cow and blackbird help

[barkspud]

Me and my daughters started putting up feeders and houses this year. We have a wide variety of birds but was woundering if there's a way to keep cow birds and blackbirds away. They are here every morning and growing in numbers. I stopped filling feeders in hopes they will move on. I miss watching all the other birds when they are here nothing else is. Any tips would be great. Barkspud

[Greg]

start plinkin

[cam]

Gregs right. Start poppin them if you got a pellet rifle or a .22. Target the females this time of year.

I got starlings that TRY to take over my martin boxes. When they start hanging around, shoot as many as I can, then if they've made a next, I tear the nests out.

[hillbillyken]

I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier...If you need another alternative to killing the birds...I have seen feeders that you can set the perch to close access to the seed when a larger bird or squirrel trys to eat....I am sure that you can find them quite easily at home stores and the such...I hope this helps ...HB Ken

[barkspud]

Thanks old boy didn't realize they have feeders like that. Will check next time in town.

[halfton]

Get small hanging feeders that will swing side to side when they land on them. Large birds are typically ground feeders and don't like moving feeders
There are feeders that the perch is above the feeder hole and the birds have to hang upside down to eat. I use them for when I feed niger seed.
Platform feeders sometime have mesh screen around them allowing smaller birds to get to the feed but keep bigger birds out.
Now for getting rid of sparrows,cowbirds and starlings.
I start by pattering my shotgun in some loose dirt. Set a stick or rock as your aiming point. After you find your pattern start putting breadcrumbs inside your pattern. Do this for a couple of days for them to find it and then
at your aim point. Then freeze them and use them for mink bait this coming season.
This works real good in the winter months and when the young ones are tagging along after mom when they come off the nests in early summer.
You will probably have to shoot from a hiding place like a building. I stand just inside my building and open the door just far enough to shoot.
Now if you don't want to shoot them just put out the breadcrumbs somewhere away from your feeding station so they will go there instead of your feeders.

Russ

[barkspud]

Well halfton I wish I could dig out the old crowbar but I think my neighbors would crap. So I filled the feeders and spread some seed around on the ground. I have them hanging feeders and they just keep knocking the seed out. Then dug out my pellet rifle and the wifes pistol and we are going to see who can get the most. Just zeroed them both from where we will shoot and am ready to go. Not to mention I have a 5 year old daughter that has to learn to shoot things so will give her and her sister(10) a shot. The only thing is wife is home more then me so she will get the jump on me. We havn't decided what to bet yet but shure will be something good. She said first op on the bears this year but I don't know if that is fair I do most of the work. Maybe if she helps this year. Thanks for the encouragment looks like early plinking and you can never have enough bait.