What would make my perfect subject fly off in fright:
THIS! He was very close to me and not long after I took this I could hear next doors geese screaming.
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Well spotted Wanda poor geese.... this may sound stupid but foxes are definitely not a protected species are they? ... apart from normal animal rights stuff that is. I mean if you shot the fox ( assuming you had a gun) would you be in trouble?
Sunshine Coast Queensland
No foxes are feral. I think you are allowed to dispose of them if you have a licence to do so and if you are in the right area to do it meaning with a bit of land. I myself do not have a licence and if I did I do not think that I could do it anyway. For as long as I have lived here we have had foxes. But I still have lots of variety of birds so I am happy!
Nice shot of the Cormorant Wanda, as for the fox Birdie,definately not protected and when I lived down sth I shot many of them, I have shot the odd one up here but they are not as common thank goodness
Wanda,
Foxes are not protected in any state, you may use any humane way to kill them. We have just completed a baiting program on our property and have hopefully got rid of about 25 of them.
They are a beautiful animal, it is a shame they are so destructive to the native animals and birds. We started the baiting after 3 dead ringtails in a week.
Its too early to know if the baiting has worked, but there are plenty of young birds around and we did see our first phascogale a few weeks back (and the rabbits are now breeding up - but at least they don't kill the birds).
I'm sure the geese can stand up to him - although I'm not sure about the other birds
Thanks Edward, yep I know that the foxes are not protected being introduced to our country way back. Oh boy you certainly had a need to get rid of that many.
I have to agree with you they are a beautiful looking animal and it is a huge shame that they do so much damage. Shame the foxes just don't concentrate on the rabbits, it would make your life a bit easier.
Good luck Edward, hope it all goes well. You have a good sign with all the young birds around.
I love the picture of the fox, if you head a clean shot of it showing the head that would have been nice. :) As much as they are feral and hated, I could never hurt one despite the damage they do! I think the persons who brought them to Australia should have been the ones to get shot in the first place. :( Too late for that though. :) As long as the animal is despatched humanely, I don't see a problem, even though I would never kill one!
If you are interested to read about a fox and what I think of the idiot who killed it (how that is, not the fact he did, as you are allowed to if licensed to do so) read a blog entry of mine here.
http://www.amatteroflight.com/wordpress/?p=6
Akos,
I read the blog page you posted and agree. I am licensed to do the baiting for foxes and from all that I have read it is supposed to be a humane way to kill them.
Part of the problem is to do it the humane way costs about $500 in courses and licence fees (in Vic at least), meaning the less humane ways are often used.
Personally I don't like the idea of shooting, as a hit in the wrong spot means a slow painful death (and it's less effective long term as a control method).
It could be the weather, but we have 4 species of birds that were not on the property last year.
Hi Wanda,I like the photo of the foxes! Sometimes we get foxes during the day, just walking past the dogkennel, causing a stir. They look healthy and happy living on takeaway. In Europe foxes carry lots of diseases, is that the same in Australia? Do they spread diseases to native animals? As much as I don't like their impact on birds and other wildlife, there are other animals, that don't belong in the bush: my neighbour's cats (5).I have tried everything, from talking to trapping.The same cats more than once! The ranger picks them up, the people pay the fine..next day the cats are out again.We have fenced off an area for the birds and frogs around a waterhole, and created a safe place.But the cats get into it every night. Please tell me, what else can I do?
M-L
Araminta,
One disease foxes have is mange, which can be transmitted to wombats. If you see a wombat during the day (causes sight problems), or it is missing a lot of fur then this is often the cause.
The foxes transmit it to the wombats when they use their burrows.
As for the cats, I have heard (form Dr Warmsley of Warrawong Sanctuary) that a loose fence can work as cats need a secure foothold. The one thing that worked for me was the fox baiting - didn't destroy a single cat but my neighbours started keeping their cats indoors so that they didn't get the baits.
By the way - we finally found our Boobook 2 nights ago.
Windhover, I have shot many foxes,in fact to many to count,likewise with cats.
I remember one night I shot 63 cats in 4 hours, and in case you are wondering there was not a house for some 30klms.
