As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Are rare birds being caught for meat?


By Grimsby Telegraph  |  Posted: April 20, 2016

A TETNEY couple fear rare birds are being seized from the wild for breeding or for meat.
Graham Pearson, 59 and his wife Ann have always fed the birds on their field at Tetney Lock.

But they were horrified when they noticed recently how a tree on which the birds are fed had been covered with a chemical, which they say is used to capture the birds.

And the couple say how they believe at least ten birds, including goldfinches and a siskin, have gone missing from the site on Newton Marsh Lane, Tetney Lock.

Mr Pearson said he had also seen three deer on the field previously this year, but they too have vanished.

Graham said: "They may have moved away on their own, but you just don't know."
He added: "We have been down to the field regularly over the past two to three years with bird feeders."

The feeders were made from old logs by Graham and were popular with blue tits, goldfinches, pheasants and robins. The couple had also spotted a siskin on the site.

The couple said a friend had noticed a group of three men in the field. They had with them a white Astra van with ladders on it.

When they saw the friend of Mr and Mrs Pearson they got back into their van and drove off at speed.

The suspicious activity was reported to Lincolnshire Police and the RSPB.

The chemical birdlime, which is a sticky substance that prevents birds from flying off, was then found on the tree.

The couple suspect the birds have been taken away for breeding.

Ann said: "We are told that finches have sometimes been taken to breed with canaries to produce a cross breed of a singing bird.

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