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Dougal's Pet Corner
The place for your pet stories and pictures, let me have them |
| Cruel conventional battery cages are to be banned in the
European Union (EU), in the wake of scientific proof that they are inherently damaging to
welfare - but not until 2012. Millions of laying hens will continue to suffer until then
and the suffering won't end there, because so-called 'enriched' battery cages will still
be allowed. 'Enriched' battery cages are supposed to be better for welfare as they provide
a nest box, litter material and perches. But they increase the space allowance of
conventional cages by only about the size of a beer mat and the RSPCA believes 'enriched'
battery cages are no better for laying hens than conventional battery cages. |
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They severely restrict movement, don't give
enough space for birds to stretch and flap their wings properly and make it difficult for
birds to use the facilities in the cages. A number of welfare problems are
associated with battery cage systems, damage to feet and claws through standing on wire
sloping floors, |
| fragile bones caused by the inability to exercise
properly and the inability to escape from aggressive birds. The RSPCA believes hens never
get used to living like this. Those that have been released from battery cages immediately
start to stretch and flap their wings, walk around, preen and peck and scratch the ground.
Sadly, the vast majority of laying hens are kept in conventional battery cages. In the UK
68 per cent are kept like this, over almost 16 million hens a year. The RSPCA wants all
cages banned in the EU as soon as possible. It believes the phase out period for
conventional battery cages until 2012 is unacceptably long. The RSPCA strongly believes
the UK should follow Germany's lead and bring forward the date of implementing the ban
from 2007. The Society also believes 'enriched' battery cages are totally
unsatisfactory. All laying hens should be kept in well-managed alternative systems that
take their welfare requirements into account. |
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| Hummingbirds
in North Norfolk? |
Early one morning recently, I was able to put the
close-focus capability of modern binoculars to very good use. A quick movement between a
couple of flowers of phlox, drew my attention, and I quickly realised that the garden was
host to a hummingbird hawkmoth.These moths are a southern European species that in some
years reach as far north as Britain. They are day-flying, and hover in front of flowers
with wings vibrating so fast that they are just a blur. As they hover, the proboscis,
which is longer than the body, probes for nectar at the base of the flowers, This
behaviour is obviously what gives Macroglossum stellatrum its common name, but when I
watched it through binoculars, I realised that there were even greater similarities. The
8x magnification and 2m minimum focus of the binoculars that I was using, meant that, at
times, I was watching at an apparent distance of only 250mm or 10 inches! At this
distance, I noticed that the 'fur' at the end of the moth's body seemed to be organised
into feathers that were splayed just like a bird's, and the eye, although an insects
compound one, had a dark centre and pale surround making it look like a bird's; a prime
example of what biologists call 'convergent evolution'.These bird-like moths, that never
seem to land, have been numerous this summer and locally seem particularly attracted to
phlox, buddleia and red valerian. The last two plants are well worth watching any way,
often supporting large numbers of the bigger butterflies, including, this year, many
painted ladies.Cley-Spy
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Animal Crackers
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| Animal Crackers fundraising group would
like to thank all the kind people who support their events thus helping to support animal
sanctuaries. Fund Raising is going very well this year, the stall at Sheringham Saturday
Market added £400 to the funds and we shall be on the green again on Saturday August
30th, please come and see us. At the end of last year we donated £4,100 to help needy
animals. This year we are supporting Nine Lives cat shelter at Ringland, F.A.I.T.H. at
Hickling and the Canine Defence League rehoming shelter at Snetterton. All donated money
is used for the benefit of animals. We are always very grateful for good clean paperback
books, any unwanted presents that can be used for Tombola prizes and in fact any items
that can be used at our sales. For any information, please telephone Robina on 01263
823588. Robina is very happy that Sidney, the cat who went missing for a week, is back
home and would like to thank all those who looked for him. |
Shantymen - A Big Success
by Peter Taylor |
| The Sheringham Shantymen proved to be a big
hit in their Carnival concert on Lifeboat Plain on Thursday night. An audience of several
hundred locals and holidaymakers were entertained by a mixture of old and new numbers.The
audience joined in enthusiastically and clapped in time with the music throughout the
evening, and the Shantymen were all in good voice. Their standards never seem to drop, and
long may they continue in that vein. The evening was rounded off by two raffles with all
proceeds going to Carnival funds. The first was a surprise item of an electric scooter
donated by The Windham Arms and won by Mr. Birkenshaw of West Runton. The second raffle,
organised by Pat and Eddie Page, consisted of numerous items. Both raffles raised several
hundred pounds for Carnival funds. |
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