Latest news with #pheasants
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Minnesota DNR invites people to share pheasant and turkey observations
Jul. 8—(ADH) — Minnesotans are encouraged to report observations of ring-necked pheasants and wild turkeys in a citizen science effort by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. People can report any pheasant and turkeys they see in the wild now through Sunday, Aug. 31. Information from the reports will help the DNR monitor pheasant and turkey population trends, evaluate conservation efforts and make decisions about harvest regulations. Using a mobile device or desktop computer, people can enter information on the DNR website (
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: Like wrecked prizes, the body parts of pheasants litter the landscape
Away from where arable fields have enriched the down to coarse grasses, meadow anthills are floriferous pillows, pimpling the smoothness. On them, strange, wrecked prizes are arranged: eggshells; the light, keeled sternum of a pheasant; a stripped, raw‑red bone; a jewel-bright French partridge's head, topping the beads of its neck vertebrae like an umbrella handle, or a brooch, pretty and gruesome. As far as the eye can see, shooting estate borders shooting estate. Skylarks, linnets, yellowhammers and whitethroats sing, but by far the most numerous birds are pheasants, followed by corvids; and this year's gamebirds haven't yet been released for winter's shooting. The corvids have utilised the anthills – blooming softly with the tiny flowers of wild thyme, chalk eyebright and milkwort, squinancywort and fairy flax – as dining tables. A broody mothering has been bred out of hen pheasants; most lay their eggs and walk away, as if discarding a broken heel. Rooks, crows, ravens and jackdaws congregate, carrying eggs to the anthills to break open and eat. But here are other eggshells, too, because these eggs draw attention to other ground-nesting birds. I miserably spot grey partridge and lapwing eggs among them. This is new. Birds remaining after the shoot season ends in February, are no longer caught up, penned and bred from. Left to their fate, more run free than ever before in spring and summer, with a new batch bought in from UK breeders, or imported each year, instead. Cumulatively, they attract more predators, which then predate other wildlife. In the wood, feathered, skeletal pairs of wings turn slowly in the branches like hapless angels, where the remains of pheasants have been taken and dropped by red kites. On gateposts, other grisly offerings: the sawn-off foreleg of a deer and a pheasant pelvis and legs posed in grim puppetry, to ride a saddle cloth patch of weathered deer hide. This danse macabre is unlikely to be the craftwork of the gamekeeper – or deer stalker that part-butchers the animals in the field – but that of a dog walker, whose pet has found treasure in the undergrowth and tried to bring it home. The folk horror is real. Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
King Charles faces calling off royal home tradition
King Charles has reportedly come out all guns blazing over his royal estate is running out of pheasants to shoot. The monarch, 76, was said to be livid over a series of blunders that left the game bird numbers dwindling at Sandringham, The Sun reports. Charles even faces calling off his annual Boxing Day shoot — and a long-serving gamekeeper at the Norfolk estate has been given the boot. 'It was a total cock-up. No birds, no bang, just red faces,' a source told The Sun. 'The King wasn't having it.' Insane amount Meghan, Harry pay staff Sandringham is one of the few remaining wild shoots in the country, meaning the game is reared where it is shot. Charles, who backs traditional countryside practices, has been reluctant to release birds from breeders to get numbers up. But maintaining a more eco-friendly wild shoot has proved challenging, leaving pheasant numbers in decline. There are now fears royals will be left twiddling their trigger fingers on Boxing Day as the annual shoot — a firm family favourite — is in doubt. The occasion is seen as a rare chance for family bonding, despite protests from animal rights campaigners who particularly dislike children taking part. The ousted keeper, who ran the estate's game for years, has been shown the door. 'Let's just say he's well and truly plucked off,' the source said.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
King Charles ‘livid' as Sandringham is running out of pheasants to shoot and faces calling off annual Boxing Day shoot
THE King has come out all guns blazing — because his royal estate is running out of pheasants to shoot. Charles, 76, was said to be livid over a series of blunders that left the game bird numbers dwindling at Sandringham. 5 He even faces calling off his annual Boxing Day shoot — and a long-serving gamekeeper at the Norfolk estate has been given the boot. A source said: 'It was a total cock-up. No birds, no bang, just red faces. "The King wasn't having it.' Sandringham is one of the few remaining wild shoots in the country, meaning the game is reared where it is shot. The King, who backs traditional countryside practices, has been reluctant to release birds from breeders to get numbers up. But maintaining a more eco-friendly wild shoot has proved challenging, leaving pheasant numbers in decline. There are now fears royals will be left twiddling their trigger fingers on Boxing Day as the annual shoot — a firm family favourite — is in doubt. The occasion is seen as a rare chance for family bonding, despite protests from animal rights campaigners who particularly dislike children taking part. The ousted keeper, who ran the estate's game for years, has been shown the door. Our source said: 'Let's just say he's well and truly plucked off.' King Charles lands in Canada for landmark state visit Buckingham Palace declined to comment. 5 5 5
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Update issued to bird flu rules for farmers and poultry keepers
GATHERINGS of various types of birds have now been banned in England as the battle against avian influenza intensifies. From midday on February 10, DEFRA said, bird gatherings of poultry, galliforme or anseriforme birds are banned in England. This includes ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl. Gatherings of other captive birds will continue to be permitted subject to the requirements of the captive bird gathering general licence being met and followed. DEFRA said gatherings include, but are not limited to, bird fairs, markets, shows, sales, exhibitions and some premises used for dealing or internet sales. ALSO READ: Plans revealed for farm sold off by council Herefordshire town 'one of world's most difficult names to pronounce' Pictures: huge RAF planes spotted in flight over Herefordshire Vehicles used to transport live birds where the birds are brought together from multiple premises are also considered gatherings. The new rules come after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N5 was confirmed in England on November 5 and the first case of H5N1 on November 17. Strict bird flu restrictions were put in place for the whole of England and Scotland in January following an increase in cases. A national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) came into force for the whole of England and Scotland at noon on Saturday, January 25, in a bid to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and other captive birds. What are your thoughts? You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here. Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence. It is now a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland and England to follow strict rules to protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu – including keeping birds indoors. A number of areas across the country have been made subject to protection zones and surveillance zones after avian influenza was detected. The most recent cases of H5N1 have been reported at commercial poultry premises in Bromborough, Wirral, and Bodmin, Cornwall, where three-kilometre protection zones and 10-kilometre surveillance zones have been declared and all poultry on the affected premises have been culled. Further incidences of the strain have been reported this month at premises in the East Riding of Yorkshire, near Market Weighton, and near Pocklington.
