This is to the owner of this vehicle at rawsly park on sunday afternoon that ran down a wedge tail eagle at was feeding on road kill now i saw it and i was behind him it flew up hit his roof rack and when to the side of the road i stop poor bugger looked at me a pass and chased him down and as he pulled up i asked why didn't he brake his words where lucky i had a bullbar i said lucky i had dashcam and your rego he got in his car drove off say go and f!@@#K your self any ways ranger a has his number and footage and when you kill a protect bird your in the s $/â¬Â£t big time
Unfortunately "road kill" of protected species is an unfortunate aspect of driving in rural Australia - Morally a bird strike would be a reason to stop - legally not so. Your actions however could be regarded as threatening behaviour if other driver believed he was threatened in any way. Chasing down vehicles we believe to have done the wrong thing can lead to "road rage" incidents - You are better off assisting with injured animals (take to WIRES) and leaving the morally challenged to Karma.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
If you got it on dash cam there is nothing to be gained by challenging an unknown person. He could be on drugs, he could be bad tempered, he could be 6 foot 6 inches of wild muscel. Take you dash cam to the Authorities, end of invovlement. At least at 77 that,s my way. I would rather be gutless and alive, than brave and dead.
If he deliberately tried to hit the eagle you have the right to be angry, but too many people have been injured or killed trying to avoid animals on the road. I did know a fellow personally who lost his life at broken hill years ago swerving to miss a kangaroo. Earlier this year some overseas tourists tipped a Toyota over on the Oodnadatta track trying to avoid a rabbit . Imagine the tragedy if someone had of been killed. So yes slow down if you can to avoid but do not swerve. It could cost your or a loved ones life. Cheers and safe travels. Daz
It can be most upsetting to hit something, but I seriously doubt if there are any of us that haven't hit something during our travels.
It is unfortunately part of our chosen pastime, and not all will stop after hitting something. I refer you to Dazz49's post, as that almost cost 3 people their lives.
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
This is to the owner of this vehicle at rawsly park on sunday afternoon that ran down a wedge tail eagle at was feeding on road kill now i saw it and i was behind him it flew up hit his roof rack and when to the side of the road i stop poor bugger looked at me a pass and chased him down and as he pulled up i asked why didn't he brake his words where lucky i had a bullbar i said lucky i had dashcam and your rego he got in his car drove off say go and f!@@#K your self any ways ranger a has his number and footage and when you kill a protect bird your in the s $/â¬Â£t big time
Did ya assist the Bird or just drive off and leave it to die in agony ?
but the dead roos I see on the road are not off in the scrub. They are every bit as dead as the eagle. I am certain you have hit some animal or bird as well when driving, whether in your family vehicle or your truck.
I repeat, unfortunate but not always avoidable, and dirt or sealed road, taking action to avoid an animal can be dangerous and is often advised against.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Wednesday 17th of May 2017 01:32:06 PM
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
Unfortunately "road kill" of protected species is an unfortunate aspect of driving in rural Australia - Morally a bird strike would be a reason to stop - legally not so. Your actions however could be regarded as threatening behaviour if other driver believed he was threatened in any way. Chasing down vehicles we believe to have done the wrong thing can lead to "road rage" incidents - You are better off assisting with injured animals (take to WIRES) and leaving the morally challenged to Karma.
Sorry, but I would also tell you to F off if you did that to me and perhaps after punching you in the nose for being a threatening dick I might even report you to the Police and have you charged.
Without being derogatory towards you, because perhaps you are a city slicker, or a warm and fuzzy greeny type, or maybe you have just have never driven outback before, but eagles lay dead in their hundreds in outback SA, NT & Qld. Why? Because they feed on roadkill roos that are literally dead in their tens of thousands (one dead roo every 10 meters or so in Qld last year).
Eagles may be magnificent in the sky but they are a damn pest on the road, and I have mown down a half a dozen or so every year I have driven the Stuart, Barkly and Landsborough Highways. They are so protective of the carrion they are feeding on they defiantly often won't even attempt to move at all, and if they do, it won't be until you are only a second from them when they leap upwards with their powerful legs. Often they feed on the roadkill in the grass verges and you won't see them bent over in the grass ripping at the carrion, and then if they do attempt to fly off, it is towards the clear roadway and into the path of your vehicle.
