Bird scarer petition

I'm feeling people's pain on this........... we had a bird scarer in the field next to us (and will probably get the bleddy thing again this year :() - and it IS disturbing, it was timed to go off about every 3 minutes throughout the day.

The landowner and us get on OK, but we were a bit disappointed that he didn't bother to tell us that he was putting these things in the field as he knows we have horses and the field IS right next door to us, and he must have known we were going to be disturbed. So we were a bit miffed TBH.

However......... in mitigation, birds DO cause a huge nuisance to farmers if they're growing crops and take a lot of seed (tho' birds probably do get immune to it). And as far as disturbance/scaring the horses is concerned, the plus point is that they do very quickly get used to it and don't worry; although what would be good is if the farmer concerned were to put up a notice saying that there was a bird-scarer operating in the area as anyone hacking who doesn't know the flippin thing is on wouldn't know it, and there could potentially be a very dangerous situation.

Agree that there needs to be a good think on legislation; at the very least it should be obligatory to consult with other people living in the vicinity before the things are erected, and that if there are any objections then this will be considered. Because, agree with others, if you're working nights say, and have to sleep during the day, and the damn things are going off every three minutes, then you're not going to get a lot of sleep. Plus the safety aspect; we've got some busy roads round here and all it needs is for a kids pony to get spooked by one, or someone on a TB say, then there could be a very nasty accident.

Consultation and discussion has to be the way forward on this; there HAS got to a better way for farmers to control crop-eating birds and perhaps some more research has to be undertaken.
 
Wagtail said:
I would like to see legislation to regulate their use to reasonable levels.

I would like to see legislation that allows a timer to override the dawn til dusk sensor so that they do not go off before a reasonable hour (say 7 am in the morning). I would like to see the current code of practice enforceable by law.
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Fair enough :smile3:
 
Wagtail said:
Could you sleep with a noise as loud as a shot gun going off every few minutes throughout the night? Do you think it is reasonable that we get woken up earlier and earlier every morning with the dawn chorus of the guns? If you have not experienced it you have no idea how it feels. Sleep deprivation is one of the most effective forms of torture for a reason you know.
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I'm a light sleeper so I get woken up frequently through the night, every night. I have 3 livestock dogs who bark when any critters come on the farm near the house. Once they start, the other 3 dogs will start too. Coyotes howling all night long and then my dogs replying to them wake me up. The horses banging their legs on metal hay feeders have a tendency to wake me up most nights in the summer. Any liveries who come late or very early in the morning wake me up, either I hear their vehicles or their lights shine in my bedroom windows. The cattle herd across the hay field can get quite raucous at night, especially when they are calving. I hear them too. When it's hunting season the guns wake me up at all hours of the night and are going off all day long for weeks on end. During harvest time, I hear the huge tractors that are on the go 24 hours a day all around my farm, with their lights on and their engines trundling over constantly. None of that bothers me though. I've lived my whole life in the country so I'm totally used to and fine with all country noises. I always have a little chuckle when my townie/city friends come and stay here and say they're looking forward to coming to the peace and quiet of the country lol! then after a day or so they comment on how noisy the country is; and it is, and it always has been :smile3:
 
SF there are some very unpleasant farmers around who go out of their way to throw their weight around ,the (at best )careless siting of bird scarers can really badly effect people .
These farmers don't site them near where they live they save it for near others who they disapprove for some reason , these people are a small minority of course the majority of farmers are considerate .
There's no need for them going off at night it's not acceptable if they do and if they do if a direct approach does not work then the local EA would be the next place .
Every family in this country pays every week for farming out of every pay packet every minimum wage worker pays every week for farmers ,they do them selves no favours what so ever by behaving like this .
If the routine management of bird nuisance with guns is restricted it will get worse ,more and more bird scarers .
 
Goldenstar said:
SF there are some very unpleasant farmers around who go out of their way to throw their weight around
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Well that's a shame. All the farmers around my farm are my neighbours so I know them all very well and they're all super friendly and polite people. No one complains about anyone doing anything here because tbh there's nothing to complain about, it's just the countryside and all the noises that go with it. I live smack bang in middle of farms; loads of cattle farms, our horse farm and huge tracts of arable land. One thing though, with all the arable land here, we don't have gas guns. Why don't we have gas guns here?? :confused3:
 
Spring Feather said:
Do none of the 3 farmers live anywhere their farmland? I'm just wondering why it doesn't affect their sleep?

I wouldn't sign a petition for a ban on gas guns sorry. Arable farming is hard enough without losing more of their crops to critters.
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No, one lives in the village almost 2 miles away. One in his manor on the other side of the estate and the other - had no problem with at night.
 