The largest cat I have ever shot weighed 15kg and believe me it was a big cat.
Up until about four years ago I used to go out every Saturday night (Weather permitting) and shoot feral cats, average shot for the night was in the vicinity of 12-15.
I will make it very clear that I am not a cat hater in fact my mum and dad used to show them.
Cats in their place are a brilliant pet but the damage they do in the bush along with foxes,pigs,goats,camels,donkey's and buffalo is slowly but surely killing off our beautiful natives so I justified what I did by thinking of our natives.
The picture that I saw on your blog is nothing short of criminal and that bloke has some serious issues if he feels the need to do that to an animal in a cage, seriously I would have got pretty angry over that I could not even think of dispatching of an animal in that way.
Edward if you are trying to keep the cats and foxes away from your area and it is fenced off then the answer is very simple and cheap, throw in some Guinea fowls.
I used to live on a property and the bloke I bought my chooks off was running in the vicinty of 10,000 birds free range.
I asked him one day how many birds he lost to foxes as we had heaps of them there.
His reply was that he had lost numerous birds until he brought in the Guinea Fowls and from that day on all was good.
He told me that the Guinea's absolutely belted the daylights out of foxes and anything else that came around.
So there you go, another one the sheep owners are doing out west, sick of losses from wild dogs, is running donkeys with their sheep....works wonders.
I was involved in the involved in in the eradication of feral pests for many years,the sad thing is it,s our fault,most of the wild dogs and cats we shot or trapped were once domestic pets there needs to be stronger regulations on pet ownership and harsher penalties for people who do the wrong thing
As for foxes they might look cute but thats were it ends they cunning opportunistic killers and the biggest threat to our wildlife
Thanks Tassie, but we don't have the fences for any livestock (or birds) and the boundary goes for more than 3 kms - so could prove expensive.
However, the last fox we saw was foolish enough to go under the tree of the breeding magpies. It ended up with 6 birds attacking it and quickly retreated. It also made me feel better as when I went down that way only one crazy bird attacked. Obviously most of them don't see me as a threat.
We used to have old saying "It's the fox you don't see that you have to look out for"
I once saw one get beaten up by a turkey,one the funnest things i've ever seen !
Interesting discussion.... I too, think they are a beautiful looking animal but I totally agree with eradication programmes. When we lived in the hills behind Perth we go up one morning to find 5 of our new chooks lying headless in the chook pen. Never did find out if it was a fox but they were plentiful in rural areas like where we lived. Couldn't really understand the wanton killing though as nothing was eaten....just the heads bitten off :'(
Love your fox vs turkey story Sparrow
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Sparrow your 2nd last post I could not agree with more "As for foxes they might look cute but thats were it ends they cunning opportunistic killers and the biggest threat to our wildlife especially "
I used to hate it if I missed one and I can tell you that birds did start coming back.
Edward, get some Guinea fowls, you wont need fences,they hang around their general area and smash anything thats stupid enough to tresspass.
...He told me that the Guinea's absolutely belted the daylights out of foxes...that's an old wives' tale Tassie.
Let me tell you from experience m8, Foxes kill Guinea Fowl just as easily as chooks!!!
Cheers,
al
Central Victoria
https://sites.google.com/site/blackhillreservekyneton/home
Whatever it may be Al I am simply stating what he said and he did have them there amongst his birds so if he is a liar then he must have decided to run out and buy the Guinea fowl to make his lies more convincing hey mate.
In his words "Any flightless bird that lives in Africa must have balls"
I will be sure to let him know he is full of it when I see him again.
Thanks Al.
wouldn't call him a liar m8, as he was probably told the same & believed it.
Your Qld foxes must be wimps....as our Vic foxes have Guineas for an entree & then a full grown turkey for dinner ;-)
Btw Guinea fowl are not flightless birds.
Anyway if you want to know how many get killed by foxes, google: Guinea fowl Foxes.
