I had one of my feeding sites vandalized recently. I can only think that it was done by a birdwatcher or birdwatchers. The feeders and bird table were dismantled but left to be recovered; the poles for the feeders were destroyed or removed; some bird food and oyster-shell grit that I leave in box inside my hide was tipped away - all fairly odd really. This is not a site that anyone could come upon accidentally and there is no legitimate public access. The nearest public access is a bird hide in the adjoining country park. When I set up the feeding site last year I made sure that neither the feeders of the hide could be seen from the hide. As a result of winter leaf fall, perhaps the feeders have probably become visible through binoculars from the hide, but why would anyone who visits a bird hide with binoculars (a birdwatcher) go to the considerable lengths that this must have entailed and commit an act of criminal damage, to remove some bird feeders?
Does anyone here who operates a non-garden feeding station for photography have any tips about security or deterring vandalism? All I can think of is posting a sign informing potential “perps” that interfering with the feeders, hide etc is a criminal act and if caught, they will be liable to prosecution.
Phil,
My advice on this one is to forget about trying to figure out what goes on in some folks' minds. On the whole, ppl who commit these acts are not worth wasting your time on. Just rebuild and be aware that it will probably happen again sometime.
I have had photographic sites vandalised on our estate here along with live catch traps, high seats, pheasant feeders, along with just about anything else that can be trashed.
I just pick up the phone, call the police and let them take the strain of finding the culprits........to date I think the tally is running at about 40 or 50 to the vandals and nil to the police.
The higher the security you put round your station the more it is seen as a challenge to the vandals. Keep things simple, cheap and easy to replace and just hope that someday you meet the ones responsible. Not that you could do them any harm (perish the thought of breaking the law yourself).
I still think it was a sad day when they outlawed mantraps
Posted by Vincent Jones on March 24, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Hi Phil, this as happened to me countless of times where feeders have either been stolen or destroyed, this is very annoying indeed but what could you do about it, it's pointless & thoughtless. I know what I would like to do, see last sentence.
Now I result to this.
I create simple mobile feeding stations, these are simple set ups with feeders & a few perches. Set up can be in public places where birds are already used to people or in areas which are off road in tranquil spots. These once set up are easily dismantled when leaving. Birds in the area get very used to a mobile feeder as long as it positioned on a regular basis, the birds sort of look forward to it's arrival, same thing as a food van arriving at trading estates.
If you don't like the idea of a mobile feeding station may I suggest lying low with a 12 bore Better still, get a bird costume made, (Big Blue Tit) & when you catch someone run out of cover scaring the sh*t out of them, that will do it for sure lol
BBOWT used a trick during the early 1980s when protecting their monkey orchid site (in the days when there were very few flowering spikes there) - they put up notices saying a university experiment was in progress and put high visibility builders tape across access paths and asked visitors to keep clear. - if the damage has been caused by birdwatchers rather than pure vandalism, they may be more respectful if they think experiments are taking place. - of course vandals will totally ignore any signage whatsover!
The same has happened to me both at personal and works sites (though not by birders!) All I have found is to take John's advice - the more security/deterrents you try to impose, the more likely the vandals are to see it as a challenge.
On the birdwatcher front - I'm stumped. I've got no idea what would motivate birders to do that, unless they were people who still think that feeding birds in spring is bad and decided to (un)kindly remove your feeders for you?
Hi I would be surprised if it was birdwatchers the most likely culprit is the local authority ranges service taking your site down as it is adjacent to a park, my feeding stations get demolished all the time by the local hooligans ranges service and parks authority, after complaining several times to the ranges service and parks authority their only excuse was it encourages rats, anyway I complain to my resources committee of the local council and they have put a stop to it.
Phillip.
Ps the resources committee stopped the local ranger and parks authority because they give me a grant to feed the birds.
If it was me Phil, I'd want to give someone a good pasting with a bat, but from an outsider's perspective, I'd agree with the above comments about dealing with it and expecting it to happen again. Can't believe people can do this.... especially when it's limited access This would probably drive me insane as I doubt if I could just let it lie
Phil - when you say there is no legitimate public access I assume this to mean that you DO have legitimate access and it's not simply a case of the site owners doing it?
Does anyone here who operates a non-garden feeding station for photography have any tips about security or deterring vandalism?
Sadly not Phil,I find the extraordinary lengths we must go to, to find an ideal spot and then keep it secret is a dificult buisiness indeed and makes the actual photography seem somewhat easy by comparison.
I dread the approach of warmer weather and school holidays which often bring out so many inquisitive persons.
Hope you get to the bottom of your mystery and fingers crossed it was just a one off.
I had a woodland-edge feeding station vandalised a few times, and also had peculiar things stolen from it - like a sleeping bag.
Having not visited the site for a while, I returned to it one day to find the whole area had been flattened by a bulldozer. I thank my lucky stars I was not in the hide at the time, as I doubt I would have heard or seen it coming, what with the hide being hidden behind a large clump of brambles, and it being situated by a busy motorway.
