I haven't seen a meadow pipet for weeks and I've only seen a few larks since the kites arrived.
The curlew have gone as well.

Why do these idiots just think of things they want to see easily and ignore the bigger picture?

I also tell RSPB - wildlife trusts of the damage i see - I also send them instances of predation

 

[Brad93]

Feedback to the government on the current species consultation - i asked them to put gulls back on and badgers

Dozens of kites have turned up on one place. I feel like all my efforts are a waste of time, energy and money!
Farmer told me how a hen pheasant brought 12 chicks into the yard and hid them in a hedge in the yard. A few hours letter he noticed her leaving but only had four chicks following! I'm sitting in the yard bumping pests off and the kites are combing every inch! Which gormless idiot thought it was a good idea to release these bloody things?
The lapwings have left, I haven't seen a meadow pipet for weeks and I've only seen a few larks since the kites arrived.
The curlew have gone as well.

Why do these idiots just think of things they want to see easily and ignore the bigger picture?

I was lucky to see some lapwings last week on a farm in Essex. The lapwings were protected by a 5ft fence from Foxes but that does nothing to stop the kites, gulls and numerous corvids I saw.

 

[kevtherev]

Gulls are pretty vicious and will take most things opportunists same as crows and magpies.

 

[Ratel]

Dozens of kites have turned up on one place. I feel like all my efforts are a waste of time, energy and money!
Farmer told me how a hen pheasant brought 12 chicks into the yard and hid them in a hedge in the yard. A few hours letter he noticed her leaving but only had four chicks following! I'm sitting in the yard bumping pests off and the kites are combing every inch! Which gormless idiot thought it was a good idea to release these bloody things?
The lapwings have left, I haven't seen a meadow pipet for weeks and I've only seen a few larks since the kites arrived.
The curlew have gone as well.

Why do these idiots just think of things they want to see easily and ignore the bigger picture?

We just have to face it Smelly, most of these idiots never listen to experience, they just grab a PHd and tick boxes. You just cannot and never will educate Pork.

 

[jall55]

Posted on another thread - but quite appropriate for here - Some of the people do understand our way of life and what we are trying to achieve



We have worked with James/Jim for several years as part of the District Level License Scheme for Great crested newts. This project helps to replace and create the aquatic habitats that are lost due to building developments across many regions.

Over the years James/Jim has created ten ponds across his land specifically to be part of the scheme - helping to create a local refuge for this red listed species.

This is in addition to all the other ponds that he has been creating across the estate. These clusters of aquatic and marginal zones sit within a fantastic larger mosaic of mixed habitats including woodland, hedgerows, grassland, wildflower meadows and cover crops.

It’s this variety of habitats that makes the estate so special and leads to its ever increasing levels of biodiversity. Creating such a multitude of possibilities for wildlife within a shooting estate really does work and improves the chances for species recovery for so many that are in massive decline nationally.

The conservation and shooting sectors are often at loggerheads; but here there is plenty of evidence that things can also be harmonious and work together for the benefit of all.

James/Jim has a great passion and enthusiasm for improving the odds for wildlife, whilst bridging the gap between the shooting and conservation sectors.

Helping to create such a wonderful and harmonious estate that is filled with the most diverse array of habitats and biodiversity that will hopefully continue to improve as time goes by.



Frag Last

Senior Project Officer

Wildscapes

Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.













Frag Last

Senior Project Officer
DLL Projects
Wildscapes CIC




Web: www.wildscapes.co.uk



Working with us supports the work of the Wildlife Trusts. Our profits are re-invested back into the charitable works of our parent company; the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.


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[Brad93]

You've only got to watch the Schoffel series of videos to see some of the incredible conservation efforts going on at shoots around the country.

 

[jall55]

You've only got to watch the Schoffel series of videos to see some of the incredible conservation efforts going on at shoots around the country.

Yes we were lucky enough to have one done - made it through again this year to the judges coming out phase so fingers crossed !

 

[kevtherev]

Do gooders forget the amount of feed that’s placed on shoots in vast quantities which supports songbirds and other wildlife through winter periods.
The late John ransford correctly states this in one of the jacks game series that was on Yorkshire TV in the 80s

 

[jall55]

Do gooders forget the amount of feed that’s placed on shoots in vast quantities which supports songbirds and other wildlife through winter periods.
The late John ransford correctly states this in one of the jacks game series that was on Yorkshire TV in the 80s

And the insects in our cover - beetle banks - managed woods - hedges - laid hedges - the seed in our bird plots and so it goes on

 

[kevtherev]

I often smile when they quote ‘farmland birds’ in books or on surveys and the very existence of those birds is all around farmland and cropping.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Sat waiting on a fox crossing the boundary from next door this evening. Had a magpie fly into the hedge, blackbird started kicking off. Lasted maybe 10 minutes then out flew the magpie and landed in the grass field I was sat in.
Looking through the scope I could see blue near the magpie's head. Squeezed off,big puff of feathers. Walked over to look, bloody thing had dropped the blackbird egg it was carrying, totally intact. Shame I couldn't find the nest to return it.
Still,55grains from a 223 did the magpie a world of good