I'm a bit bemused by this. Horses being flight animals will spook / run from just about anything. Are you going to petition to ban birds flying out of hedges . undergrowth too? As for the noise & your nerves try living next to a dairy farm when the heifers & cows are bulling !! What a racket that is.
I'm have no issues with the bird scarers in my locality at all. My horses also don't bother when the clay pidgeon shoot over the valley is in full swing, or when there are fireworks nearby. I have great hopes that the bird scarers will be useful preparation for when the Point Two goes off - it hasn't yet, but I'm sure it will in the fullness of time !
 
To be honest these gas guns arn't a problem for the horses, they get used to them. Personally I find them annoying and intrusive day or night. What really gets me wound up, is how British agriculture will be brought to it's knees every time people object to the farming communities latest toy. Bird scarers, pesticides which kill bees, herbicide sprays, stupidly huge machinary driven by immature inbreds or eastern europeans being exploited and paid peanuts. Pretending they care for animals which are subject to the most horrenous abuses in their factory farms, purporting to be enriched environments. No idea about bio security, but blaming all and sundry for their diseased animals being transported around the country spreading infection wherever they go. Ask them to keep proper records and a little paperwork is the end of the world. All subsidised by the tax payer who has to pay through the nose again at the blooming supermarket. With all the advantages these people have, inherited wealth, tax breaks and agricultural exemptions on everything they touch, they still can't be profitable without massive hand outs from the state. Tell them that they cannot do something, and the sky is falling in on their pea brained heads, idiots.
 
Pale Rider said:
To be honest these gas guns arn't a problem for the horses, they get used to them. Personally I find them annoying and intrusive day or night. What really gets me wound up, is how British agriculture will be brought to it's knees every time people object to the farming communities latest toy. Bird scarers, pesticides which kill bees, herbicide sprays, stupidly huge machinary driven by immature inbreds or eastern europeans being exploited and paid peanuts. Pretending they care for animals which are subject to the most horrenous abuses in their factory farms, purporting to be enriched environments. No idea about bio security, but blaming all and sundry for their diseased animals being transported around the country spreading infection wherever they go. Ask them to keep proper records and a little paperwork is the end of the world. All subsidised by the tax payer who has to pay through the nose again at the blooming supermarket. With all the advantages these people have, inherited wealth, tax breaks and agricultural exemptions on everything they touch, they still can't be profitable without massive hand outs from the state. Tell them that they cannot do something, and the sky is falling in on their pea brained heads, idiots.
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PR - I have yet to read anything constructive from you on this forum. I've just come to understand you as an ill educated being with a huge inferiority complex, about absolutely everything. Don't let that chip bring you down mate.
 
Pale Rider said:
To be honest these gas guns arn't a problem for the horses, they get used to them. Personally I find them annoying and intrusive day or night. What really gets me wound up, is how British agriculture will be brought to it's knees every time people object to the farming communities latest toy. Bird scarers, pesticides which kill bees, herbicide sprays, stupidly huge machinary driven by immature inbreds or eastern europeans being exploited and paid peanuts. Pretending they care for animals which are subject to the most horrenous abuses in their factory farms, purporting to be enriched environments. No idea about bio security, but blaming all and sundry for their diseased animals being transported around the country spreading infection wherever they go. Ask them to keep proper records and a little paperwork is the end of the world. All subsidised by the tax payer who has to pay through the nose again at the blooming supermarket. With all the advantages these people have, inherited wealth, tax breaks and agricultural exemptions on everything they touch, they still can't be profitable without massive hand outs from the state. Tell them that they cannot do something, and the sky is falling in on their pea brained heads, idiots.
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So I guess you eat fresh air? Or soya products produced in third world countries where ripping out and destroying whole ecosystems is ok?
You are actually talking a load of bigoted rubbish. There are very few farmers who have inherited wealth, maybe some landowners but they won't be the 'farmer' making a living off the soil. Give farmers a realistic price for the produce and we wouldn't have to rely on subsidies. 4 pints of milk for a quid, how cheap do you want it. Eating apart from breathing is fundamental to life, don't knock those who attempt to do it and try to make enough to feed their own.
 
We've just had the bangers put out. They will wake me up at dawn for about a week, after that I will sleep through them.
The horses don't bat an eyelid at them, the foals and youngsters quickly realise a bang does not mean panic and the need to run like hell, excellent experience for their future life.
The farmers, if lucky enough to still have a crop that has not been drowned have half a chance to see it through to harvest.
It amuses me that people have this fairy tale notion of the peace and tranquility of the country side. IT'S A WORK PLACE.
Even for you wagtail !

Wonder what all the pleasure riders would feed and bed their horses on when the farmers give up and sell to developers. Oh hang on, no where to ride amongst the housing estates anyway.
All those moaning about bangers for a few weeks a year will no doubt enjoy these new neighbours popping up all around them with their undisciplined children and dogs, with no real idea what country life actually means. Still, I guess they'll fit right in with the pretend country folk already there.

