steve49
75 posts
Jul 15, 2009
11:18 AM
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since joining this forum, i had no idea how many people are suffering bop losses. so, i was thinking, when i had trouble with wading birds like herons at my goldfish pond, i used a lifelike statue of an egret/heron by the pond, and since these fish eaters always give each other space, maybe a life like statue of a falcon or other hawk (coopers/sharpshin) mounted near our lofts will act as a deterrent? worth a try. of course, this won't do anything for bop's taking birds in the sky (where most losses occur, i understand), but it will POSSIBLY keep bops from hanging out near our lofts/kitboxes since they may think another raptor has already staked it out, and they don't want an encounter with another bop. hawks will kill other hawks, and owls (posted video of this) so they really do try to give each other space. can't hurt, right?
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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J_Star
2021 posts
Jul 15, 2009
11:34 AM
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You will scare your own birds. After a while BOP will know that is a useless figure and they won't care. Get yourself an air blow horn that is used in boats. They are sold in Wal Mart. It will help some. Remember that hunger is a bitch and when they are hungry, nothing will deter them.
Jay
Last Edited by on Jul 15, 2009 11:34 AM
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Oldfart
GOLD MEMBER
1188 posts
Jul 15, 2009
12:05 PM
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Steve, I think Jay is right. I have tried several of the plastic garden deterrents over the years and they would work for a few days. Then the Starlings would get used to them and it was business as usual. I have saved several from low level attacks by waving a kit box flag and screaming like a banshee. The neighbors think I'm crazy but then again I still have my Jammie's! :) If you have crows, feed them, they will chase the B.O.P.'s away or at least worn you. Crows are unjustly thought to be roller predators. Yes, they will rob nests of song birds but they do not kill full grown birds that I know of. I have several nests near by and I feed them. I have witnessed them chasing Coopers clear out of the country but they have never attacked my birds.
Thom
Last Edited by on Jul 15, 2009 12:06 PM
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maxspin
363 posts
Jul 15, 2009
12:48 PM
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A 55 gallon barrel and an axe handle has some limited success, but only on low level falcon attacks.
Doesn’t seem to faze the coopers.
I need to try the air horn!!!
Keith
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fhtfire
2003 posts
Jul 15, 2009
1:02 PM
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Well...again...there are two ways to control any animal...food and sex....kind of like us..LOL!!...you cut out the food source....you cut out the predator...you cut out the food source you cut down the breeding and raising young.
I have had long talks with Raptor experts at the California Raptor Center...and they all say..you cut the food they will move on...or the numbers will decrease due to not being able to feed the young or be to weak to breed.
We are our own worst enemy...instead of all of us locking down....we breed more birds to feed the raptors...so when the raptors are getting all the food they can eat....they mate...and have babies..just like out kit birds..you feed them up..you get eggs in the nest box..you feed them down..no more eggs....same for the raptors...you feed them...and they will raise more babies....and the parents will teach the babies to hunt the easy pickings....and guess what..then the babies stay....
so we are our own worst enemies....I have said it once or a thousand times....if EVERY flier got together in L.A. and said..that EVERY flier would lock down for three months.....could you imagine what would happen if the EASY food source dried up...these raptors that no..nothing else but hunting the gravy train (rollers)....they will not know how to hunt a real wild bird..and they will die off from starvation and only the STRONG will survive....
Again..the more you feed the more they breed...and I know...it is hard to get everyone to shut down..but guess what....the more we feed them...the more that will come....if you build it they will come....when we built the gravy train....we built our own problem...the solution is not to build a feeder kit or breed more birds....the only solution is to lock down....and that means everybody...education is knowledge and knowledge is power...until an area that is getting hammered buckles down..well..united we stand divided we fall....
I had hawks pretty bad a couple years ago....but I locked down...and I mean..closed up everything....a Raptor could not see a pigeon through the wire or anything...and guess what....Every year less and less....I have yet to see a Cooopers since Jan......and you cant say it is not my area....I have a flier that is 6 miles away and gets raped by raptors...
I know easier said then done..
rock and ROLL
Paul
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steve49
77 posts
Jul 15, 2009
1:48 PM
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well it works for fish eating wading birds! ok, i guess it probably wouldn't work based on everyone's comments. but hey, give me credit for trying.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Scott
2370 posts
Jul 15, 2009
2:05 PM
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Paul, my worst years were when I had another flyer close by , this guy breed non stop and just kept feeding them.
I sure was glad when he moved out of the area as he created a huge mess here where the BOPs were concerned.
Another problem is guys breeding these bonehead hot pigeons,they are nothing but cannon fodler.