Cheers,
al
Cheers,
al
Central Victoria
https://sites.google.com/site/blackhillreservekyneton/home
I have herd of people using Guinea fowl,geese,and even small dogs running with there chooks,my father used turkeys just one pair that way the tom would bond with them but not try to mate with then,have you ever seen a angry turkey!i only remember the one getting close to get grabbed by"old tom"and after the beating he coped i doubt if he returned!
he didn't just rely on the turkeys he also had a loaded shot
gun hanging over the back door not something i would recommend!
but these were different times
Hmmm, I hope this coversation isn't going down hill fast? (we now call this go the "moo-bird "way),if you get the drift? My daughter wanted to run some fowls with her horses, the dogs couldn't cope , never stopped barking at them,they are noisy little buggers.But,those feral fowls are excellent eating!
M-L
Disagreeing is fine, just be careful of how you come across to others :)
I live on a property with foxes, feral cats, rabbits all common. There are even pigs and deer in the local area, though I don't see them. I can't see that killing ferals is a solution, as soon as you stop they just come back. If you have an area with lots of native bush and biodiversity the ferals reach a kind of balance, though we have a lot of rabbits at the moment with all the rain. That will keep the raptors happy.
Native birds don't seem to be badly impacted by ferals, they used to have quolls chasing them so are wary of ground mammals (my theory). Other animals have already been decimated (bandicoots etc) so its too late to save them. Things may be different in other areas but I do think we have to learn to make the best of the situation we have created. You can't blame the foxes, they just live the way they know how.
Hi GregL, we have bandicoots on our proprty, that's why I don't want the neighbour's cats in my backyard!I have seen my dogs chase one, that's why they live behind a fence now, when they sleep outside.Also, those ferals spread diseases (as Windhover said before). When my husband takes his horse into the bush behind us, he even doesn't let his horse drink out of the creek, because of the contamination.I assume, native animals don't have immunity against worms etc.,carried by ferals? (tell me, if I'm wrong here!)
M-L
Sorry, me again! To the impact on birds, some birds have no defence, as they are nesting on, or near the ground,or the juveniles are fed by the parents on the ground, and left there for long periods of time. (Lyrebirds come to mind, beeing in decline because of cats)
M-L
LOL I actually thought that interchange was hilarious!! I don't think there was ever a chance of it degenerating by the way. My girlfriend and I were reading it and having a laugh thinking how typically blokey it was.
Al you cracked me up with the QLd foxes bit .
Araminta....Would it be typical not to be able to let a horse drink from a creek these days? That is terrible, but I remember walking in the Blue Mountains and thinking how awful to see all the signs that said the streams are contaminated.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Its good you still have bandicoots Araminta. Unfortunately, in most parts of Australia the small mammals like that have already been lost, the only exception is the north and some small pockets. I really believe the solution to environmental degradation is to change people's behaviour, and people wandering around with guns is a behaviour I wouldn't want to encourage.
Hi birdie,(hi to your girlfriend!),about the horses, we were just talking about them. In the Park here, they have camping-grounds for people with horses,"all of them use the creek" to water and even wash their horses. there are no signs, no information given.I have pointed it out to the rangers many times, to no avail! The rangers stared at me in disbelief,and as I drove off, I saw them laugh! Not only do people water the horses in the creek, they also wash them in there !(with shampoo!)
M-L
I actually like posts where you get a lot of differing opinions on a topic, shows we can disagree but still have a common interest in the welfare of our native wildlife.
I don't think the "moo topic"went bad because of a disagreement,it was the name calling and personal sniping that sent that off the rail!
I agree Sparrow and I think the less said about it the better actually.
This has been an interesting discussion with a variety of opinions and that's good. I think the term respect has to be kept in mind when listening to opinions from others.
I used to think foxes were beautiful and I am a cat lover, but if I found either of them decimating wildlife then I wouldn't hesitate to dispose of them.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Well, well, well, if this is addressed at me,you got me wrong!!! I'm all for respect, and value other people's opignions,( even if I don't agree!)I'm just very sensitive when it comes to sniping! Well? we all agree on that, don't we?
M-L
I don't know who you are responding to Araminta, but I personally wish we could all just move on from that whole issue and enjoy the discussions that arise. I enjoy this forum immensely and have done so for nearly two years during which there have been many different members come and go and it has been nice to share things with others that are interested in the same issues.
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I was responding to Holly!