Those who've been country born and bred for generations understand the struggle farmers face to produce what they do.
Those that fancy a bit of country living have no idea, and do nothing but complain, but still expect to be able to easily and cheaply buy their meat, veg and cereals.

Bangers, dusty windows, farm machinery, cattle bellowing, cockerels crowing. You name it, they'll complain about it.

Carry on, you'll lose it all soon enough.
 
RunToEarth said:
PR - I have yet to read anything constructive from you on this forum. I've just come to understand you as an ill educated mbeing with a huge inferiority complex, about absolutely everything. Don't let that chip bring you down mate.
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PR is here to tweak our tails now and again.
 
ribbons said:
We've just had the bangers put out. They will wake me up at dawn for about a week, after that I will sleep through them.
The horses don't bat an eyelid at them, the foals and youngsters quickly realise a bang does not mean panic and the need to run like hell, excellent experience for their future life.
The farmers, if lucky enough to still have a crop that has not been drowned have half a chance to see it through to harvest.
It amuses me that people have this fairy tale notion of the peace and tranquility of the country side. IT'S A WORK PLACE.
Even for you wagtail !

Wonder what all the pleasure riders would feed and bed their horses on when the farmers give up and sell to developers. Oh hang on, no where to ride amongst the housing estates anyway.
All those moaning about bangers for a few weeks a year will no doubt enjoy these new neighbours popping up all around them with their undisciplined children and dogs, with no real idea what country life actually means. Still, I guess they'll fit right in with the pretend country folk already there.

Those who've been country born and bred for generations understand the struggle farmers face to produce what they do.
Those that fancy a bit of country living have no idea, and do nothing but complain, but still expect to be able to easily and cheaply buy their meat, veg and cereals.

Bangers, dusty windows, farm machinery, cattle bellowing, cockerels crowing. You name it, they'll complain about it.

Carry on, you'll lose it all soon enough.
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Where do you think the countryside is going to go ?
I have lived in the countryside bar a few years abroad all my life .
All industry's have regulations to limit the nuisance they impose on others .
Farmers will farm whatever if some want to flounce off others will take their place .
The publics issue with bird scarers is driven often by stupid famers who don't have the manners to care for the feelings of others .
They ought not go off at night no excuse want so ever for that.
They ought not be put on the edge of bridleways and certainly not near gates on bridleways that's common sense and care for others .
My horses ignore then although they are rare round here .
However if you live in an arable area or where vegetables are grow you need to accept that they are going to be used .
But they need to be used with the impact on others considered .
 
Goldenstar said:
Where do you think the countryside is going to go ?
I have lived in the countryside bar a few years abroad all my life .
All industry's have regulations to limit the nuisance they impose on others .
Farmers will farm whatever if some want to flounce off others will take their place .
The publics issue with bird scarers is driven often by stupid famers who don't have the manners to care for the feelings of others .
They ought not go off at night no excuse want so ever for that.
They ought not be put on the edge of bridleways and certainly not near gates on bridleways that's common sense and care for others .
My horses ignore then although they are rare round here .
However if you live in an arable area or where vegetables are grow you need to accept that they are going to be used .
But they need to be used with the impact on others considered .
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Exactly!

Ribbons, lucky you that you are able to sleep through them after a week. Not everyone can. It's all about 'I'm all right Jack'. No empathy with others whatsoever. And as for Patterdale, are you even a grown up?
 
Wagtail said:
Exactly!

Ribbons, lucky you that you are able to sleep through them after a week. Not everyone can. It's all about 'I'm all right Jack'. No empathy with others whatsoever. And as for Patterdale, are you even a grown up?
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Oh stop goading for an argument. To be fair Wagtail you don't help yourself - if I were in your situation I would have reported it in the correct way and hounded the LA until the do something about it. Internet petitions are unlikely to get your rather unique set of circumstances dealt with anytime soon.
 
RunToEarth said:
PR - I have yet to read anything constructive from you on this forum. I've just come to understand you as an ill educated being with a huge inferiority complex, about absolutely everything. Don't let that chip bring you down mate.
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Actually, I think Pale Rider has just summed up the opinion of most people about farmers. Most do not live in the countryside, they live in urban or city areas and this is precisely how farmers come across in the media. Frankly this is often how farmers come across in person. The farming community is very bad at public relations.
 
I asked a question earlier that was ignored by those arguing against the petition. Regarding the tragedy recounted by OWLIE. What if the horse that bolted and was killed on the road had not thrown its rider? What if the rider was injured or killed too? This petition is asking for a ban OR official legislation to make the use of Gas gun bird scarers considerate and safe. They would never be banned. But we do need legislation because many farmers are using these devices totally inappropriately and without a thought for others.
 
cobgoblin said:
Actually, I think Pale Rider has just summed up the opinion of most people about farmers. Most do not live in the countryside, they live in urban or city areas and this is precisely how farmers come across in the media. Frankly this is often how farmers come across in person. The farming community is very bad at public relations.
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And it is not being helped by some of the attitudes of farmers on this thread. They are coming over as totally unsympathetic to any other country people. As though they don't even have basic human rights. Most of my family are farmers and they would cringe at some of the attitudes expressed on here.
 
