Crows

[Derrick Hughes]

ok ok we get it you want to shoot all the vermin..

When I grew corn used to shoot around 200/day at harvest and planting times , had a rota for shooters so they didn't fall out who got best days

 

[roscoe erf]

Steve, for the last couple of nights I have tried to get a picture of this lot, and failed miserably, as soon as they spot anything untoward the lot lift and are away, I will be patient.
As I said earlier, jackdaws(silver back of head) we rarely see here, they seem to prefere our towns.
I have never seen a rook locally, never.
Crows, at the old place, same as you say in groups of up to 5/6 rarely did damage, just turned over muck piles bug hunting would steal a bit of the chicken or goose feed.
If this lot are not crows, I will hold my hand up and admit a wrong, are young rooks all black? or young jackdaws perhaps?
They start coming in from all around, about half hour before roosting, the sky is full of them, they drop to the high point of the field, if the sheep are there they wool pluck, if not they just land on the field then make their way to the nearby woods to roost. Hundreds.

watch it @llamedos have you not seen Alfred Hitchcock's the birds...... you be careful now

 

[llamedos]

watch it @llamedos have you not seen Alfred Hitchcock's the birds...... you be careful now

it like a scene from the Birds

 

[roscoe erf]

it like a scene from the Birds

you have got a telephone box near by...............

 

[Derrick Hughes]

watch it @llamedos have you not seen Alfred Hitchcock's the birds...... you be careful now

My shooters would have loved that

 

[exmoor dave]

Crows and Ravens are solitary as a Rule, although they may congregate in Roosts during the Winter Months. Rooks (and Jackdaws) are Gregarious and nest together in Rookeries.

These days most people label any large black bird a Crow. They do not know that there are six different species of Corvidae in the UK (excluding Jays and Magpies).

Jackdaws - a bloody nuisance everywhere. As bad as Magpies for robbing nests, and taking fledglings of other species.
Rooks - Omnivorous. Diet is mainly earthworms and Insect Larvae - do a lot of good, but what good they do is less than the damage to other bird species and arable land, particularly for cereal growers.
Ravens - Less numbers than Rooks, but of a similar nature and diet.
Carrion Crow - While it is omnivorous like all corvidae, it is mainly a scavenger and carrion eater. It is considered to be one of the most intelligent of birds, and Rules on Carcase Disposal, together with the increased competition from the Red Kite (at least in Wales may be forcing it to change its habits).
Hooded Crow - a Sub Species of the Carrion Crow, which I have only seen in NI, Scotland and the IOM.
Choughs - The Red Billed and Red Legged Crow that is extremely rare. Figures suggest that in the British Isles, there are less than 500 breeding pairs, with a further 1000 or so pairs in the Irish Republic. The most innocuous of the Corvidae, lives on inspects and spiders etc. I am lucky enough to have some pairs fairly local to me, and their courtship displays are worth seeing.

90% of the Public believe that Rook, is simply another name for Crow.

I've got to disagree with you on ravens. Their much more like crows than rooks. Only much more damaging. Crows are complete barstewards for sheep farmers but at least they go for the eyes first before the "soft parts" on a cast ewe.
Ravens on the other hand go straight for the belly. There's not much worse than having to shoot a ewe who's had a small hole pecked through to her insides.

And worse of all you can't do anything legally to control them. We've got a few pairs in the area and I always dread the few weeks before shearing when the ewes are rolling like mad.

Plus anyone seen a raven up real close? Their fecking huge!!

 

[Fish]

If you move them on they will come to me and peck my bales, shoot them and it's done with

We used the dead fox trick about two weeks ago, shot a mixed bag of about 60 crows, rooks and jackdaws in around 3 hours.

I don't think even Yorkshire crows will fly as far as Wales.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

We used the dead fox trick about two weeks ago, shot a mixed bag of about 60 crows, rooks and jackdaws in around 3 hours.

I don't think even Yorkshire crows will fly as far as Wales.