Sorry to hear Phil, my only thought is that at least they didnt damage the feeders.
I have been thinking of setting up a feeding station on a local farm, having contacted the farmer and being allowed to. But i'm paranoid about people stealing feeders or vandals.
Posted by Elliott Neep on March 27, 2007 at 5:23 AM
Hi Phil,
Sorry to hear about it. Sounds a very common problem though reading through the threads here. I live in London and gave up on feeding stations a long time ago. I spoke to Phil T recently and he said he just kept rebuilding them and eventually the vandals got bored and left them alone. My vandals didn't.
If anyone is thinking about doing this, be sure to get landowners permission, especially if it is a nature reserve. This means dealing with a load of pen-pushers but at least the wardens won't pull it down. The attention paid to dismantling the feeding station does make it seem that it was wildlife rangers or, more likely, volunteers. Lets face it, vandals would just smash everything up.
Don't bother buying bird feeders though, make your own (a tip from Mike Lane). I used to buy a roll of fine chicken-wire mesh from the local DIY and fold it together to make a peanut bag. These are great as you can make them really large so you don't have to worry about going back every other day to refill.
Discussion
12 repliesDoes anyone here who operates a non-garden feeding station for photography have any tips about security or deterring vandalism? All I can think of is posting a sign informing potential “perps” that interfering with the feeders, hide etc is a criminal act and if caught, they will be liable to prosecution.
My advice on this one is to forget about trying to figure out what goes on in some folks' minds. On the whole, ppl who commit these acts are not worth wasting your time on. Just rebuild and be aware that it will probably happen again sometime.
I have had photographic sites vandalised on our estate here along with live catch traps, high seats, pheasant feeders, along with just about anything else that can be trashed.
I just pick up the phone, call the police and let them take the strain of finding the culprits........to date I think the tally is running at about 40 or 50 to the vandals and nil to the police.
The higher the security you put round your station the more it is seen as a challenge to the vandals. Keep things simple, cheap and easy to replace and just hope that someday you meet the ones responsible. Not that you could do them any harm (perish the thought of breaking the law yourself).
I still think it was a sad day when they outlawed mantraps
Now I result to this.
I create simple mobile feeding stations, these are simple set ups with feeders & a few perches. Set up can be in public places where birds are already used to people or in areas which are off road in tranquil spots. These once set up are easily dismantled when leaving. Birds in the area get very used to a mobile feeder as long as it positioned on a regular basis, the birds sort of look forward to it's arrival, same thing as a food van arriving at trading estates.
If you don't like the idea of a mobile feeding station may I suggest lying low with a 12 bore
Hope this makes a bit of sense & is of help
Vince
Mike
The same has happened to me both at personal and works sites (though not by birders!) All I have found is to take John's advice - the more security/deterrents you try to impose, the more likely the vandals are to see it as a challenge.
On the birdwatcher front - I'm stumped. I've got no idea what would motivate birders to do that, unless they were people who still think that feeding birds in spring is bad and decided to (un)kindly remove your feeders for you?
Having visited your site on a couple of occasions, I know how much you put into this and how annoying it must be.
From what I remember isn't there 24hr security at the gate? If so then surley you have to look at people who have access ie the lorry drivers??
Regards
Rob
Phillip.
Ps the resources committee stopped the local ranger and parks authority because they give me a grant to feed the birds.
Sadly not Phil,I find the extraordinary lengths we must go to, to find an ideal spot and then keep it secret is a dificult buisiness indeed and makes the actual photography seem somewhat easy by comparison.
I dread the approach of warmer weather and school holidays which often bring out so many inquisitive persons.
Hope you get to the bottom of your mystery and fingers crossed it was just a one off.
Having not visited the site for a while, I returned to it one day to find the whole area had been flattened by a bulldozer. I thank my lucky stars I was not in the hide at the time, as I doubt I would have heard or seen it coming, what with the hide being hidden behind a large clump of brambles, and it being situated by a busy motorway.
I have been thinking of setting up a feeding station on a local farm, having contacted the farmer and being allowed to. But i'm paranoid about people stealing feeders or vandals.
Sorry to hear about it. Sounds a very common problem though reading through the threads here. I live in London and gave up on feeding stations a long time ago. I spoke to Phil T recently and he said he just kept rebuilding them and eventually the vandals got bored and left them alone. My vandals didn't.
If anyone is thinking about doing this, be sure to get landowners permission, especially if it is a nature reserve. This means dealing with a load of pen-pushers but at least the wardens won't pull it down. The attention paid to dismantling the feeding station does make it seem that it was wildlife rangers or, more likely, volunteers. Lets face it, vandals would just smash everything up.
Don't bother buying bird feeders though, make your own (a tip from Mike Lane). I used to buy a roll of fine chicken-wire mesh from the local DIY and fold it together to make a peanut bag. These are great as you can make them really large so you don't have to worry about going back every other day to refill.
Good luck to all!