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Just my Opinion
Scott
Last Edited by on Jul 15, 2009 2:07 PM
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katyroller
470 posts
Jul 15, 2009
8:25 PM
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Steve,
Unfortunately, the BOP trick has been tried many times and doesn't work well. Most folks try the plastic owl and don't put them in realistic places. Find a place with alot of wild pigeons and you'll probably find a plastic owl placed out in the open so all the pigeons can see it. When was the last time you saw an owl perched on the edge of a building during broad day light? Also once you put the owl out, you have to move it regularly. Remember for the most part you are talking about the same BOP's seeing this owl sitting in the exact same spot day in and day out. Hell, in no time at all the pigeons will be sitting on the owl!
Paul,
I agree that we are a large part of the BOP problem. I live in TX which is the wintering grounds for alot of BOP's. This is just my opinion, but I believe the BOP's are migrating to TX earlier. I think part of the problem may be that flyers up north are locking down earlier causing the BOP's to head south earlier looking for food.
Scott,
Bonehead hot pigeons. Are you talking about birds that are too frequent? Is the issue that they draw too much attention and then are too easy to catch because they get so tired? I have noticed that stiff birds don't seem to get hit as often as frequent birds.
Tracey
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steve49
81 posts
Jul 16, 2009
11:53 AM
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wild pigeons usually fly solo or in pairs, seldom in large flocks, although i've seen them in cities when they get startled they will circle. its sad that the bop's find it easier to go after fancy flying pigeons, and leave the commies alone. i just think the way any domestic pigeon is flown, going in circles just in case some bop didn't notice them is a recipe for attracting them.
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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Windjammer Loft
826 posts
Jul 16, 2009
12:23 PM
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I have to agree with Rock and Roll Paul in his line of thinking. It's a good strategy... But,Iam in Ohio and my personel experience with BOP are none to nill. I have 2 of the realistic owls. The ones with the heads that rotates 360 degrees and BIG orange eyes. The day I put them to use, I watched a coopers fly out of the woods way back behind my property, head right for my loft where I had several youngsters out for the first time. Once the BOP got an eyeball of the owls. He made a hard turn and flew in another direction other then my loft...(no freebie that time) That was alittle over 1yr ago and haven't had a problem since. So you tell me if they "work" or "not". By the way, I fly my birds almost every day...
I also tried J_Star's air blow horn... But,that scared the hell out of my birds to the point that they wouldn't land on their loft.
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Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Jul 16, 2009 5:13 PM
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Spin City USA
234 posts
Jul 16, 2009
12:54 PM
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Paul, you are right we are part of the problem if we are losing too many birds to the bop's. I have never heard of anyone who flys a feeder kit say that it solved their bop problem.
Steve49,I live out in the country and when my neighbor starts feeding oat hay to his cows I see these huge flocks of pigeons show up every morning. Must be at least 150 - 200 birds. They will circle the area three or four times before they land to feed, then they will circle the same and leave.
One of the things that I think has helped me is that I have some crows that dont bother me. I also have a pair of resident redtails that may get one once and awhile. I think they perfer the rabbits and ground squirls.
They gotta Spin to win.....Jay
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katyroller
475 posts
Jul 16, 2009
4:22 PM
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Windjammer,
Those owls with the rotating heads, are they battery operated? I have only seen the non-moving plastic models. Even though the heads rotate, do you still move them around occasionally?
Tracey
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Windjammer Loft
833 posts
Jul 17, 2009
6:35 AM
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Tracey.... I have seen the ones that have the batteries. The ones I have "do not" have batteries. Their heads move with the slightest breeze. And "Yes" I do move them around every week. The roof of my loft is alittle slantted but flat. It measures 21' X 18' Here is a photo,hope this is helpful. And yes the white dots that you see are "SNOW"....LOL
The photo is 2yrs old.
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Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Jul 17, 2009 6:39 AM
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Jerry Allen
2 posts
Jul 17, 2009
8:52 AM
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Flying at different times, helps at my loft.
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
94 posts
Jul 17, 2009
9:24 AM
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I have 3 of those plastic owls and move them around the yard between the blueberries,garden, and the chickens I don't see many hawks but last night a sharp shin hawk did get one of my young kit birds, in seemed to come out of nowhere just as the birds were starting to rise Rookie from ct Dennis
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rookie from ct
GOLD MEMBER
95 posts
Jul 17, 2009
9:24 AM
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I have 3 of those plastic owls and move them around the yard between the blueberries,garden, and the chickens I don't see many hawks but last night a sharp shin hawk did get one of my young kit birds, in seemed to come out of nowhere just as the birds were starting to rise Rookie from ct Dennis PS windjammer super nice setup
Last Edited by on Jul 17, 2009 9:26 AM
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