We cut ours August for meadow hay and same really - do our best but still have a few casualties
Lapwing nest predation
- Thread starter crow killer
- Start date
Its a job I look forward to giving up a few hot summers evenings bale leading. Done it since I could lift a bale and despite it being hard work I enjoy spending the time grafting with my dad and brother while we still can.
We make it with 60yr old fordson majors and a 50yr old elevator. none of this black plastic waste at feeding time. Cant keep the horsey lot away!
Brilliant Nick
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.
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.
crow killer
Well-Known Member
Another lapwing nest has been predated, went to check tonight, no adults there, an empty nest and an egg shell about 20 yards away, didnt look like a hatched shell to me, they and other birds are heading fast to extinction, only places they are still breeding with success is on well keepered land, so thats 4 out of 5 nests failed, id like to see use of alphacloroloase licenced in eggs only for crow control,
Cant you set some larsens up ?
Upi sure they havent hatched ? - maybe a few cameras up on a nest or two ?
crow killer
Well-Known Member
If theyd hatched the adults would have been around me screaming, no sign of them, ill look again, but looks like an egg shell thats been eaten, no blood stain inside which would be a hatched egg clue, im totally ****ed off about this, ive caught about 22 carrions, have had a 6 and an 8 in my large cage within days of setting it, but nothing since and have had about 5 in a larsen trap and shot 2 carrions with my .243. Theres still plenty about which wont be caught or cant be approached to be shot, yes a camera on it would have told the truth, I absolutely despise carrions.
Of course yes forgot how the adults go crazy
Keep at it mate - dont lose faith - I think i have caught about 75 now - Have great success with the clam traps rather than conventional larsens - Sometimes if they wont come to a crow they will a magpie in a trap too
crow killer
Well-Known Member
ive bought 2 clam traps, had one well hidden on edge of pond with egg shells as bait, got none. then another set more in the open got 7 jackdaws in that, I have a 2nd larsen with a magpie in and had it out for 2 weeks in 2 places caught nothing, normally magpies are easy to catch. Cumbria is heaving with carrion crows.
Theres no chance of much getting a brood away, if its not them then its other reasons and we all know what has change in the countryside, things are not great for many birds.
Brad93
Well-Known Member
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.
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.
As Cyres below mate - put a clam shell or 2 together with the larsens
crow killer
Well-Known Member
Thanks ill try that. I was wondering if they would be good for catching cubs near a den ? anyone used them for that.
No may be a bit small really ?
We shot over 2000 on a dairy farm local to us over 18 months /2 years - and there is still a few about
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 "
Another pearl of wisdom
We don't have enough flags or chimps to put them in...
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