Hello all birdwatchers UK/Europe. I would like to know what BF think about having 6 decoy Black Grouse in my garden.( 3 cocks and 3hens) I am not a hunter of any animal or bird/fish etc, but do like Grouse as a species.
as these birds no longer live wild in the south of UK, I wanted to have the next best thing, i.e. these Black Grouse decoys bought from a UK hunting outlet, who I informed that in no ciumstances would I have these except for onamental purposes only.( see attached photos)
unfortunately a fox recently decided to play with them at night, and some had bite marks on the head, but no real damage done . as the decoys were supplied without white tail feathers for the cocks, I had to get some shuttlecocks and place them on the tail in each case.
In addition to the above, I also have a decoy cock Phesant and ground doves by the bird bath. all these are ignored by the live residents in the garden.
I have seen the films of Black Grouse display on TV, and think this must be one of the highlights of any UK bird display, with the exception of the Great Bustard newly re-introduced and hopefully doing well in UK
Robert382
as these birds no longer live wild in the south of UK, I wanted to have the next best thing, i.e. these Black Grouse decoys bought from a UK hunting outlet, who I informed that in no ciumstances would I have these except for onamental purposes only.( see attached photos)
unfortunately a fox recently decided to play with them at night, and some had bite marks on the head, but no real damage done . as the decoys were supplied without white tail feathers for the cocks, I had to get some shuttlecocks and place them on the tail in each case.
In addition to the above, I also have a decoy cock Phesant and ground doves by the bird bath. all these are ignored by the live residents in the garden.
I have seen the films of Black Grouse display on TV, and think this must be one of the highlights of any UK bird display, with the exception of the Great Bustard newly re-introduced and hopefully doing well in UK
Robert382
