Bird

CharlieCooper

I was walking on my land and found someone has hung a dead bird ( woodcock or similar) from a ditch suspended about 6inches off the ground in a field.
The bird is intact, freshly killed but hanging by the neck.
It is farmland miles away from my own place and I don't visit it too often & don't have any animals on it at the moment.

Why would someone do this?
Is it common practice?
How best to proceed ( I didn't remove it this evening)

Birdnuts

Could it have been a type of crow like a jackdaw??. A type of scarecrow if you will where shot crows are hung up to scare others away which is a common practice in some parts. Although since you are the landowner, the culprits have no right to be trespassing on your land like that without persmission. I hope it wasn't a woodcock since it would be illegal to hunt these gamebirds out of season. If you suspect you have poachers operating on your land you should contact your local NPWS ranger.

Bizzum

Strange. Any chance of a pic?

CharlieCooper

The image is not great, but see attached.
Tis a strange thing to do.
Can anyone identify the bird or hazard a guess why he might be left there ( cause he sure ain't taking a rest )

ootbitb

woodcock has a large bill.....young sparrowhawk maybe?

Zoo4m8

Strange indeed, looks like a partridge to me, woodcock would have a long beak.

For collection later? It looks hidden but so close to the ground means its easily taken by a fox etc.

Are there the usual signs of people using your land?, cartridge shells ? Trampled gaps in hedges? Cut wire?

What to do.. I don't think there is a lot that would be of any use, take the bird and at least whoever did it will know someone is about keeping an eye on things.

moy83

Would it be a snare used to catch the bird ? Id say its possibly a partridge but im no expert

CharlieCooper

I think ye may be right, it could be a partridge alright.
I'll try get out there today & remove him.
I hadn't thought about the snare, that might explain why he is hanging so close to he ground.

I haven't noticed any broken ditches or cut wire, but I did find an empty shotgun cartridge recently.

Thanks

MOC1972

perhaps its injected with a poison so a fox or other animals can eat it.
Cant see any other reason for it.

Birdnuts

MOC1972 wrote: »

perhaps its injected with a poison so a fox or other animals can eat it.
Cant see any other reason for it.

Such practices are totally illegal now - eitheir way the OP should contact his local NPWS ranger and/or gardai as clearly a wildlife crime has been commited on his land. Not to mention the trespassing element.

Bizzum

MOC1972 wrote: »

perhaps its injected with a poison so a fox or other animals can eat it.
Cant see any other reason for it.

That's what I'd be worried about too. Hard to say much from the pics, but it has the cut of a farmyard chicken to me, tied up with twine.
I'd be ringing NPWS fairly sharp. You want to be distancing yourself from acts like that.

dodderangler

Looks more like a type of chicken to me
It's feet are way too big to be a partridge in reference to its body
If it is a chicken hanging like that then I'd say its for a fox and probably laced with poison
Could be a pi55ed off farmer finally had enough of a fox taken his chickens
Either way I'd ring someone over it before a dog or bop eats on it

MOC1972

Birdnuts wrote: »

Such practices are totally illegal now - eitheir way the OP should contact his local NPWS ranger and/or gardai as clearly a wildlife crime has been commited on his land. Not to mention the trespassing element.

I was just giving my thoughts on why someone would do such a thing not saying its ok or normal.
Hope you get to the bottom of it op.