Pheasant & Chicks

[Trev B]

We have a small group of Pheasants that are always around the garden and yard - I feed them and know them individually. Over the past few weeks they have produced young - sadly few survive.
Being a young pheasant chick is a precarious existence. Take the clutch of nine that hatched out early yesterday morning, by 7pm last evening non were left, thanks to Magpie's, Crow's and the resident Sparrowhawk taking them. My wife was horrified and thought I should be out there protecting them. I pointed out no different than sitting beside the Mara River in Kenya watching Crocodiles devouring Zebras.
The Countryside can be a very evil place.

Female Pheasant with nine under the wing
1014 - Hen Pheasant 1014050620 by Trev Bartlett MBE, on Flickr

She decides to move them out into the open garden
1015 - Pheasant & Chicks 1015050620 by Trev Bartlett MBE, on Flickr

Ain't I just cute, but wait for me mum
1016 - Pheasant Chick 1016050620 by Trev Bartlett MBE, on Flickr

Late afternoon in the Orchard with five left and Magpie's watching from near-by trees.
1017 - Pheasant & Chicks 1017050620 by Trev Bartlett MBE, on Flickr

[antoeknee]

Once saw a lady trying to stop a heron taking mallard chicks on out village pond. Did say to her unless she's willing to be there before first light till after dusk seven days a week she's wasting her time.

As you may have seen the male kestrel had a spell of bring these chicks as prey.

Nice set of images.

[Bill53]

Well captured Trev, shame about the chicks.

Bill.

[CasaRova]

Wonderful photos. Very sad, but true shot story on the chicks.

[Daisy M]

Well taken Trev, at least their short life was documented. A couple of years ago I put on here a Buzzard fighting the mother over chicks, the Buzzard won in the end.

[Brian Sugden]

Excellent set of images Trev. Nature can appear very cruel, but that's the way it is. Many birds have more than one chick as back-up. The shoebill is a case in point. They have 2 or 3 chicks, though only the oldest survives. The younger ones are insurance in case the eldest is weak or sick.

[Colin W]

Very nice photos Trev, well captured.

[Trev B]

Thanks everyone for looking and your feedback

Once saw a lady trying to stop a heron taking mallard chicks on out village pond. Did say to her unless she's willing to be there before first light till after dusk seven days a week she's wasting her time.

As you may have seen the male kestrel had a spell of bring these chicks as prey.

Nice set of images.

Ant, I sometimes wonder why we ever see adult pheasants, their young being so vulnerable - you wonder where the next generation is going to come from.

[antoeknee]

Thanks everyone for looking and your feedback



Ant, I sometimes wonder why we ever see adult pheasants, their young being so vulnerable - you wonder where the next generation is going to come from.

Some species have high predation rates.

Blue tits have so many young and few survive to maturity.
Generally birds have a number of young so that at least 2 survive so at least maintaining the population. Fewer or more will show as increases/declines in numbers.

Harvest mice must be one of the most predated animals.

One of the most shocking (?) figures is that domestic cats kill something like 27-55 million birds each year (estimates vary) in the UK alone.

[Trev B]

Some species have high predation rates.

Blue tits have so many young and few survive to maturity.
Generally birds have a number of young so that at least 2 survive so at least maintaining the population. Fewer or more will show as increases/declines in numbers.

Harvest mice must be one of the most predated animals.

One of the most shocking (?) figures is that domestic cats kill something like 27-55 million birds each year (estimates vary) in the UK alone.

Very true, the same can also be said of many of our water birds, we've lost all our Moorhen chicks this year. I had one of my readers tell me last week that she watched a Mink on our local river scatter and take seven Mallard chicks.

[pelliott1954]

Good job you got them when you did Trev, as you said, nature can appear to be very harsh

Paul

[antoeknee]

Very true, the same can also be said of many of our water birds, we've lost all our Moorhen chicks this year. I had one of my readers tell me last week that she watched a Mink on our local river scatter and take seven Mallard chicks.

Yep mink are a problem and very difficult to control.

[leeperry]

Lovely set Trev