PREY FOR HELP ‘Monster’ bird on the loose in Scotland leaving victims drenched in blood as escaped raptor divebombs helpless passersby

John Jeffay

4 Jul 2019, 11:33

A MONSTER bird that left a man soaked in blood is on the loose in the outskirts of Aberdeen.

The mystery raptor, which divebombs walkers and cyclists, is believed to have escaped from a local falconer.

Several reports have now been made of an unknown bird swooping at people around Dyce, Hatton of Fintray and Newmachar over the last week.

On Monday, the animal was spotted repeatedly attacking a man close to the Dyce Juniors football pitch.

The man was covered in blood, but a passing driver noticed him struggling against the bird and pulled over to help.

The individual said he had been assaulted by the raptor for 20 minutes, and suffered wounds to his head. 

Another victim said he had been cycling along a back road in the direction of Cothal, north-west of Dyce, when he suddenly felt a “heavy, but cushioned thump” on the back of his head.

Thankfully, the cyclist had been wearing a helmet, but when he removed it to check for damage, he found three claw marks in the protective plastic.

Keith Marley, who runs the Ellon-based animal rescue centre New Arc, said he had received several concerned calls regarding the unknown bird.

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Investigation launched after rare bird of prey shot on Aberdeenshire estate

9 May 2016 by Kieran Beattie

A raptor has been put down after being shot on an Aberdeenshire estate.

The goshawk had come into the care of the north-east wildlife sanctuary New Arc late last month after it had been shot the week before in Strathdon.

At first, the bird – which had been affectionately named Bart – seemed to be in reasonably good health despite its injuries.

But, following an X-ray examination the next day, vets discovered a small metal bullet had become lodged in his chest, and that he had suffered severe damage to its left lung and shoulder.

Vets considered surgery, but deemed the procedure too risky and concluded that putting Bart down would be the more humane option.

Although goshawks are not a critically-endangered species in the UK, their population numbers have plummeted in recent years due to persecution and nest robbing – with only around 280 to 430 breeding pairs left in the wild, according to the RSPB.

Wildlife crime officers are now investigating the incident, which New Arc owner Keith Marley believes to have been a deliberate attempt to take Bart’s life.

Mr Marley said: “The guy who found him and brought Bart in said the bird was shot right in front of him while it was sitting on a dyke.

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Rare Harlequin duck in Aberdeen attracts bird watchers

5 January 2015 Last updated at 14:48

The duck was first spotted at the weekend

The arrival of a rare duck which has only been spotted in the UK a handful of times has attracted scores of bird watchers to an Aberdeen river.

The female Harlequin duck was first sighted on the River Don on Saturday.

Twitchers have travelled from across Scotland to catch sight of the bird, which is normally only resident in Iceland and North America.

The local RSPB group said there had only been 10 recorded sightings in the UK since 1950.

Source

Bird-proof gel is tested on Aberdeen city centre signs

A UNIQUE approach to bird-scaring is being adopted in Aberdeen as a bird-proof gel is trialled on new signs.

The city centre has received four new “map totems” displaying information about where sites are for those visiting Aberdeen.

But the new signage has a secret weapon in the form a bird-proof gel intended to discourage birds from fouling on them.

The maps – which are located on Broad Street, St Nicholas Street, on Schoolhill and outside the tourist information office on Union Street – have a special gel on top of the signposts which looks like fire – but only to birds. It’s invisible to humans.

Because birds can see ultraviolet light, the gel, called Bird Free, looks to them like flames, therefore discouraging them from landing on the signs.

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/local/bird-proof-gel-is-tested-on-aberdeen-city-centre-signs-1.682702