Hi, not a question but a story that i didn't quite know where to place. Yesterday our neighbour had me help with a bird emergency. There was a starling in her back garden who had gotten caught up in the netting from one of these. It had managed to get most of itself free but the netting was still wound around its tongue...and there was still a bit of fatball left in the netting so it was dragging the poor wee things tongue out. It was horrifying...there was blood everywhere which stood out more in the snow. I cannot stand to see animals in pain and normally i would be a basketcase...but I just picked him up and held him whilst I had my partner go get some scissors. We managed to snip the netting off as close to his tongue as possible but it was pretty damaged. After i had set him down on the snow again he flew away quite happily so my mind is choosing to believe that he survived. I can still feel his little hea5rt beating away in my hand...like a phantom limb. Please don't buy these...or if you do shred the netting and put the fatballs in a fatball feeder.
Hi princesskasren
Welcome to the forum.
What a horrendous time for you. You poor people having to deal with that. You did well though and I congratulate you and your partner for your efforts. Lets hope the starling recovers.
It really really angers me that they continue to sell fatballs in netting. I see them in garden centres and you would think the manufacturers should realise what the hazzards are and supply them without. I always remove the netting before I put them out either in a feeder or on the floor - Do they keep them in the netting to retain their shape or is it just blind ignorance, I just don't know.
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
The same applies to peanuts sold in netting. Always take them out and cut up the netting as, don't forget, if these things go to the tip they are still dangerous - as are the plastic rings that hold 4-pack cans together. I know this has all been said before but the more places it is posted and so the more people who see it, the better, as far as I am concerned!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Welcome to the forum princesskasren! Thank goodness the starling was found before it was too late! Well done on rescuing him.
I agree with Kezmo - more should be done to stop the sale of these fatballs (and peanuts as you say Squirrel) in nets as so many people are blissfully unaware of their danger and possible consequences! Think I might start writing to a few of the manufacturers actually!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Oh yes the peanuts as well!!! I think it is lovely that there is a forum like this. I had no idea it was here! Thanks everyone for being so welcoming.
Hi again Princesskasren, I have just realised I omitted to welcome you to the forum so I am remedying it here. Please forgive the omission but what with the birds requiring constant feeding and the internet going walkies for most of the morning my posts have tended to be short and to the point. (Internet now seems to have calmed down and birds have been fed for the fourth time today!). Anyway, welcome and I am sure you will enjoy it here.
I'm constantly amazed when I mention this to people that they don't already know! Maybe if manufacturers need to keep them in the bags for some reason, they could put an instruction on the tub to tell buyers the netting must be removed before serving as can cause a danger to birds?
Hello Princesskasren, welcome to the forum.What a frightening story and well done to you and your partner for helping that poor wee starling. I often but fatballs from supermarkets and I'm stunned that there are no notifications on the packaging telling customers to remove the nets before use. I think this type of notification should be a legal requirement and laws should be passed as quickly as possible. I also think that if fatballs need netting to keep their shape then the manufacturer should think about making some changes to the recipe. I really hope the starling recovers.Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Hello Princesskasren, welcome to the forum from me.
Well done for coming to the rescue of the poor starling. I do hope he recovers.
I couldn't agree more with everything that has been said about nets, and it isn't just nets I'm afraid.
I have two mesh tray feeders that you screw to a pole or a fence. One day this summer I saw a house sparrow hanging upside down from the one on the fence. One of his feet was caught in the mesh somehow. I don't know how long he had been there because by the time I saw him he was just hanging motionless. I yelled to hubby to come and help, and thank goodness by the time we had raced to the feeder, the sparrow had freed himself somehow and flown away. I still use these mesh trays because they are much loved and much prefered by a variety of small birds, also starlings, pigeons, uncle Tom Cobley. It hasn't happened since, but I am always watching, and hoping it was just one of those freak accidents.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi princesskasren,
I don't think people are aware that these nets can blow a considerable distance aswell, I remove mine but found some in my pond once, poor little froglets could've got stuck in it.
RSPB have done countless media releases on this problem. I do remeber though that this year concerned members and one of our wildlife advisers got the National Trust to change its policy on selling them in the mesh bags.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-196968