I don't like to whinge (much), but what is it with pheasants? Not one, not two, but three of the idiots ran out in front of me at various points this afternoon - while I was driving.
Luckily there was nobody else on the road so I was able to take evasive action, otherwise they would all have been history. It astounds me that these creatures manage to survive long enough to perpetuate the species. Going on today's form they should have become extinct years ago.
19 comments:
We have the same problem with possums. And the really annoying thing is you can't eat 'em either - unless you're a weirdo.
Hunting season is on, they're probably trying to get into your car - asylum seekers!
Hi Jackie - I think the etiquite with pheasants is that you can't eat them if you killed them, but feasting on something that someone else has run over is considered acceptable. Agree you'd have to be pretty wierd to want to eat something that's been on the road, but apparently some people do. Possum dodging sound so much more exotic than pheasant avoiding.
Never thought of that, Sally. Perhaps I should stop and give them a lift next time.
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They are such daft birds. I've had some near misses with them. And they hide in the grass until one of the dogs breath ruffles their feathers before taking off squawking like a bag full of rusty nails.
Beautiful though, nothing quite like a male pheasant strutting across a snowy field. If only they'd stay there.
Hi Suzanne,
Right then, here we go for a third time to try and leave a comment. Flippin' internet crashed.
Anyway, here goes. At first glance, I thought your picture was of that legend that is known as the 'Famous Grouse'
Well, this certainly is a pheasant blog:-)
I reckon, from what you alluded too, the pheasant, with its lack of knowledge of the 'Highway Code, may end up with the same demise as the 'dodo'.
Take good care and happy writing, Gary x
click on:'publish your comment' here we go....
Well, Suz this is funny. Sorry it happened to you though. And I'm glad you weren't hurt or anything... but it gave me a chuckle.
Well, Suz this is funny. Sorry it happened to you though. And I'm glad you weren't hurt or anything... but it gave me a chuckle.
I think Sally could be onto something! But, where we live, you never see roadkill pheasants so they must be very good at avoiding cars. Maybe they play games of 'chicken' with each other and dare each other to run out into the road?
They go into panic mode don't they! Thank God you managed to avoid them and any other rosd users. It's no wonder we see so many of them lining the roads dead though.
Julie xx
Hi Suzanne
We don't have that problem here, but ducks seem to have a wander out on the roads from time to time. An occasional kangaroo I thought they would have realised by now that roads are death. But no you see them so close to the road, and at times one whose met his death. I wonder what it is about roads that draw animals. lol. Glad to hear you didn't hit one. :)
The problem with pheasants Suzanne is that they have the sum total of 1 brain cell IMHO! Duh! Like you I'm a country bum and have had many run ins with the critters! They are so THICK! The thickest in all the animal kingdom I think. Have a good weekend. Take care. Caroline x
LOL! They're going the same way as the dodo :D
Pheasants are idiots aren't they? They're always running out in front of us too. I think they breed them this stupid so they're easy to shoot!
We get lots of pheasants lurching across the roads around here. They really are a bit daft. Funny how you swerve to avoid them automatically though, even though it's dangerous!
Lots of pheasants here in Lincolnshire, both as potential and actual road kill. You're right in that if you hit one you cannot legally pick it up but whoever is following can have a lovely pheasant supper. They are reared for shooting hence they haven't any road sense or any snese at all.
...or sense, even!
Talking of pheasant suppers; I appear to have a (dead) one in my freezer. Can't remember buying it. Wonder if it leapt in of its own accord?
Possums run out, which is annoying cause you really don't want a mess on your car; though I've never had an issue with Pheasant's, you'd think they'd be afraid of the noise and all.
Sandy
You’re right, Teresa – they really are daft. Agree – it would be better for everyone if they stayed in the fields.
Hi Gary, I’ve been having trouble leaving messages on blogs, too. Wonder what’s going on. Anyhow, I’m glad it was third time lucky. Will have to try waving a copy of the Highway Code at them next time. Happy writing to you, too.
Aw, thanks Kaye. I’m just so pleased I managed to avoid them, would have been horrid to be responsible for killing them.
Hi Joanne – love the idea of pheasants playing chicken – is that fowl play, I wonder?
They do panic, Julie, and very often manage to run back into your path after you’ve successfully avoided them – almost like they’re giving the motorist a second chance to hit them.
I’m imagine it would be very scary to hit something the size of a kangaroo, Suzanne. We saw a family of ducks crossing the road once – mummy and several babies, she was leading them to the river. Luckily, it was a quiet road and motorists stopped to let them cross.
Hi Caroline – and I suspect they share that one brain cell between the lot of them. They even seem to sabotage every attempt to avoid them.
I think they’ve only survived through breeding programmes for shooting purposes, Lacey. Otherwise they would have gone the way of the dodo by now.
I think you’ve hit on something there, Lorraine. If they can breed for physical traits then I’m sure breeding for stupidity can’t be a problem.
It’s really dangerous, Karen. I’ve very lucky that so far I’ve either managed to slow down safely or been on my own on the road and been able to swerve. But it could so easily all end in tears.
Ah, that’s very interesting, delcatto – I didn’t realise it was a legal stipulation that you couldn’t eat your own road kill, just as well I’ve never been tempted.
Ooooh, that sounds quite spooky, Helen… did it get itself oven ready, too?
It's very odd, Sandy, they seem to be attracted by the sound of cars.
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