After much debate with self decided to post this image of male Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) that impaled itself (probably in night flight) on a barbed wire fence close to Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, last week. A sad enough end for any creature, but more so when the bird is from a relatively rare species currently under survey throughout much of Australia.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Little Bittern comes to bitter end
After much debate with self decided to post this image of male Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) that impaled itself (probably in night flight) on a barbed wire fence close to Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, last week. A sad enough end for any creature, but more so when the bird is from a relatively rare species currently under survey throughout much of Australia.
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That's a terribly sad scene. How did it came to this? Did it not see the fence when it was flying by?
ReplyDeleteRIP
G'day Tony,
ReplyDeleteIndeed a sad image, but I reckon you are right to show it. It has several messages - I wonder will we ever heed any of them?
Regards,
Gouldiae
Hi PSYL: Little Bitterns are partly nocturnal.
ReplyDeleteGidday Gouldiae: Probably not in my lifetime!
I agree with Gouldiae, you are right to show it although it illustrates such a tragic story. Unfortunately the message re the dangers of barbed wire fencing to wildlife is conveniently ignored in many areas.
ReplyDeleteHi Tony
ReplyDeleteI have had to debate the issue of showing "road kills", and on balance I have decided to publish in some few cases, when there is something unusual or worth studying. In your case, I agree with your decision.
I went to a lecture on Owls once, which ended with a series of photos very much like yours. Birds innocently killed by being stuck on barbed wire.
Hard to see us persuading farmers across the nation to give up the habit, unfortunately. In truth, barbed wire is more a habit than a necessity.
Cheers
Denis
Hi Barbara and Denis: I seem to have touched a barbed wire nerve that runs deeper than I expected. What is puzzling, to me at least and aside from animal rights issues, is the lack of action against something that costs a heap in meat, leather and wool losses.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad.
ReplyDelete