Damn Cowbirds
Dave
taken over the feeder. All day they sit and eat all my food and they
disuade the usual visitors, especially the Cardinals who they are
particularly nasty with.
I want these Cowbirds out of here. Anything I can do to get rid of
them? I throw twigs at them when they're on the feeder but they keep
coming back.
Lanny Chambers
Dave <NOSPAM_drubin@NOSPAM_i-2000.com> wrote:
> I want these Cowbirds out of here. Anything I can do to get rid of
> them?
Cowbirds are nomadic. They'll move along in a day or two, of their own
accord. That's not to say they won't be replaced by a new set of
different individuals.
--
---
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
http://www.hummingbirds.net/
John T
One word: safflower. When something like this begins to happen here, I few
days of safflower seems to dissuade them.
--
John T
--
Ft. Worth, TX
"Dave" <NOSPAM_drubin@NOSPAM_i-2000.com> wrote in message
news:ibKmPisbY9iHZR...@4ax.com...
Dave
guess there's enough other goodies in the mix (a few black oil
sunflowers, millet).
I thought they would move along but it's been at least a week and
their numbers are growing. I'm getting tired of running outside to
scare them off...
On Wed, 23 Apr 2003 16:24:10 GMT, "John T" <j.tu...@REMOVEattbi.com>
wrote:
John T
JT
"Dave" <NOSPAM_drubin@NOSPAM_i-2000.com> wrote in message
news:+N+mPv84kCEPpr...@4ax.com...
Grdner
Pat
Mazzolata
> I had Cowbirds for a while one year. When I finally identified them I
> stopped feeding altogehter. It didn't take them long to move along.
> Afterwards, I resumed normal feeding habits. None of my birds eat
> safflower.
>
>
Cowbirds and Starlings will come irrespective of whether you feed them
or not. I dont have feeders, but I've had flocks of both on the lawn.
But as someone else said, they don't stay long, they just graze for a
while and move on.
--
------------------------------------------------------------------
** Save the Environment - Uproot a Bush **
Just because the world runs on oil doesn't mean oilmen should run the world
Dan
<NOSPAM_drubin@NOSPAM_i-2000.com> wrote:
>I want these Cowbirds out of here. Anything I can do to get rid of
>them? I throw twigs at them when they're on the feeder but they keep
>coming back.
Heheh, sticks...they are some of the boldest birds around. They have
attitude and most here really don't care about the occasional stick or
rock flying through the air. Only thing that makes at least a few of
them move on is not putting feed out for a day or two. Another is
getting a local sharp-shinned or coopers hawk to hang around, which
has happened here the past few weeks.
Bumper7
time. I never could make them move on.
Westport WA]
47 Degrees North
125 Degrees West
Phaedrine Stonebridge
Dave <NOSPAM_drubin@NOSPAM_i-2000.com> wrote:
Cowbirds are terrible pests like squirrels. And, as you likely know,
they can seriously reduce other bird populations by their egg robbing
and laying habits. They are not native are they?
While I know some will be horrified, I pick them off wih a pellet rifle.
They will get quite close so, a slingshot will work if you practice a
little. Use the special shot, not pebbles. Learn to distinguish the
female from other birds.
Lanny Chambers
<phaedrine_stonebridge...@news-50.giganews.com>,
Phaedrine Stonebridge <phaedrine_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Cowbirds are terrible pests like squirrels. And, as you likely know,
> they can seriously reduce other bird populations by their egg robbing
> and laying habits. They are not native are they?
They most certainly are, and as such are protected by the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act. It's a little foolish to admit committing a federal offense
in a public newsgroup, don't you think?
Cowbird nest parasitism helps keep other species' populations in check
(no, they don't steal eggs), and they reduce pesticide use by consuming
large quantities of harmful insects. In a few places, human-caused
habitat fragmentation has increased their opportunities at the expense
of some forest-nesting species, and where appropriate the issue is being
dealt with by federal and state authorities. In most areas, cowbirds are
still in balance with other bird species and no action is required or
desirable. Freelance wildlife management is a crime, and ethically
indefensible.
The cowbird's principle "sin" is in offending the delicate sensibilities
of ill-informed "nature lovers" who don't understand the equal
importance of ALL indigenous members of a natural community.
If you really want to do something useful for wild bird populations,
work toward passage of leash laws for cats.
Arey
"Lanny Chambers" <la...@hummingbirds.net> wrote in message
news:lanny-08C5D6....@newssvr12-ext.news.prodigy.com...
www.griffithwildlife.com/cowbird.html
This site is just one of many on the Brown Headed Cowbird. As the site
indicates Cow Bird habitat has increased as other birds habitat has
decreased. For the past two years the Song Sparrow that nests in my yard
has raised a Cow Bird Fledgling. Heretofore I have failed to appreciate that
the Cow Bird is keeping the local Song Sparrow population in check which is
probably the only reason my yard is not over run with Song Sparrows.
home.bluemarble.net/~pqn/ch41-50/cowbird.html
This site provides much information on the Cow Bird including that 77% of
its food is vegatative and only 23% animal matter which hardly qualifies
them as a significant insectivorous bird.
