Big Bustards
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ON A HILL
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Big Bustards
An interesting item on local TV today. Very shortly a small flock of Bustards are to be released on Salisbury Plain with a view to reinsating these birds which have been extinct in the UK for many years. For those not familiar with the English Bustard, it is the largest flying bird ever to inhabit the UK, a fully grown one attaining some twenty pounds in weight. It occured to me that a twenty pound fully feathered flying Bustard might be a thing to be aware of for anyone low flying around that area.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alderney or Lancashire UK
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
20 KILOS!!! not pounds. According to the BBC up to 50 pounds in weight. Anyone got any recipes for XMAS?
Have a look here
http://www.drumbeat.org.uk/bustard.htm
Have a look here
http://www.drumbeat.org.uk/bustard.htm
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If they are anything like the Australian bustard (plain turkey) they will make very poor airmen.
Big, slow, not real bright and given to flying converging tracks with aircraft.
Did I mention good camoflage?
Big, slow, not real bright and given to flying converging tracks with aircraft.
Did I mention good camoflage?
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: England/Arizona
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And a seven foot wingspan as well.... would not want to hit one in a 22 it would be bigger than me.
Lucky though that at the slower speeds most birds will get out of the way. Have a look at the safety sense leaflet on birds from the CAA. We have only ever had one strike and that was on a gazelle flat out.
Lucky though that at the slower speeds most birds will get out of the way. Have a look at the safety sense leaflet on birds from the CAA. We have only ever had one strike and that was on a gazelle flat out.
Senis Semper Fidelis
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Lancashire U K
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it an old wifes tale or do these Big Bustards only fly at sub 150Ft,
If they fly any higher, it could be really interesting around Salisbury Plain for our Military chaps
If they fly any higher, it could be really interesting around Salisbury Plain for our Military chaps
I'm sure this was tried some time in the mid - 70's; I distinctly remember a Giles cartoon with one turkey saying to another "I'd consider myself a very silly bustard to be re-introduced just before Christmas..."
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: ...in view of the 'Southern Cross' ...
Posts: 1,383
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
!!!
Perhaps ....
they will all be "numbered" and then to keep track of their where abouts have transponders fitted!
.... then details entered in a register to be known as .... "The Bustards I have Known" book ???
only a thought !! 
they will all be "numbered" and then to keep track of their where abouts have transponders fitted!
.... then details entered in a register to be known as .... "The Bustards I have Known" book ???
only a thought !!
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Timeline of the Great Bustard comeback ?
BBCNews 2002 July 09 - Great bustard set for UK return
BBC News 2003 April 23 - Bustard project takes off
BBC News 2003 November 03 - Bustard makes official comeback
BBc News 2004 April 10 - Great Bustard young heading to UK
BBC News 2004 April 25 - 'Biggest birds' hatch UK comeback
BBC News 2004 June 24 - Russian paperwork foils bird plan
BBC News 2004 August 01 Great bustard returns to England
BBC News 2004 August 03 - Water pistol plan to save bustard
BBCNews 2002 July 09 - Great bustard set for UK return
BBC News 2003 April 23 - Bustard project takes off
BBC News 2003 November 03 - Bustard makes official comeback
BBc News 2004 April 10 - Great Bustard young heading to UK
BBC News 2004 April 25 - 'Biggest birds' hatch UK comeback
BBC News 2004 June 24 - Russian paperwork foils bird plan
BBC News 2004 August 01 Great bustard returns to England
BBC News 2004 August 03 - Water pistol plan to save bustard
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: brighton
Age: 52
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They will be monitored, before they take off they will have to contact salisbury ops for clearance.
busy skies over the plain then gazelle, puma, merlin, chinook, lynx (sevicable), apache (i think if they out of storage), bustards, parchutists, and artillery i will say that again ARTILLERY.
busy skies over the plain then gazelle, puma, merlin, chinook, lynx (sevicable), apache (i think if they out of storage), bustards, parchutists, and artillery i will say that again ARTILLERY.
Senis Semper Fidelis
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Lancashire U K
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With all those Helicopters flying around down there it may be a good thing to put a few strength items around , say the engine air intakes to stop injestion of bird bits!
