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This was Cernay early afternoon, something I've never seen before, but is apparently not that uncommon. Couldn't do anything about it, as had the hound of the Baskervilles with me and the cage was padlocked. Went back later to check, but the farmer had obviously been to empty the trap and no sign of the raptors, nor any sign of harm to them.
Think these were young Buzzards, didn't want to get too close and cause any more distress than necessary.
Very interesting, Rolf. Do you think raw meat/other had been out into the cage to trap and kill the raptors? I mean, I know they are very keen on hunting in France - for Pheasants, Deer, Rabbits/anything - and wonder if the farmer needed to get rid of BOPs from his hunting grounds..
I'd like to think not Catherine, raptors also do a good job of keeping vermin down.
Rolf, I've been 'Googling'...
Check out these;
Crow trap - Wild About Britain
Crow Busters - Crow Trap
Controlling bird damage by American Crows (Corvus ossifragus) by Ron Johnson
- and there are others!
Perhaps the farmer is trying to trap Crows (legal I'd guess) as they damage his crops. I suppose this might be the best time to do so - as there would be no young in nests waiting for adults to return with food.
What I'd like to know is if the farmer was trying to trap Buzzards as well - and what he does with those he finds in the cage!
We'll never know that I'm afraid Catherine, as I'm not on the spot. I can't see why the farmer would particularly want to trap raptors as this is an arable region, this is also the first time I've seen raptors in the crow traps.
Oh, dear. I understand why they might want to control some species (not that I necessarily agree), but it is worrying if it becomes indiscriminate.