I shot a crow and it was squarking Yorkshire

 

[roscoe erf]

I shot a crow and it was squarking Yorkshire

what was it saying whippet whippet flat cap............................duck and run for cover

 

[Fish]

I shot a crow and it was squarking Yorkshire

That one must have had a passport, most don't

 

[roscoe erf]

I shot a crow and it was squarking Yorkshire

no it was a minor bird

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Crows are 2cd only to Starlin

 

[sandamho]

I take it before Mixy they were not a problem.

Personally I don't mind a pair of Carrion Crows or Ravens nesting on the land. They chase away the Magpies and Rooks, and do not appear to do much damage. We used to have a Rookery, but shooting thinned their numbers, and when the Carrion Crows began nesting nearby, the Rooks left.

They were a problem before Mixy, but tended to only attack the lambs. Now they are going for both. Ravens and Black Back Gulls are a major problem too. I've lost at least ten lambs in the past week, and have had to put down a couple because they've got no tongue left. Plus, three blind ewes.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I saw on peck a calfs tongue while being born before I could get to it

 

[IANTO]

I've got to disagree with you on ravens. Their much more like crows than rooks. Only much more damaging. Crows are complete barstewards for sheep farmers but at least they go for the eyes first before the "soft parts" on a cast ewe.
Ravens on the other hand go straight for the belly. There's not much worse than having to shoot a ewe who's had a small hole pecked through to her insides.

And worse of all you can't do anything legally to control them. We've got a few pairs in the area and I always dread the few weeks before shearing when the ewes are rolling like mad.

Diet wise you are correct. Ravens resemble Rooks, in that they are Gregarious.

I do not keep sheep, but in this area, while there are several pairs, are not considered by most Sheep Farmers a major problem. They will not attack a healthy sheep, only sickly ones, or sheep that have rolled on their backs, and cannot get up.

Plus anyone seen a raven up real close? Their fecking huge!!

Agreed they are big buggers.

I cannot help thinking that the problem with Crows and Ravens etc., is partially Man Made, by all the Legislation from both the EU and HMG.

Messing about with factors that affect the natural balance, may have made Corvidae, which are credited to be amongst the most intelligent of birds, to adapt to survive.

The requirements for disposal of Animal Carcases has reduced the food supply for all scavengers.

Banning Fox Hunting, and Badger Protection, along with the dramatic increase in Red Kite numbers during the same period, has meant increased competition, for a much reduced food supply.

Most "Conservationists" in my opinion have Tunnel Vision, and cannot or do not wish to see the wider picture.

I am no expert, but I must admit, that I cannot reconcile the OP's various posts, with the known habits of Crows based on 50+ years of observation.

Landing on the back of Sheep, and "stealing" wool for nesting material is normally associated with Magpies and Jackdaws, which are small and light enough to not be felt by the sheep.

Communal roosts, particularly at this time of the year (the nesting season), is normally associated with Rooks.

From a distance all Rooks, Crows and Jackdaws all look black, and there are I believe in the case of the Jackdaw regional differences, in the amount or shade of Grey.

Quite honestly I am baffled.

 

[grumpy]

what about carrion crow?

 

[IANTO]

what about carrion crow?

A Carrion Crow or Hooded Crows both come under the name Crows, or have you identified another species of Crow?

The only other Crows I have ever heard of, were a North American Indian Tribe, who had not mastered the art of flying.

I doubt therefore if they are responsible for causing problems for Llamedos.

 

[Dave6170]

Scavangers??! we have a dump site for dead sheep just over the fence a few meters from one of the lambing parks. Hoodies, foxes and black backs took no notice of it what so ever! they d rather take a poor ewe lambing. Or a poorer lamb!! lost 7 lambs to fox this year. Off topic a bit sorry

 

[grumpy]

A Carrion Crow or Hooded Crows both come under the name Crows, or have you identified another species of Crow?

The only other Crows I have ever heard of, were a North American Indian Tribe, who had not mastered the art of flying.

I doubt therefore if they are responsible for causing problems for Llamedos.

blue jay,

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Red Kite