Catfish !!!.

Yes Daz.

Remember the game keeper, Charlie Murgatroyde game keeper friend of my father giving him strings of young rooks at times of the year when the young were sat just outside the nests.

Never tried them myself.

He also netted his fruit trees to stop the many, at that time, small birds ruining the fruit etc;

He was the first person to start my interest in Racing Pigeons.


Many small birds are trapped abroad for the table, do not think the small pleasure they get from killing them warrants doing so, but then humans are strange creatures if left to their own devices.

Have had numerous experiences with wild birds including breeding pet pheasants on a friends fathers farm and raising ducks from the Mere etc; along with obligatory at that time Jackdaw, and magpie.

My father was only interest in small birds and got many from his friend when trapped in the trees.

During the war my father fed the small birds on arrowroot biscuits.

The youth of today have little or no appreciation of the pleasure one can derive from nature in all it's glory, virtual reality rules the day.

SO SAD.

Regards.

Very good post Misty. I had Jackdaw, owls, squirrels, Kestrels and Sparrow harks, and very much more as pets when a kid. No money to buy anything lol, except some guinea pigs … Made a great run for them too...
Reared swallow a time and wood pigeons etc. and much more. Jackdaws fed like the ferrets, bread and milk. Had great fun all around. Caught sparrows in the 4 bricks with a prop and string … Hated it, so off shot the Barn owl etc.

Brings back different memories Daz.

We used a dustbin lid propped up with a stick with string attached, pulled it when enough small birds were under and lost most trying to get our hands under to catch them.

Never kept a bird of prey, am sure I missed a treat.

Once took young owl from nest but put it back not being sure how to treat it.

When I sit back and look back Daz, I would love to re live my childhood, no wealth in money terms but every day an adventure.

Regards.

MISTY wrote:

Brings back different memories Daz.

We used a dustbin lid propped up with a stick with string attached, pulled it when enough small birds were under and lost most trying to get our hands under to catch them.

Never  kept a bird of prey, am sure I missed a treat.

Once took young owl from nest but put it back not being sure how to treat it.

When I sit back and look back Daz, I would love to re live my childhood, no wealth in money terms but every day an adventure.

Regards.  

wonderful the old dustbin lid trick etc Pity these days the kids of today I'm will never learn the science factor that went into doing it as such Misty.

Owl Misty. I once put my hand in the nest in the hole. Mate down below ask 'Anything in there Ro'? Young owls I think - I saw the pellets of course.
Took it out and said 'Weer about ready to fly'! He laughed and stated it's the old one … was a Little Owl lol. First time I every saw one.
Yes Misty, golden days and cherished memories abounded, and not a penny spent lol

Daz wrote:

Owl Misty. I once put my hand in the nest in the hole. Mate down below ask 'Anything in there Ro'? Young owls I think - I saw the pellets of course.
Took it out and said 'Weer about ready to fly'! He laughed and stated it's the old one … was a Little Owl lol. First time I every saw one.
Yes Misty, golden days and cherished memories abounded, and not a penny spent lol

Strange wasn't it Daz how our generation always found things to fill our time in with enjoyment & as you say cost nothing, cause basically we had nothing etc . Today many spend their young life twittering away or on face book/computors,  achieving I'm  next to nothing sadly I feel on average & worrying about their image factor as such with the outside world.