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.

20 KILOS!!! not pounds. According to the BBC up to 50 pounds in weight. Anyone got any recipes for XMAS?:p

Have a look here

http://www.drumbeat.org.uk/bustard.htm

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?

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.

We knew those gazelles could jump but...

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;)

Anyone got any recipes for pre-minced Bustard ?

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...":}

!!!
 

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 !! :p :ok:

Only decent "bustard" on salisbury plain, is the "Bustard Inn". Right next to a tank track and very handy for a pint when returning from a cas-rep :ok:

Timeline of the Great Bustard comeback ? :p

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

:ok:

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.

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!;)