BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'

Subject: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: GUEST,James
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 08:02 AM

What exactly is a chough and how do you pronounce it ? Thanks , I am sure that this forum will be able to answer my question.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 08:15 AM

"chuff" -it's a relative of the crow - a coastal bird nearly extinct in both Cornwall and England.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 08:22 AM

The chough population is down, but with God's help we will drive the English back to the Tamar and the choughs will return in all their glory. And the oggies will be dancing in the streets.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 08:32 AM

I've never been able to see one in Cornwall but there are several usually visible at South Stack on Anglesey, N. Wales.

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: GUEST,Displaced Camelotian
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 09:26 AM

They say that they used to say in Cornwall that the choughs contain the souls of King Arthur and his knights.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: GUEST,James
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 10:09 AM

I have heard that there are choughs at Newquay Zoo, is that true. Thanks to all, I knew I would get an answer here.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: Mr Red
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 01:24 PM

well Chuffed then?

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 01:50 PM

Some pairs have been reintroduced, in the Lizard peninsular.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: Gareth
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 05:03 PM

Interestingly the Coat of Arms for the Old City of Canterbury was a shield with three Chough's upon it.

Reasons, I know not.

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 05:15 PM

I've heard the expression 'chuff' used in Sheffield as a term of endearment.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: Joybell
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 06:39 PM

We have White-winged Choughs here in Australia. They are wide-spread in Central Victoria and in New South Wales. Central Victoria is where the population was predominatly Cornish during the goldrushes of the 19th century, so they must have reminded the settlers of home.
Choughs are wonderful birds. They live in family groups and raise just one baby each year that the whole group cares for. You often come upon them in a circle, facing inwards, with tails spread protecting a precious baby standing in the middle. When they land on the ground from the trees they give a deep bow. Chough's cries are the sadest you'll hear in the bush. I often visit a tiny hidden graveyard, at a place called Whroo, where the only sound you hear is the choughs wailing in the gumtrees. Sader even than mourning doves. Joy (getting quite lyrical)

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: GUEST,vectis
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 07:21 PM

I saw my first wild chough in Ireland last summer. Didn't believe it at first but there were plenty of them on the west coast. Huge things.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 23 Jun 04 - 10:03 PM

Used to use an expression in the RN 'Up yer chuff (chough?)' No wonder the birds decided to hide away. Nice to hear they are coming back.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: MartinRyan
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 03:38 AM

In Ireland, chough are local to a number of south west and west coastal areas with cliffs.

For many years, I used to head off to Baltimore, West Cork , to teach sailing for a fortnight in June. I would arrive at the base, park the car and walk out towards the cliffs until I heard the distinctive metallic call of the choughs. Then I knew I was on holidays!

Regards

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: greg stephens
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 07:26 AM

Terrible thing in Portgwarra the other day (near Penzance). Two English tourists were climbing the cliffs, disturbed a nest and the parent birds went for them. What a mess. Choughed to bits.

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: Flash Company
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 07:44 AM

There are Choughs in captivity at Paradise Bird Gardens at Hayle, or at least, there were three years ago. Poor buggers looked a bit sad, but who wouldn't.

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: GUEST,Tony Day
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 12:02 PM

Its the Cornish national bird, I believe? Is it not on the coat of arms?

Have seen them in Scotland (Islay, Colonsay) wonderful bird to watch, very acrobatic.

Tony

Subject: RE: BS: Cornish Bird 'Chough'
From: MartinRyan
Date: 24 Jun 04 - 06:59 PM

I've seen them mob peregrines at the Cliffs of Moher, in Clare.

Regards