5. December 2011 09:10
Feed hoppers in the snow provide helpful information as to how they are being used by the pheasants.
After a long, mild November, the skies opened last night and the first snow has fallen. Snow brings many inconveniences, but there are some advantages to a good covering of the white stuff.
Most importantly, snow gives a good idea of how your feed hoppers are being used. Pheasant tracks are very conspicuous in the snow, and it's easy to see which feeders are being used and by how many birds. There are always a great deal of chaffinches and tits around our feeders, and it's nice to think that the winter feeding regime is helping a huge variety of other wildlife.
It's also a good time to look at where the local foxes are moving around. Long, straight tracks in the snow are a dead give away for foxes, and following up some of the runs gives a good idea of where to lay an ambush or set a snare.
The forecast predicts that there is more snow to come, in which case the disadvantages of not being able to travel will soon outweigh the advantages...