Leash laws for cats? It would probably be as effective as a law banning Cow
Birds from laying their eggs in other bird's nests.
Arey
Dave
forraging for food literally inches from my feet. With one swift kick
I could have killed him.
Of course I could never do that. So I let the feeder run dry for a few
days and we'll see what happens. It's really only the Cardinals that
will be shut out since I have a perch feeder for the other guys. I
hate to do it but these damn cowbirds are makin' me crazy...
Leon Fisk
Wrote in
<nbDqa.51097$cO3.3...@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>
>
>www.griffithwildlife.com/cowbird.html
>This site is just one of many on the Brown Headed Cowbird. As the site
>indicates Cow Bird habitat has increased as other birds habitat has
>decreased. For the past two years the Song Sparrow that nests in my yard
>has raised a Cow Bird Fledgling. Heretofore I have failed to appreciate that
>the Cow Bird is keeping the local Song Sparrow population in check which is
>probably the only reason my yard is not over run with Song Sparrows.
>
>home.bluemarble.net/~pqn/ch41-50/cowbird.html
>This site provides much information on the Cow Bird including that 77% of
>its food is vegatative and only 23% animal matter which hardly qualifies
>them as a significant insectivorous bird.
>
>Leash laws for cats? It would probably be as effective as a law banning Cow
>Birds from laying their eggs in other bird's nests.
Hi Arey,
You might want to add the following to your Cowbird links
also.
http://www.pwrc.nbs.gov/resshow/hahn1rs/hahn1rs.htm
Contrary to popular belief, some research mentioned here
indicates that Cowbirds were more of a nuisance in forest
interiors.
=====
Abstract: Landscape-scale examination of parasitism patterns
of Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) revealed
heterogeneous parasitism rates across the mosaic of a forest
and associated old-field communities. In a two year study in
Dutchess County, New York, we found a significantly higher
parasitism rate in the forest-interior community (n = 301
nests; 17 species) than on the species in the adjacent and
nearby old field and edge On = 328 nests 15 species; 32.3%
versus 6.5%; p < 0.0001). Cowbirds invaded a mature 1300-ha
forest stand even when their traditional host species were
available in adjacent old-field and edge habitats. The
forest and old-field study areas were located in a 38,000-ha
township with 55% forest cover and contained numerous
agriculture, dairy, and horse farms that provided favorable
habitat for cowbirds. Within-forest examination of
parasitism patterns revealed four aspects of cowbird
parasitism that contrasted with patterns described in other
regions: (1) parasitism was concentrated significantly more
often on ground- and low-nesting (nests <1 m) forest species
than on medium- and high-nesting species (nests > 1 m;
35.01% versus 29.93%; p = 0.0393); (2) parasitism was not
significantly greater on Neotropical migrant species than on
short-distance migrants and residents; (3) the parasitism
rate was not higher in nests close to edges; and (4) the
parasitism level was low on certain forest species (such as
Wood Thrush) that have experienced high parasitism levels in
the Midwest. From a management perspective these data
suggest that cowbirds exhibit regional differences in host
and habitat use; the target host community of a particular
cowbird population is unpredictable at the landscape scale;
and a landscape scale should be used in designing cowbird
studies to accurately assess local population dynamics.
=====
It looks to me like there is still plenty of research that
can be done concerning Cowbird dynamics.
--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI
Remove no.spam for email
Lanny Chambers
Leon Fisk <lf...@no.spam.iserv.net> wrote:
> Contrary to popular belief, some research mentioned here
> indicates that Cowbirds were more of a nuisance in forest
> interiors.
Thanks for the abstract. I don't have the citation handy, but I read a
study that suggested a minimum critical depth for forest. In this study,
cowbirds rarely penetrated a forest farther than some modest distance
(100m?) in search of nests. Obviously, the size of a forest tract would
be less important than its least dimension, and even marginal
fragmentation due to cutting of roads, power lines, etc., could offer
cowbirds new access to nests that were previously well protected.
Phaedrine Stonebridge
<lanny-08C5D6....@newssvr12-ext.news.prodigy.com>,
Lanny Chambers <la...@hummingbirds.net> wrote:
Well Lanny, I hate to tell you but you don't know as much as you think
you do. And besides that, you have an arrogant, insufferable attitude
so typical of those who think they know it all. Had you been polite, I
would have just respectfully disagreed but as it stands your rude
objurgation only shows what a complete clod you are in supposedly trying
to educate others about our feathered friends. You may wish to consider
a leash restriction on that rasp of yours you call a tongue. And oh,
by the way, did I mention up yours?
