Hi all,
netting vines can stop birds attacking the grapes and so save birds from
poison and shooting, but it can also cause the death of many birds if they
are not fitted correctly, I know of one instance recently, where over a
hundered Friar birds and other species were stomped to death.
The posts that the vines are tied too, and on which they hang the netting
had not been cut to the same height,a cost saving to the owneR this left
the netting short of the ground in some areas allowing the birds to enter
and become trapped. The explanation given for killing the birds was" that
if they let them go the birds would tell other birds how to get to the
grapes. After being trapped and trying to get out for some time I would
have thought the birds would be loathe to go back and this would have been
the more likely message. A neighbour of the vineyard goes to inspect the
nets daily now, at her own expense but saving the lives of many birds.
It begs the question, are there any rules in regards to fitting these nets
and do many birds get caught in them when fitted correctly, and what is the
policy in regards to killing birds in vineyards.
keith brandwood
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
