photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Stu | all galleries >> Daily Bowl of Stu >> Your photo of the month > 651. Dispatches from within the Wild Bird Risk Area (WBRA)
previous | next
Crail Stu

651. Dispatches from within the Wild Bird Risk Area (WBRA)

8 April 2006 - DAY 3

Day three and there is no let up in sight in the struggle against the airborne threat. Despite the imposition of the WBRA, wild birds continue to ignore the perimeter. This correspondent has seen, with his very own eyes, at least two blackbirds, two woodpigeons and sparrows too numerous to count in the vicinity of his own back garden - despite this being well within the exclusion zone. Questions have been asked of the Minister for Unclassified Pathogenic Pestilence and Environmental Threats (MUPPET), Ross Finnie, but unfortunately no-one was able to understand his responses, principally because he was unable to understand the questions. Despite the continued state of alert and the discovery of several more deceased swans, which are believed to have made their way to Fife from the Montrose Basin - a journey that ought to be impossible given that the dying animals in question would have had to have travelled south (when we all know that wild birds are capable only of flying north and east), neither the First Minister nor his deputy were available for comment. A spokesman for the First Minister told reporters that Mr McConnell did not see any reason to leave New York at this time, since public health emergencies were reserved to Westminster. His official press release concludes that: "It's Tony's problem, not mine". In the meantime, staff at the UK government's avian flu testing laboratory, which is conveniently located near France, were desperate to work over the weekend to ensure that samples taken from these animals were tested promptly. Our reporter spoke to one laboratory worker who stated he was pleased to get the job done quickly, because the extra money in overtime payments will mean that he will be able to take his wife on a surprise wedding anniversary weekend break to Barcelona next month afterall. Back at Cellardyke there have been several confirmed sightings of BBC Television and Radio correspondents who are believed to have travelled up from London to present programmes warning people that they should avoid travelling to Cellardyke. The accommodation situation is so bad that at least one BBC reporter has had to hire a helicopter to take her from her hotel in central Edinburgh to Fife each day, from where she has been presenting her report replete with graphics showing the various exclusion zones as well as the location of good restaurants that do not serve poultry portions (or was that paltry - sometimes it is difficult to tell with the BBC English accent). The most significant find of the day was this photograph of the Isle of May and Firth of Forth (above), which was passed to our correspondent by an unknown and distinctly shady looking character who told us he worked for Scotland Yard's Flying Squad - our doubts about his credentials were allayed when he put on a pair of black patent leather driving gloves and a sheepskin coat whilst calling our correspondent 'Guv'ner' as he jumped into a metallic brown Mark II Ford Grenada with bald tyres. This map apparently shows the wild bird base on the Isle of May (which is south of Cellardyke), indicating the location of the various birds' breeding grounds. Of much greater concern, however, is the apparent evidence of wild birds (circled and marked with the letter 'D') flying in a southerly direction - towards Edinburgh and the East Lothian coast (which can be seen in the distance). What is going on? Tomorrow, your intrepid reporter will make his way to Cellardyke in the search for answers. The truth is out there.


other sizes: small medium original auto
share
Ana Carloto O'Shea10-May-2006 08:21
Hummm... Now I know why you had to come back.... Secret missions cannot wait ;)
Stu10-Apr-2006 23:13
Dear English Toff,
Better safe than sorry - but only if the marigolds have been boiled for 20 minutes. As a precaution, next time get Scottish Bluebell matches.
Yours,
Intrepid.
Ray :)10-Apr-2006 23:08
Dear Intrepid Reporter,
I have some Swan Vestas in my kitchen cupboard. Should I now wear my Marigolds before handling?
Yours trembling,
English Toff
Stu09-Apr-2006 21:01
Dear Worried of Wiltshire,
Fearing pheasants could feasibly be fairly facile for the forseeable future. The foul (or perhaps fowl) and foreshortening fettle of our formidable flying foe's fetid, yet faltering force that for now faces formal forclosure, forces us to forgive and forget their fearful foolishness. Far fairer to fret over the foreign freshwater fowl that threatens the Fife fringe and frustrates our futile, fussy and furious efforts to fulfil our futures.
Yours,
Intrepid.
SRW09-Apr-2006 20:15
Dear Intrepid Reporter,
I have two pheasants in my back garden, making the most ungodly noise, and doing something i can only describe as very disturbing. Should I be concerned?
Yours,
Worried of Wiltshire.
Stu09-Apr-2006 17:18
I fear you may be correct, Bill. I was at Cellardyke today and happened to look across at both the Isle of May and the Bass Rock, and noticed much avian movement in the direction of Berwick Law. I recommend a heavy duty tarpaulin.
Bill Miller09-Apr-2006 17:14
We have taken steps to repel intruders from north of the Forth but there are rumours of an army (or airforce) 30,000 pairs of gannets on the Bass Rock waiting to launch a shitzkreig - I am getting out the umbrella now...
Stu09-Apr-2006 11:55
Dear Concerned of England.
You should direct all such enquiries to the Ministry for Unclassified Pathogenic Pestilence and Environmental Threats (MUPPET). On the other hand, you ought to be scared. Very, very scared.
Yours,
The Editor
Johnny JAG09-Apr-2006 11:47
Dear Editor, I've just seen a wild bird, am I at risk.
Concerned
England.
Herb 09-Apr-2006 04:17
Keep up the good work :)
Martha Albuquerque09-Apr-2006 00:13
cool! :)))
laine8208-Apr-2006 23:05
Nothing will be solved until you bring in Hamish MacBeth I can tell you now !!
Bob B.08-Apr-2006 21:56
Stewart, stop eating those mushrooms in the forest...
markvm08-Apr-2006 21:56
You're nuts!! I can't quit laughing, Stu. Very nice report...:) Scully & Mulder should be arriving soon for backup....:-)
northstar3708-Apr-2006 21:35
this is madness, Jim
David Clunas08-Apr-2006 21:21
Watch out for the quite ones, they are the worst!
suse08-Apr-2006 21:09
You're on a brave mission. Remember, your country needs you.
Zak08-Apr-2006 20:48
The safety of the world is in your hands Agent Brandane ;-)
Sharon Rogers08-Apr-2006 20:26
Scotland Yard Flying Squad indeed ... heh heh