With their bulk they are simply too slow to get out of the way fast enough, and far worse than a flock of Galahs, and having 5 kilograms of bird hit your car at 100+kph can do a lot of damage.
Once you've replaced your first half a dozen headlights and grills from animal strike at thousands of dollars each time you very quickly learn the value of a decent a bullbar.
As a motorcycle rider I can tell you they are simply DEADLY! If I threw a 5kg brick at your head or chest at 100kph you die!
So many folks attempting to emergency brake or to swerve to miss animals on the road, crash, often involving another poor innocent vehicle coming the other way.
Be a dick and kill yourself if you want to, but risk the life of me or my loved ones and I would end you without hesitation!
Sadly, about 10 years ago, I hit and killed a Wedge Tailed Eagle in the Territory, three of them flew into my path and I just clipped one on the very top edge of the passenger windscreen/door. I thought it may have lived but at 170kph, plus his speed, it was stone dead when I went back to check.
A magnificent bird and I was sad to have killed it but no way could I have swerved and lived at that speed. It's part of driving in the bush in Australia.
Providing he didn't attempt to kill the bird then it was just misfortune but certainly he should have checked and, if necessary, dispatched it. I hope you did instead.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
Don't you guys realise that an Eagle cannot just unhook its talons and fly off. the talons tend to lock and an eagle takes a long time to gain altitude. When you see one on roadkill PLEASE slow down as much as possible toavoid the scene that happened at Rawnsley Park
As pointed out above, an eagle is also a bigger & heavier bird & it takes them time to fly off, unlike their lighter cousins - the kites.
We came by a couple who hit one in the Kimberleys a couple of years ago. It cost them too - a new windscreen. They just thought that like a kite, it would fly off! As a bird watcher, I would encourage people to slow down when they see one on the road.
Often the carrion is the only food these birds have - especially in drought ravished western Qld. A couple of years ago, we saw a dead roo (skeleton only) on the Boulia to Winton road that had obviously three starving wegies on it. Normally they don't share.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
Yep, it's nasty. I do believe there is an obligation to humanely put an injured creature down if you're confronted with such a situation. Sometimes the driver who strikes won't stop, as was the case with us some years back, north of the Onslow turn-off. A tour bus ahead of us struck a wedgie.. and of course it's not practical for them to stop and deal with it, especially with a load of tourists and city 'luvvies' aboard. We couldn't pass on without trying to deal with it. Even with extensive injuries, the bird wouldn't stay still enough to allow a clean coup-de-gras to be administered. We had a heavy plastic raincoat with us, so dropped it over the bird's head and body, which stopped it struggling. A blow with a shovel put it out of its misery. I'm not ashamed to admit a tear was shed. There is virtually no opportunity to transport an injured eagle to the next town for care in that country, when the next town is hours away. In any case, if injuries seem extensive and there is any bleeding from nose or mouth, the only sensible answer is dispatch.
The only way you're going to cop a fine from authorities for killing a protected bird or critter is if they can prove you set out to do it deliberately. We just have to accept that road strikes take place, and some folks just can't face the fact of having to put down an injured creature. Then the right thing to do is to try to find someone else who is able to cope with it.
Sorry, but I would also tell you to F off if you did that to me and perhaps after punching you in the nose for being a threatening dick I might even report you to the Police and have you charged.
Without being derogatory towards you, because perhaps you are a city slicker, or a warm and fuzzy greeny type, or maybe you have just have never driven outback before, but eagles lay dead in their hundreds in outback SA, NT & Qld. Why? Because they feed on roadkill roos that are literally dead in their tens of thousands (one dead roo every 10 meters or so in Qld last year).
