[nivrip]

We have a few of these black pheasants in this area now.

Do you get them where you are?

They look quite spectacular.

[Madxgraphics]

Originally Posted by nivrip

Do you get them where you are?

Would be nice if we did..Unfortunately all we get is a million and one manky pigeons and the odd crow..

[muckshifter]

They are known as a 'Melanistic Mutant' variant and were originally bread by the "shooting" fraternity, they were released into the wild and done ok for themselves.

Just goes to show that nature can survive.

Only seen the "native" ones near me.

[floppybootstomp]

Nope, none round here.

Nearest place to me I've seen them is Surrey, East Grinstead way down to Guildford and beyond.

Often plenty of roadkill pheasants to be had around the country lanes there

[Taffycat]

They certainly look very striking Niv - are they the same size as "regular" pheasants? Nice pics too

[captain zed]

I hear pheasnat is very tasty....is hunting pheasnats allowed these days or is it banned, come to think of it is foxhunting still allowed int UK??!

[floppybootstomp]

Bloody hell.

Hunting pheasants is legal, shooting/tearing to pieces foxes by hounds is not legal.

Fox hunting is an emotive issue here and a clear class divider.

All my life I have been against fox hunting, glorifying the pursuit and ripping apart to death of a (imo) quite noble animal is quite obscene as far as I'm concerned.

Hordes of upper class twats dressed in red and white and wearing top hats getting their jollies in killing a wild animal who can't even fight back kinda sums up upper class mentality to me.

Far as I can work out, only harm a fox does to humans is kill chickens.

And if you breed chickens and won't spend money on secure enclosures for them, well - tough ****

Foxes are common in inner city areas now, I see them all the time.

I really do prefer them to rats.

I have no argument with foxes.

[captain zed]

Me neither, actually i'm quite partial to the occasional foxy lady and perhaps a less occasional mint.
Seriously though, i'm glad it got banned. Firstly they chase the poor animal for miles and then finally when its completely exhausted the dogs get it....and the dic**eads all cheer and then go to the nearest pub and celebrate...Its a bit sick to say the least.
Zzzzz

[nivrip]

Originally Posted by Taffycat

- are they the same size as "regular" pheasants?

Yes, exactly.

The only difference is the colour and as Mucks said, bred this way by human beings. I imagine that they just wanted them to look different.