Anger at the duck pond and moorhen advice (1 Viewer)

[devilbirder]

Hello,
On Saturday I was at the local duckpond and was appauled to see a rather tough looking family walking up the path showing unacceptable agression to the birds and wildlife. One of their children ( about 12 or 13 years old) was particulary shocking, he was really trying to seriously hurt the birds and was trying to kick geese, coots, pigeons and mallards. He tried to gain the pigeons trust and get them close by offering them bread then grabbing them, luckilly they were too fast for him. Afterwards I saw him throwing shoes at the poor things. The dad after seeing this strangled the son eventhough he didn't seem to care about the birds. All their children were trying to hurt/kill the birds and the parents just dissmissed it as if it was perfectly acceptable an that is what they normally do. This behavior was completly unacceptable and I may phone the local ecology centre that care deeply even about the pigeons!
I think this is appauling and it just makes me think how stange some people are that they take pleasure out of destroying nature! This family were clearly not normal and I was actually wondering if the boy was mentally disabled, he may have been in whcih case that is better. This is at the same place where two swans were shot last year and had their eggs stolen and were year after year after year the same pair of moorhens are constanly having chicks then loosing them either to thugs or rats.I always check these moorhens every year and have only been satified that the young have survived once or twice in the several years that I have been observing them. They always nest in the same place and they almost always donj't succeed. This year was particualary annoying. A couple of weeks ago I arrived to discover at least for healthy chicks of just a couple of days old, they were so sweet. But yesterday (Saturday 21st May) I checked on them again and found the dad preening in the rain and the female sitting on the nest in the middle of the river with no vegatation around her at all which she had last year. I thought the chicks must be sheltering underneath her from the rain but when I came round to the other side of the river and saw the male come up to the nest the female got up to reveal another clutch of eggs with absolutely no sign of the chicks anywhere. I wonder if they fell prey to a rat/s but would a rat take 4 chicks? Or it could have been thugs ( possibly the family I saw earlier?), the eology centre could have known about the problem and taken care of the chicks themselves like they took a mute swan chick a couple of years ago, there would be no chance of cats, the nest was right in the middle of the river with concrete going up four feet on one side with a grass bank the other side. I will phone the local ecology centre to check they know about the problem.
Comments and advice are welcome.

 

[MSA]

The behaviour of some people does make my blood boil - and what's worse, particularly when you're dealing with a group of people, if you try to say anything you're likely to end up getting a good kicking for your troubles!

I would guess, from what you describe, that the Moorhen nest may have been flooded out, which is sad but at least it's "natural".

Telling those in authority about the problem with the family will mean they can keep their eye on the situation, and may have more success in preventing problems than you would on your own.

 

[sooseee]

I once was around a group of lads stoning ducks-I took out my camera and started taking pictures of them without saying a word- they slunk off.probably would not have worked with parents around. I would certainly report them and maybe have a word with the local school if possible.They may get some of the kids interested in keeping the pond safe- you never know..

 

[pattiwhite]

one my street here in the USA, i once saw truck make a diliberate turn towards a small flock of ducks crossing the road. they killed 3-4. I had gotten the tag number and phoned the wildlife ppl and found out it IS a crime. i gave them info but no nothing further of it. it was very sad.it was about 28 yrs ago but i soooo remember it!
pw

 

[devilbirder]

Thanks all and some very sad stories there. MSA, the chicks could swim. And this has happened for years in a row! It is a possibility though and thanks.
I may go down there on Saturday and check on them, I am also going to phone the ecology centre and keep you posted on what is going on.

I would guess, from what you describe, that the Moorhen nest may have been flooded out, which is sad but at least it's "natural".

QUOTE]

 

[kawwauser]

in the uk there are more laws against this sort of behaviour than there has ever been,plus the press love printing pics of the offenders which must cause them a lot of grief,in my experience most are unemployed drink/drug users who have a lot to lose if the right people start showing an interest, last easter i witnesed a similar situation, a family turned up at a local picnic/ resevoir, the male and female argued constantly, the young were totally wild,
this was humans not birds, anyway one of the young threw a stone at a duck,the people around the area weren,t pleased, but then the father also threw a stone and people started approaching him, to cut a long story short the police were called and his answer was the duck(mallard) was attacking his son, the police left after talking to him, but as the family left the park in their car they were stopped again by the police and the driver(the male) was charged with driving with no insurance/no license/ no tax/mot/ plus wait for it (driving while unfit due to alcohol/drugs)the press had a field day with the story ,and the last i heard the mallard was none the wiser

 

[whispers]

the amount of times i have been forced to yell at kids for chaceing birds and chucking things at birds is astounding! it too makes my blood boil and i have had some heated discushions with there parents, i have also been forced to say i am an off duty RSPCA inspector and i have taken names and address!!!! >naughty me< but it does get my point across! and they then tell the kids off!

 

[Henry B]

While I agree with your post I think "mentally disabled " is not correct in this instance.

 

[Gus Horsley]

I was probably a bit naughty a while ago after I saw a car in town deliberately run over a young herring gull, not killing but seriously injuring it. Unfortunately for the driver the lights turned red just ahead. I walked up to the front of his car and bent his arial and windscreen wipers into interesting shapes. I then indicated that he wound his window down, which he did for about half an inch, then I explained that it was an illegal act he had just committed. He actually apologised profusely which isn't really surprising as I'm a very big bloke.

I shouldn't really have vandalised his property, but I don't like seeing that sort of thing. I ended up taking the gull to the RSPCA, who had it put down.

Gus

 

[devilbirder]

After thinking about it that is abit harsh on them to say that. I think they were just brought up propperly. Thanks for all your replies. Some really horrible acts going on here. Disgusting isn't it.

While I agree with your post I think "mentally disabled " is not correct in this instance.

 

[Robin Pearson]

The young moorhens could have fallen to any number of predators, I've seen groups of crows and magpies trying to distract the parents so they can have a go at the chicks.

Another less likely suspect is a red-eared terrapin that don't kill the chicks but have a habit of sunbathing on the nests and collapsing them. they are about 7 inches across!