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Big bird
With avian flu devastating our bird populations both wild and commercial, PETER FROST looks at feathered friends large and small
A gannet in flight [Andreas Trepte/Creative Commons]

I’VE JUST spent a few days on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, a part of the country absolutely stuffed with egg, chicken, duck, goose — and at this time of year turkey production units.

Poultry is a long-established industry hereabouts. A century or more ago huge flocks of turkeys, geese and ducks would have their feet dipped in hot tar to make protective footwear for the over 100-mile walk to Leadenhall market in London. It was a hazardous journey. Today’s hazards seem even worse.

Everywhere we walked or drove we came across warning signs telling us to keep clear, to keep out and not to touch any birds dead or alive, wild or captive.  

A grey heron (Pic: Andreas Trepte/Creative Commons)
A Canada goose takes a swim
A white-tailed eagle (Pic: Andreas Weith/Creative Commons)
A golden eagle
A great bustard (Pic: Francesco Veronesi/ Creative Commons)
A goldcrest (Pic: Missy2004/Creative Commons)
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