Eagles may be magnificent in the sky but they are a damn pest on the road, and I have mown down a half a dozen or so every year I have driven the Stuart, Barkly and Landsborough Highways. They are so protective of the carrion they are feeding on they defiantly often won't even attempt to move at all, and if they do, it won't be until you are only a second from them when they leap upwards with their powerful legs. Often they feed on the roadkill in the grass verges and you won't see them bent over in the grass ripping at the carrion, and then if they do attempt to fly off, it is towards the clear roadway and into the path of your vehicle.
With their bulk they are simply too slow to get out of the way fast enough, and far worse than a flock of Galahs, and having 5 kilograms of bird hit your car at 100+kph can do a lot of damage.
Once you've replaced your first half a dozen headlights and grills from animal strike at thousands of dollars each time you very quickly learn the value of a decent a bullbar.
As a motorcycle rider I can tell you they are simply DEADLY! If I threw a 5kg brick at your head or chest at 100kph you die!
So many folks attempting to emergency brake or to swerve to miss animals on the road, crash, often involving another poor innocent vehicle coming the other way.
Be a dick and kill yourself if you want to, but risk the life of me or my loved ones and I would end you without hesitation!
Bet that was a huge load off your mind, carrying that around can't be pleasant.
There are plenty of dickheads around like that. We saw a shingle backed lizard slowly crossing a main road so we pulled completely off the road & I walked back to pick it up & place it in the bush in the direction it was headed. As I approached it a car came along & deliberately swerved to squash it. Stupid morons, someone should run them over & make the world a better place.
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Cheers Keith & Judy
Don't take life too seriously, it never ends well.
Trip Reports posted on feathersandphotos.com.au Go to Forums then Trip Reports.
yrs ago. I was a runner.
Distance. Ran 6 days out of 7 for over 40 yrs. up to 80 miles a week most weeks
for last 20 or so
Willunga Hill area was my Training grounds. All hills..
On main road going into town I always run towards traffic to watch them.
The young (Mainly) hoons. used to swerve towards you, or sling a bottle\can at you.
After first coupla events. I took to carrying a 1\4 house brick with me.
Anybody swerve or toss.
They got my brick at windscreen.
A couple stopped, but when I went towards them they drove off.
You get D-Heads everywhere mate.
Some people must be proud mowing down eagles but next time while riding a bike may be not so lucky human life is more valuable i know but all this person had to do was take his foot off the gas .enough said every one take care
Yep, it's nasty. I do believe there is an obligation to humanely put an injured creature down if you're confronted with such a situation. Sometimes the driver who strikes won't stop, as was the case with us some years back, north of the Onslow turn-off. A tour bus ahead of us struck a wedgie.. and of course it's not practical for them to stop and deal with it, especially with a load of tourists and city 'luvvies' aboard. We couldn't pass on without trying to deal with it. Even with extensive injuries, the bird wouldn't stay still enough to allow a clean coup-de-gras to be administered. We had a heavy plastic raincoat with us, so dropped it over the bird's head and body, which stopped it struggling. A blow with a shovel put it out of its misery. I'm not ashamed to admit a tear was shed. There is virtually no opportunity to transport an injured eagle to the next town for care in that country, when the next town is hours away. In any case, if injuries seem extensive and there is any bleeding from nose or mouth, the only sensible answer is dispatch.
The only way you're going to cop a fine from authorities for killing a protected bird or critter is if they can prove you set out to do it deliberately. We just have to accept that road strikes take place, and some folks just can't face the fact of having to put down an injured creature. Then the right thing to do is to try to find someone else who is able to cope with it.
seen a car that belonged to some well meaning city folks that hit a kangaroo they though they would do the right thing an take the unconscious roo to the vet in town the roo woke up an was very distressed to find it self contained in the car the result was the inside of the car was ripped to pieces when it tried to find a way out
Yes DB, it's usually not practical to carry an injured animal to a carer if you're beyond city limits. I did care for a tawny frogmouth for a few days once and passed it on to an authorize carer. Found out later it was put down by order of C.A.L.M. (as it was then) operatives. It was found to have a detached retina and couldn't survive in the wild. No-one was prepared to, or allowed to keep a permanently incapacitated native bird.
