I've just had the misfortune of seeing a cob killing a gosling and speaking to another member it's killed three others and left the male goose with barely any tail feathers. I've been carp fishing seriously since 2006 and have fished loads of waters with swans on before but have never witnessed them actually killing other wild fowl. I've obviously seen there aggressive side towards other birds before but that was pretty savage to watch.
I was wondering if it will kill the rest theres only two left out of the five that were swimming around last week. I know they are aggressive and territorial and could understand if the was a female with cygnets with him but there is none its just him by himself and they pose no risk to him whatsoever. He is not worried about the coots or mallards just these poor Canadian geese.
I was wondering if it will kill the rest theres only two left out of the five that were swimming around last week. I know they are aggressive and territorial and could understand if the was a female with cygnets with him but there is none its just him by himself and they pose no risk to him whatsoever. He is not worried about the coots or mallards just these poor Canadian geese.
In reply to Post #1
It's a tough world mate. I saw a returning adult kill his own off spring who had remained over winter.
It's a tough world mate. I saw a returning adult kill his own off spring who had remained over winter.
In reply to Post #1
I've seen swans drown other birds before." Nature red in tooth and claw"
Also in beak. It's not nice to see but it's real life.
I've seen swans drown other birds before." Nature red in tooth and claw"
Also in beak. It's not nice to see but it's real life.
In reply to Post #3
Thats what this was doing it had by the back off the head and just would not let it up it broke free once and the cob grabbed it again but this time put his body over the back of the gosling effectively dunking the whole thing under water there was no chance of it wriggling free.
Thats what this was doing it had by the back off the head and just would not let it up it broke free once and the cob grabbed it again but this time put his body over the back of the gosling effectively dunking the whole thing under water there was no chance of it wriggling free.
I'm sure it wasn't nice to witness, but that is nature at its terrible self. We shouldn't interfere with it really.
In reply to Post #1
A lake I fish does not have a single Canadian goose on it,the male swan will not let any land.I watched him one evening chase a goose for hours,I have to admit its very nice not having any on the water though.
A lake I fish does not have a single Canadian goose on it,the male swan will not let any land.I watched him one evening chase a goose for hours,I have to admit its very nice not having any on the water though.
In reply to Post #1
Time of year mate. They will be chasing last years young off ready for this years brood. Very aggressive at this time of year and anything that gets in their way will cop for it. I once fished one water for a few years and there was a dominant pair on there, used to chase all the others off and every year the same routine. They will be up and down the lake with the wings held wide, puffed up, dominant display to make them look bigger.
Time of year mate. They will be chasing last years young off ready for this years brood. Very aggressive at this time of year and anything that gets in their way will cop for it. I once fished one water for a few years and there was a dominant pair on there, used to chase all the others off and every year the same routine. They will be up and down the lake with the wings held wide, puffed up, dominant display to make them look bigger.
In reply to Post #1
Only witnessed it a few times before and that was on Abington trout lakes, the cob killed a female duck and all 12 of her young, did one then moved on the the next one, horrid to watch, other time was a coot, it wiped out 3 moorhen broods in 2 days
Only witnessed it a few times before and that was on Abington trout lakes, the cob killed a female duck and all 12 of her young, did one then moved on the the next one, horrid to watch, other time was a coot, it wiped out 3 moorhen broods in 2 days
In reply to Post #8
All part of nature and one of the pleasures of going fishing, you get to see it as it is. I've seen them eat dead roach and all sorts over the years. I used to feed them, in the winter had them virtually under my brolly with me on many a days. Used to feed the mallards too, takes a while but you can get them taking baits out of your hands. What is amazing is how quick a boiled bait can pass though a duck, liquid crap in a few minutes, stinks. I think it's down to the high amino content
All part of nature and one of the pleasures of going fishing, you get to see it as it is. I've seen them eat dead roach and all sorts over the years. I used to feed them, in the winter had them virtually under my brolly with me on many a days. Used to feed the mallards too, takes a while but you can get them taking baits out of your hands. What is amazing is how quick a boiled bait can pass though a duck, liquid crap in a few minutes, stinks. I think it's down to the high amino content
In reply to Post #1
It will have the other 2 if they dont leave. I've seen lots of this, brutal, but completely natural.
It will have the other 2 if they dont leave. I've seen lots of this, brutal, but completely natural.
I always thought swans mated for life,that's not true apparently either.If the male gets pissed off it will kill the female and find a new Mrs.
In reply to Post #11
I think most of us feel like that at some point
I think most of us feel like that at some point
In reply to Post #11
Never knew that Braders
Funny what you learn whilst fishing. I fished one water and there were loads on it, mind you though it was about 80 acre, bit of a sanctuary for them so different behaviours, they seemed to live in harmony. Great though when I used to fish there, a couple of little old ladies used to come with a couple of loafs on a regular basis and proceeded to feed them near me on a few occasions, brilliant experience with around 50 swans thrashing around your swim and going through your lines
Never knew that Braders
Funny what you learn whilst fishing. I fished one water and there were loads on it, mind you though it was about 80 acre, bit of a sanctuary for them so different behaviours, they seemed to live in harmony. Great though when I used to fish there, a couple of little old ladies used to come with a couple of loafs on a regular basis and proceeded to feed them near me on a few occasions, brilliant experience with around 50 swans thrashing around your swim and going through your lines
In reply to Post #13
Only takes them wiping all your rods out at bite time once to start enjoying watching swan fights
Only takes them wiping all your rods out at bite time once to start enjoying watching swan fights
In reply to Post #14
I kid you not mate, it was a proper hike to where I was fishing, near on the other side of the lake from the carp park. In front of the car park there were pontoons for boats where people used to feed all the ducks from. Not the nice little old ladies, used to walk round the lake and feed them in the swim that I was fishing, unreal! If i did not know any different I would have thought they were doing it on a purpose bless them. As soon as one started feeding they were crash landing into the swim from a far. Good job I'm a swan lover, crackers, you have to laugh
I fished one water and they knew what bait was big time. It was quite shallow, if they saw the bait go in you might as well go home. They would be just tales up up and down the swim, lines dint bother them either, just use to pull it off the spool, shake it off and crack on, frustrating at times I must admit but all part of been there I suppose
I also fished another water and it had a couple of Australian black swans on. Me and my mate used to laugh at them, they could see the line going into the water, you could see them looking at it, they used to swim towards us and go under the rods to avoid it. Fascinating stuff really. Fished it again a few years later with my mate, different story, they knew what bait was and were not bothered about lines anymore
I kid you not mate, it was a proper hike to where I was fishing, near on the other side of the lake from the carp park. In front of the car park there were pontoons for boats where people used to feed all the ducks from. Not the nice little old ladies, used to walk round the lake and feed them in the swim that I was fishing, unreal! If i did not know any different I would have thought they were doing it on a purpose bless them. As soon as one started feeding they were crash landing into the swim from a far. Good job I'm a swan lover, crackers, you have to laugh
I fished one water and they knew what bait was big time. It was quite shallow, if they saw the bait go in you might as well go home. They would be just tales up up and down the swim, lines dint bother them either, just use to pull it off the spool, shake it off and crack on, frustrating at times I must admit but all part of been there I suppose
I also fished another water and it had a couple of Australian black swans on. Me and my mate used to laugh at them, they could see the line going into the water, you could see them looking at it, they used to swim towards us and go under the rods to avoid it. Fascinating stuff really. Fished it again a few years later with my mate, different story, they knew what bait was and were not bothered about lines anymore