"Brown-headed cowbirds, common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, rusty
blackbirds, and Brewer's blackbirds may be taken (disposed of) if the
birds are committing or about to commit depredations upon ornamental or
shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife; or are
concentrated in numbers and in a manner which constitutes a health
hazard or nuisance..." [Excerpted from the Fish and Wildlife
Administrative Rules, Department of Fish and Wildlife.]
From the Michigan DNR:
<http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12206-60308--,00.ht
ml>
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Prior to European settlement, the brown headed cowbird, once called the
"buffalo bird," was common in the open plains. Cowbirds followed the
vast herds of American bison and then cattle, eating the insects that
were stirred up by and swarmed around the hoofs of the grazing herds.
Unable to move with the wandering herds while maintaining a nest, these
birds developed an unusual behavior; they began to lay their eggs in the
nests of other birds, even removing removing an egg or two to make room.
The cowbird chicks, which hatch earlier than most songbirds, are larger
and more aggressive and will out-compete their nest mates for food. This
added competition reduces the number of non-cowbird young that fledge.
Cowbirds are the "tricksters of the bird world." Nest parasitism by
cowbirds is a major factor in declining migratory songbird populations
in much of the United States.
There may have been a limited population of brown headed cowbirds in
Michigan during pre logging days, but only in the southern Lower
Peninsula. However, the clearing of forests allowed the cowbird to
expand its range into areas also occupied by other species, including
the Kirtland's warbler. As land in Michigan was opened up during logging
and agricultural development, cowbirds moved into the new areas also
occupied by other species, including the Kirtland's warbler. The
Kirtland's warbler was an extremely vulnerable host and soon the egg
laying activity of the cowbirds began to impact the Kirtland's warbler
population.
The spread of cowbirds into Kirtland's warbler habitat had a major
impact on nest success. Prior to cowbird control, as many as 69 percent
of Kirtland's warbler nests were parasitized by cowbirds. The U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service has used trapping as a means of reducing the
cowbird population in Kirtland's warbler nesting areas. To improve nest
success some alternative controls may be used, such as reducing amount
of forest edges and feeding areas. Unfortunately, fragmentation of
forest habitats by current land use practices will continue to keep the
cowbird in Michigan.
BBE...@webtv.net
few pigeons, have just about chased all the other birds, that I'd been
enjoying, away.
Will this safflower really disappoint them? I've stopped feeding them
for several days, more than once.
I'm no big time bird watcher and can't go looking for the different
birds. I have to wait for them to come to me.
Are there any words of wisdom for a homebound gal?
~*~Barb~*~TOO!
Leon Fisk
<phaedrine_...@yahoo.com>
<much snipping>
> From the Michigan DNR:
><http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12206-60308--,00.ht
>
>
>The spread of cowbirds into Kirtland's warbler habitat had a major
>impact on nest success. Prior to cowbird control, as many as 69 percent
>of Kirtland's warbler nests were parasitized by cowbirds. The U. S. Fish
>and Wildlife Service has used trapping as a means of reducing the
>cowbird population in Kirtland's warbler nesting areas. To improve nest
>success some alternative controls may be used, such as reducing amount
>of forest edges and feeding areas.
FWIW the USFS has to literally write themselves permits to
trap/kill the Cowbird's. How do I know this? I asked one of
them while they were giving a presentation concerning the
Kirtland's Warbler Project. They readily admitted that
Cowbird's are a PROTECTED species and that permits are
REQUIRED for their work with them.
The damage done to Kirtland's warblers is well established
and not in question. This is a very unusual species with a
very specific habitat requirement. Unlike most other birds
that Cowbird's prey upon.
Phaedrine Stonebridge
Leon Fisk <lf...@no.spam.iserv.net> wrote:
> The damage done to Kirtland's warblers is well established
> and not in question.
Thank you for agreeing with me.
Leon Fisk
<phaedrine_...@yahoo.com>
Wrote in
<phaedrine_stonebridge...@news-50.giganews.com>
I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm agreeing with everything,
mainly just pointing out that you need PERMITS to mess with
Cowbird's. Even the USFS has to write a permit, to
themselves basically in the Kirtland's Warbler situation...
Take a look at the link I posted farther back in this thread
concerning Cowbird's. This research is getting a bit old,
but points out the possible problems with old adages and
beliefs concerning their perceived behavior.
The rest of your diatribe concerning Lanny is bunk. Lanny is
one of the most level headed contributors to this group and
has been so for a good many years now. I only wish I could
be as well mannered.