Hazards of foraging for the birds

[GregH]

I was reading the Age newspaper today and saw a story about a guy impaled by a star picket fence post while foraging for his birds and it reminded me that on two occasions I've had accidents too - although not nearly as serious. I was wondering if anybody else has had "problems" whilst foraging for the birds? I've always expected to see snakes whist collecting seeding grasses but have never come across them however I seem to have identified a uniquely Philippine hazard - concealed vertical shafts in stands of Panicum. On two occasions, in two locations I've been battling my way through 2m tall stands of grass when suddenly the world disappears and so do I as I've plunged into an unused post hole and into a storm water drain each over 2m deep. Both times I've landed on my feet stunned and confused as to what's happened until I realize what’s happened and they aren't easy to get out of either. Luckily no major injuries but considering I'm carrying securers it could have ended worse than my glasses taking on the form of a pretzel and a few knocks and bruises.

So just how rare are these foraging incidents? Time to confess.

[finchbreeder]

Worst I have had to contend with is a bit of a tumble a couple of metres down the side of a steep hill I was getting tea tree on, twice the same foraging trip.
LML

[Danny]

Numerous snakes hibernating in termite nests.
Once as a lowly teenager I was collecting seeding grasses along a backroad near home and saw a police car approaching. They jumped out guns drawn and asked what the hell I was up to. I'm standing there with an armfull of green panic and in my standard 18 year old response I asked the gun wielding cops "what the hell does it look like I'm doing, stealing a car. I'm collecting grass seeds". They looked back, lowered their guns and agreed that if I was hiding something I would have come up with a much better excuse. Apparently someone had just broken into the property that backs onto that road.

[Tiaris]

Snakes under termites nests too as well as when raking up November grass (usually red-bellied blacks). Also had a few termite nests full of incubating Goanna eggs at various stages.

[VR1Ton]

Not to mention the bloody tick, jumper ants & spiders.

[jusdeb]

Bug bites , coat hangering myself on low branches about it . All done while looking for Joe Blakes , if I ever see one it will be the last time I forage .

[desertbirds]

Got bogged collecting termites but luckily i was in phone range when i stood on the roof of my car,wrecked all the clothes i had on and took hours to clean the car(red dirt out here stains big time) Ive also punctured two tyres and nearly done my back in twice collecting termites, also found a nice scorpion under a mound.

[mattymeischke]

I got home from a trip to Sydney after dark the other week.
I found my Dad at home with my wife, looking amused and puzzled.

It transpired that he had just gotten a call from a concerned local (we live in a small town) who had seen my car parked on a back road to Collector, and a 'big guy dressed in black' jumped out 'with a crow bar and some other stuff' and 'jumped the fence'.

You see, I had stopped on the way home to pick up some termites, and don't like taking them from on or near the road, so I went through the fence on my way to get them. I think our concerned citizen thought that someone must have pinched my car before setting out for some rural housebreaking.

I didn't mean to look like a hooligan, though I did have a beannie and a bomber jacket on... ...but it gets COLD here.
I wonder how he thought I would break into houses with my crow bar, shovel and green garbage bin?
And what could you hope to find in the houses of poverty-stricken sheep farmers in any case?

Thankfully, no injuries or arrests so far.

[COUNTRY CAPITAL]

Snakes,Goannas,Scorpions,Ticks,Coppers,break-downs..... and you guys say its easy/ straight forward feeding termites to your birds!!!
Mine are staying vegetarian for a while yet.
my best effort so far is stirring up a paper wasp's nest and nearly hanging myself on the barbed wire fence getting out of there.Not looking forward to the snake season either....you don't have to be crazy, but it sure helps.

[SamDavis]

Went out to get some termites yesterday. No real hazards encountered, however as I dug into one nest I found it was shared by huge bull ants. They were more interested in protecting their eggs than attacking me so I kept digging into the nest. Strangely the other side of the nest was full of termites so the termites and bull ants were cohabitating in the same nest. Whilst havesting another termite nest two bearded dragons arrived and started gobbling up stray termites right in front of me. Very cool as they kept eating and weren't bothered by my pick and shovel at all.