Pheasant nesting in garden

[theplayingmantis]

My folks have a pheasant nesting at the bottom of their garden near the rear fence that backs on to arable and woodland, against the neighbors boundary amongst some ground cover in a wild patch (elder/ground ivy and periwinkle and suchlike - not in a hedge or near one). Its nowhere near the house but near compost heaps/bonfire areas etc, and is left in the spring/summer to grow wild with a path cut through for access into the fields/woods beyond so mrs pheasent wont be disturbed, much or closely. last year same thing happened and she was checked on from afar but ultimately the nest was assumedly predated as one day the eggs and her were all gone with no evidence of hatching (or predation actually). i havent had a chance to visit to see this years nest but described as being in same situation as last.

i know gamekeepers move partridge and pheasant nests and can successfully move the eggs to other nests under their remit, but folks have no such option.

any suggestions on what to do to stop tragedy striking again, short of taking the eggs and hand rearing or is it a case of letting nature be red in tooth and claw and hope for the best.

[theplayingmantis]

they get that, well used to when they bothered to put grain out, or when it snowed.

i was walking in woods at peckforton castle last week and saw a couple of the more unusal pheasnt species, white/silver one and some other oddball, hadnt seen odd ones them since a kid at centre parcs in elevden where you used to get quite a selection. stupid but beautiful creatures!

Get the black (well they appear black but are just very dark all over) in my part of essex quite commonly.

[theplayingmantis]

thanks oddman, yes aware of the family tree of the rarer ones, think majority of them are meant to have died out in their former haunts in recent years sadly, at the least no longer self sustaining if they ever were... Never seen anything odd around Woburn which i would have expected having spent decent periods of time there in last few years, given it being the source for all sorts of 'escapes'!

re. the eggs will let nature takes its course. came upon a fledgling rook with the dog last night on the edge of a shelter belt, she was on a lead so didnt get it, but the rook, although very nearly adult size wings were not developed enough yet and it was tumbling around hopping away from us, before we got past and it went back to we here it had been. i dont hold much hope for it despite the proximity of its family. few weeks ago a juvenile magpie and its family got it from 2 carrion crows, assume the mags had a go at the crows nest and this juve took the brunt of the fight as there was about 6 mags involved. It couldnt walk and just looked at me pathetically when i broke up the fight. i thought about putting a box on it for shelter but was off away that evening so we couldnt do that. As much as i don't like magpies it was rather sad.

[theplayingmantis]

brigadoon again... all gone and no sign. assume reynard or more likely brother brock got them. or the c*nting mags although would have expected a mess if the latter.

[theplayingmantis]

yes indeed, but still a bit sad when they lay in a domestic situation and then the nest fails! They are the stupidest bird going although that may be the semi tame ones having the suicide wish when it comes to cars.