Where do birds go to die?.

[waisted skirt]

A serious question. GIven the amount of wild birds that die naturally, why is it you very rarely see dead birds apart from those killed on the roads. Any thoughts or explanations would be interesting to read, cheers guys.

 

[Frederick Williams]

Get yourself a Labrador. You will find more dead birds than you can imagine. Your Labrador will be eating them, rolling on them, or delivering the softest and smelliest ones into your hand.

 

[Gummage]

They don't lay long before they get picked up by carrion birds, and some mammals such as foxes and rats.
I think many die overnight too.

 

[Enfield2band]

I read that the Sexton beetle pulls them underground and lays eggs in them.
Apart from being taken as carrion maggots will reduce them to nothing.

 

[Martin T]

“Nature red in tooth and claw” I think they have done well to die in the night.

Its often much worse.

 

[Doggard]

Not just birds though, most animals tbh. You very rarely see any dead animal that hasn’t been hit on the roads

 

[Gummage]

Nature has its way of clearing up, quietly, but effectively.

 

[Bighit]

As others have said . I have shot myxi rabbits and left them and when I have come back to them later when walking round the field again the crows or other birds have started to eat them or a fox may have taken them .

Dead birds will be the same .

 

[Joey]

I imagine like most creatures when they're sick or dying they go somewhere quiet to die in peace; probably a hedgerow or quiet secluded spot.
Apart from that many will die in flight so it's highly likely they'll fall into dense fields etc where they either won't be noticed, get eaten by other animals or decompose quickly.

 

[waisted skirt]

Plenty mentioned that I would have not have thought of, thanks for all the replies.

 

[artygf]

Great question, and great answers

 

[chris l]

A Spanish friend explained to me that "In England, birds die twice; one time in the field and again in your kitchens..."

 

[That hurts]

Norwegian Blues are normally taken back to the pet shop

 

[Dodgyeye]

Usually about 30 yards from me

Leave a quarry down for even a few minutes and it's covered with crawley things. Nature doesn't wait long to recycle.