songbird6666
Registered User
Apologies in advance for this is going to be a long post. I'll start at the beginning. Two weekends ago, I was outside the front cleaning my car, and I kept hearing a pop-pop noise. Eventually went to investigate in the back garden and saw that the boy who lives in the house behind was with his mates, firing air rifles. This in turn was terrifying my two chickens, and the birds in my aviary (which I don't mention on here for obvious reasons) After expressing my concerns about them firing at birds, I was informed by one of them, no we are firing at the box thing on the telegraph pole (in my garden, and behind which I am almost sure a blue tit is nesting) I said that I had recently found two birds which looked like they had been shot and said if I found out that they had, I would report it. About an hour later I see they are still there, and this time I pleaded with them, please, please don't do it, you may hit my chickens. To which the neighbours son says, sorry, I didn't think of that. Slight relief on my part, no more worries.
About 11 am this morning, I heard my cockerel screaming and ran outside to find a rook flailing around in the small fenced off piece of my back garden, wing dangling and blood pouring. PIcked him up, put him in a box, phoned vets, yes bring him down, we are here until 12. Covered in blood, start to carry box out of back garden. At the base of the telegraph pole I see a little black shape - it is the male blackbird, who I had been thrilled watching collecting worms and flying off with a beakful to where I think they are nesting (in another neighbours garden) only yesterday. The pair are tame, and will almost come to hand when I go out with sultanas. This is the second year for them. He was stone dead, blood oozing from a small round wound in his chest.
The vet had to put the rook to sleep, it's wing was shattered. She cut up the blackbird looking for the pellet, but also found an exit wound. She is 99% certain it was a shot which killed it.
I am angry, no livid best describes it, but I have no proof whatsoever who has done this, only guessing. The vet has advised me of my best course, not to go threatening and ranting, which is wise I guess, they can do me a lot of harm, that's the trouble when you have birds of your own. They could come round and kill all of them. As it is, my two chickens are now in their house, and terrified to come out.
I know the law re airguns and that what "they" have done is illegal in that firing a gun in someone else's garden is not allowed, but I can't afford to do much for fear of revenge. I have been round and very tactfully and politely explained what has happened to the mum (dad is out working) and that I can't accuse anyone, she was fine about it, and I asked if she could have a word with the boys, because I was afraid that I would be shot next when I am filling my feeders up (vet thought it best to phrase it that way) I guess if I have any more trouble though, I shall contact the police, a step I am afraid to take, although when it happened I was going to go straight round the station after the vets.
I keep thinking of that poor female blackbird, I expect she is frantic by now, and it means she will probably abandon her nest, I only hope its still at the egg stage and not chicks for her sake.
It has completely spoiled my day, I was about to go out when this happened. Now I don't even want any lunch. Now I have to bury them.
Thanks for reading. :C
About 11 am this morning, I heard my cockerel screaming and ran outside to find a rook flailing around in the small fenced off piece of my back garden, wing dangling and blood pouring. PIcked him up, put him in a box, phoned vets, yes bring him down, we are here until 12. Covered in blood, start to carry box out of back garden. At the base of the telegraph pole I see a little black shape - it is the male blackbird, who I had been thrilled watching collecting worms and flying off with a beakful to where I think they are nesting (in another neighbours garden) only yesterday. The pair are tame, and will almost come to hand when I go out with sultanas. This is the second year for them. He was stone dead, blood oozing from a small round wound in his chest.
The vet had to put the rook to sleep, it's wing was shattered. She cut up the blackbird looking for the pellet, but also found an exit wound. She is 99% certain it was a shot which killed it.
I am angry, no livid best describes it, but I have no proof whatsoever who has done this, only guessing. The vet has advised me of my best course, not to go threatening and ranting, which is wise I guess, they can do me a lot of harm, that's the trouble when you have birds of your own. They could come round and kill all of them. As it is, my two chickens are now in their house, and terrified to come out.
I know the law re airguns and that what "they" have done is illegal in that firing a gun in someone else's garden is not allowed, but I can't afford to do much for fear of revenge. I have been round and very tactfully and politely explained what has happened to the mum (dad is out working) and that I can't accuse anyone, she was fine about it, and I asked if she could have a word with the boys, because I was afraid that I would be shot next when I am filling my feeders up (vet thought it best to phrase it that way) I guess if I have any more trouble though, I shall contact the police, a step I am afraid to take, although when it happened I was going to go straight round the station after the vets.
I keep thinking of that poor female blackbird, I expect she is frantic by now, and it means she will probably abandon her nest, I only hope its still at the egg stage and not chicks for her sake.
It has completely spoiled my day, I was about to go out when this happened. Now I don't even want any lunch. Now I have to bury them.
Thanks for reading. :C
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