The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I had this message today from Sue Hays!

Roy
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Hello Linda and Roy
I heard from my next door neighbours who own the plot of land at the bottom of Tetney Lock which they call Abbots (their surname) that their Niger feeder and the branch where the goldfinches (lovely flock of about 12, which I have seen there) have both been painted with glue and they found the yellow feathers of the goldfinches stuck to the tree. They had made a lovely feeding station there plus put up various bird boxes and last year had a pair of tree sparrows nest. People had been leaving bags of food at the bottom of the tree with notes to feed their lovely birds.
They found this atrocity on Sunday and reported to the police who advised them to inform the Rspb. The Rspb told them to remove the station and that they had had reports of gangs this year doing this in various parts of the country. That people catch them to eat.
Ann has gone down and chopped the branch off. Her husband is in a wheel chair and it was one of their pleasures to watch the birds. She manages the land herself.
Years ago Turtle doves breed at Abbots and there have been many good birds seen there.
I looked to see if it was reported in the Cleethorpes chronicle but no mention.
I thought there is a feeding station at Bradley woods and no doubt more in the area.
Would you mention this awful news to the members of Lincs bird club so people will be aware of what's happening.
Ann said they were told not to approach anyone but to take the car number and she has informed the dog walkers she knows who visit the lock. Everyone is horrified.
Thank you
Sue

Coating branches with "birdlime" to catch song birds for food is prevelent in Mediterranean countries but it is first time I've heard of it in Lincolnshire. In France, songbirds caught for food can fetch as much as £100 each! - let's hope this is not what is happening in this case. The advice the landowner received is spot on and car numbers, descriptions of individuals etc. is essential to help the authorities bring these individuals before the courts.