The trouble is wagtail, by your own admission you don't want to talk to the people concerned about the problem. You, and others prefer to slag off farmers from behind your key board.
Maybe the farmers haven't realised the bangers are going off all night. That would be costly and pointless.
If, as has been suggested, its simply to annoy the neighbours, (unlikely as most farmers have more important things to think about, but I'll accept its possible)
Then report them to the relevant authorities. That will probably reveal you as the complainant. Again something you don't want.!!

If its that much of a problem stand up and say so where it will have an effect. Not whinging to people on a forum to sign a petition, safely preserving your lovely neighbour image.

Be open and honest with your neighbours, stop complaining behind their backs and you just might gain some respect.
 
ribbons said:
The trouble is wagtail, by your own admission you don't want to talk to the people concerned about the problem. You, and others prefer to slag off farmers from behind your key board.
Maybe the farmers haven't realised the bangers are going off all night. That would be costly and pointless.
If, as has been suggested, its simply to annoy the neighbours, (unlikely as most farmers have more important things to think about, but I'll accept its possible)
Then report them to the relevant authorities. That will probably reveal you as the complainant. Again something you don't want.!!

If its that much of a problem stand up and say so where it will have an effect. Not whinging to people on a forum to sign a petition, safely preserving your lovely neighbour image.

Be open and honest with your neighbours, stop complaining behind their backs and you just might gain some respect.
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If there was proper legislation and it was being ignored, then I would feel I could complain. As it is, I do not feel I can because it is all a matter of perception. The attitudes of some on this thread illustrate exactly why it would be fruitless to complain. As I have said several times, if they go off at night then I do go out and turn them off and report it the following day, very politely.
 
Wagtail said:
And it is not being helped by some of the attitudes of farmers on this thread. They are coming over as totally unsympathetic to any other country people. As though they don't even have basic human rights. Most of my family are farmers and they would cringe at some of the attitudes expressed on here.
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I'm unsympathetic to your problem because you have done bob all to help yourself - instead of moaning about it on here why not do something about it.

I fully support not putting gas guns next to ROWs, I fully support not having gas guns going all night - but what is debating it on here going to achieve - you are the only one who can actually change your circumstances.
 
The land around our houses is owned and/or farmed by at least six different people. Our nearest neighbour often seems to be dealing with his cattle at 2am but that's his perogative.
If we had gas guns going off all night, I'd be on a major PR mission, chatting to all of them about what we could do to change it. It is a shame if your diaglogue has broken down to the point where you can't go and have a talk with them and get some action. Perhaps you could get one of your farming family to have a word for you?
 
Run to earth. The way I choose to deal with it is to do all I can to get proper legislation put in place. As it is it would be pointless talking to the owners about the situation because their attitude would be '**** off'. They may even increase the nuisance to boot. If anything you and others on this thread have reiterated what a pointless and even damaging thing to do it would be! If horsey people feel like you do, I would not stand a cat in hell's chance with the non horsey people I would be dealing with. The proper way is to get legislation put in place first. Then everyone knows where they stand. I find it very strange that you all seem so terrified of it quite frankly.
 
Wagtail said:
Run to earth. The way I choose to deal with it is to do all I can to get proper legislation put in place. As it is it would be pointless talking to the owners about the situation because their attitude would be '**** off'. They may even increase the nuisance to boot. If anything you and others on this thread have reiterated what a pointless and even damaging thing to do it would be! If horsey people feel like you do, I would not stand a cat in hell's chance with the non horsey people I would be dealing with. The proper way is to get legislation put in place first. Then everyone knows where they stand. I find it very strange that you all seem so terrified of it quite frankly.
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Then go to your LA's environmental health and complain of noise nuisance which is a perfectly reasonable and valid complaint if they are indeed going off during night time regularly - they can provide you with a noise box in the same way as they do with neighbour disputes - honestly I think that is a perfectly sensible piece of advice in your circumstances and I can't understand why you wouldn't explore that option if the landowners are being so uncooperative.

I live in the middle of arable Lincolnshire so I do understand that they can be a pain in the daytime and that they should not being going off at night. I also wouldn't mind legislation on them at all because we follow the code of GP and don't put them near houses/PROWs - I just object outright to a ban on them because they are very effective.

The rope bangers which Ester has posted I really dislike - and it is scary how easy they are to get hold of - at uni someone set one off at a ball inside a bottle and it caused some serious injuries to my friend.
 
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