Feeding Red Kites with meat on a string? (1 Viewer)

jimmyjames

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #1

Has anyone ever seen anyone feeding Red Kites with meat on a string in Hertfordshire?

Reports are that the birds disappeared after this event but the facts aren't all in yet.

I've never heard of this apart from when falconers train and display there captive birds.

 

A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #2

Know nothing of this but does sound worrying! Do you think the meat is poisoned?

Living in outer London/Middx-not too far away I get Red Kites every day over the garden now.

 

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #3

aeshna5 said:

Know nothing of this but does sound worrying! Do you think the meat is poisoned?

Living in outer London/Middx-not too far away I get Red Kites every day over the garden now.

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There would be no reason to use poisoned meat on a string that I can think of? Presumably the idea is to reel in the kite for disposal without leaving traces of poison for any autopsy (even assuming it is found) - plus of course the perpetrator may not have access to a suitable poison. Worrying, as you say. :C

John

 

jimmyjames

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #4

The person who saw it wondered if it was a poisoning attempt, but usually someone would leave the meat somewhere on the ground as you say. It's very odd.

 

DMW

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #5

I can imagine some photographers might do this to lure a bird closer.

 

jimmyjames

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #6

I hadn't thought about that. I just asked the witness and he said yes, the guy had a camera. I had forgotten about the length these idiots go to to show off online.

 

A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #7

jimmyjames said:

I hadn't thought about that. I just asked the witness and he said yes, the guy had a camera. I had forgotten about the length these idiots go to to show off online.

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Let's hope it was just a photographer though I don't condone the methodology to get the shot.

 

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #8

aeshna5 said:

Let's hope it was just a photographer though I don't condone the methodology to get the shot.

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Me neither. Meat yes, string no.

John

 

JWN Andrewes

Poor Judge of Pasta.

• Jun 4, 2020

• #9

Farnboro John said:

Me neither. Meat yes, string no.

John

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Birders Against String!!!!!! (And for meat!)

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jun 4, 2020

• #10

Whole new meaning to 'stringing'.

 

DMW

Well-known member

• Jun 4, 2020

• #11

On a scale of things to get outraged by, a tog trying to lure a Red Kite closer with a chunk of meat tied to a length of string is a solid 0 for me.

 

jurek

Well-known member

• Jun 5, 2020

• #12

This is how photographers get the photos of birds diving towards the camera with open talons.

On a scale of things bad for birds it is 0. On a scale of weirdness of what bird photographers do, it is still 3 out of 10.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Jun 6, 2020

• #13

I suspect if the photographer wants to get a photo of a Kite on the ground, it's the only way to do it other than use a piece of meat too large for it to fly off with.

I don't see any serious problem with it, it's no different to putting peanuts inside a mesh tube so Blue Tits can't just grab them and fly off to eat them off camera.