Request for bird hunters expert opinion.

[markbb 0]

I would like to ask for an expert opinion. I photographed this frigatebird (http://www.pbase.com/mbb/injuries_of_pinkbilled_frigatebird_) and it looks to me that the bird was shot with shotgun. All injuries are on right side including lost of right eye. It seems that pellets did not went trough the wings (damage is visible only on one side of both wings). But I would like to hear from experts. Are these injuries look like they could be a result of shotgun shot? I will greatly appreciate any opinion from experienced bird hunters.

 

All the best,

 

Mark

Edited October 6, 2008 by markbb

[riggers 2]

hi mark from what i can see looks like a little bit of a skin infection probably caused by some kind of spillage form a boat if it was from a gun i would have expected the same damage to the body hope this helps without actually seeing the bird myself i would say thats the cause

[The one 8,594]

The only way to know for sure would be to x ray the bird but that looks like plumage damage not a lot more

[tom1cameron 1]

Mark, what is the arrow pointing at the feet supposed to be highlighting?

 

Was it clearer to you when you saw it?

 

T

[riggers 2]

i take it that its us jocks that take the time to studdy our quarry and attention to detail or is it cause we are too tight to wast carts and ammo :clapper: :clapper:

[Deker 3,491]

I'm no expert on birds but this looks very symetrical, my first reaction is not a firearm injury at all..but like I say, I'm no bird expert!!

[riggers 2]

AH ONE FROM THE DARK SIDE ENTERS

[Fidgety 8]

Definitely not shotgun wounds, try looking at pictures of bird diseases.

Edited October 6, 2008 by Fidgety

[markbb 0]

Thanks everyone for comments. Let me explain a few things including why I thing these could be a shotgun wounds.

 

A few infos about frigatebirds to clear possibility of spill and skin infection from that. Frigatebirds are known to spend most of the time on the wing and they usually roost on trees during night. They do not swim or rest on water it is a rule and a very few exceptions were observed. Even when feeding they pick up prey from the water surface or above (or a few centimeters below surface) and do not even get feathers wet - BTW they plumage is not oily and if get wet bird will have a problem to take off. After all this was said back to shotgun wounds. I should post all photos here not just a links as when looking only at one photo some wounds not look clear.

 

Note that all wounds are on right side: lost right eye, wound on upper side of the right wing and on downside of the left wing - no matching marks on other sides of the wing. Small pellets shot from the distance will not penetrate body of this huge bird (wingspan up to 244cm - yes, 2.5 meters). Also lower belly shows abnormality - note again it is on right side of the belly. Sorry but I never hear about disease attacking critter only from only one side and producing damages visible on this bird.

 

I will try to attach a couple of more photos to illustrate better the eye and the belly.

 

Again many thanks to those who responded to my question.

 

All the best,

 

Mark

 

P.S. I use to hunt a lot with shotgun and ‘symmetry’ of those wounds were one of the reasons I think this bird was shot. And one more thing - I live now in Texas and everybody here has gun (most people more than one) maybe with exception of newborns and toddlers. I own several guns myself. Senior citizens usually have more then average as they had more time to make collection grow. Unfortunately a few, especially teenagers, do not follow hunting ethics and shoot everything what is moving or flying just for a fun or ‘practice’. I see many animals shot and left.

Edited October 6, 2008 by markbb