Yellow Beaks and crows came at first snowfall!

[only1harry]

This started out as a crow stalk/sniping mission  
I woke up this morning to what sounded like dozens of crows.  I looked at the clock and it was 6:32am.  1hr earlier than I usually wake up. Dang crows I thought.  They are still going by the old clock    Then the crow noises stopped suddenly all at once.  That meant they were still around, and probably eyeing the cat food!  I looked through a small opening in our bedroom blinds, and sure enough no less than 40 crows were in my trees (!).  I have not seen that many in years.  Many of them were directly above the cat food, only 40-60ft higher.

I ran downstairs and opened the window slowly.  They couldn't see me because this window is under the upstairs porch and the crows were mostly at the top of the trees.  As soon as I brought the Condor down and placed it in position a big fat crow was already pacing back & forth in front of the cat food bowl!  I knew they 'd come because of the 3" of snow we got last night from Noreaster Athena.  I was following the crow with the crosshairs for maybe 15-20 secs waiting for her to stop, when I heard my wife walking upstairs.  Dang she is up I thought.. that means "noise" in the house..  I then heard the toilet seat impact when she just dropped it down, and the crow must have heard it too 22 yards from the house, because she took off at the same time as the "slam" of the toilet seat   Within 2-3 minutes, all the crows were gone.  They weren't taking any chances.  Thanks wifey!    I only waited all year for this..    She rarely gets up before 7-7:30am and now she was up at 6:40?  I must have not gotten out of bed quietly enough I went upstairs and she had put the shade up too in direct view of all the crows in the back yard.  She said she wanted to look at the beautiful snow on the trees...        That's what scared the crow on the ground and all the rest.

5-10min. later as I was waiting for the crows' possible but unlike return, 3 Yellow Beaks landed on the cat food!  First time since last winter.  They came with the first snowfall as I had predicted.  I got 1 in the crosshairs and sent a 25.4gr JSB King to it because I already had the Condor loaded for the crow.  The Starling just dropped of course and was DOA the milisecond the JSB made impact.

The Starlings did not return until much later just after 4pm.  I had switched to the 850 .22 anticipating their return.  It was only a pair of Yellow Beaks but this time they were more cautious.  They were taking turns and eating only 1 or 2 pieces at a time and taking off.  I waited until one jumped on the bowl and squeezed the trigger quickly.  2nd one down and dead instantly. 

If you look at the 1st Yellow Beak that got shot with the Condor .25 with almost 60fpe (at the lowest power setting), you can see its insides and a bloody bone or part of its aorta(?) or something next to it(!).  Those who dissect and eat Starlings, what part of their body is that?  The damage of a .25cal pellet on a bird is undeniably much different than any other caliber.  Anyway, the temps are going back to 60 in a day or 2, so I doubt the Yellow Beaks or crows will be back until the temps drop to 30 again, or we get some more snow.





850 .22 Starling.  Notice how much smaller the POI area is...

[thekid]

Good shooting on the young starlings.
Of course everything waits till you have no air source, before showing up....little did they know .
Better luck on the crows next time.

[dk1677]

Nice ones Harry! ( don't use all your air up    )  I know saw one the other day got the window open and tapped the window with the 850 ever so slightly and he was gone.

[ogre8472]

At least you got something for your troubles.

[Dockey 454]

Good shooting Harry. Put some rubber bumpers on the toilet seat, and staple the shade down. Patience they will be back they know where the cat food is.

[renowntwo]

Good shooting

[topwaterjim]

Funny toilet seat story lol. Good shooting bro.

[jettaglikop]

I've always wanted to hear a good reason to put the seat down after manly use of the toilet... Now I have, haha!!!

Awesome shooting, way to take out those starlings, you turned that first one inside out!

Three starlings visited my yards the other day but I didn't have a shot on 'em.

What variety of dry cat food do you put out for them???

[only1harry]

Thanks guys. I thought you 'd get a kick out of that   The only thing is that those 40 crows may not be back for a while because she also put up the shade.  They probably saw that as an aggressive move towards them, because one crow crow on the ground near the food.

Kevin, I use Meow Mix Seafood flavored   Starlings love it, and bandits too because of the fishy smell.  Only thing is it attracts skunks and cats for miles around  

[jettaglikop]

Thanks, I'll pick some up and see what ventures in for a meal.

[only1harry]

Just about every night critter will venture in for the cat food, except for deer.  I even had 1 or 2 red foxes eating it.  Heck, I got Cardinals, Junkos and Chickadees turned on to it too, and I caught a Grey squirrel eating it a few days ago. 

So get the large 15lb bag, or you will run out very fast.  Oh and pray the stinkers don't come!  Have fun!

[jettaglikop]

Too late on the 15lbs bag advice, my girl picked up the little bag at the store yesterday, haha!

Yeah, I remember your post about the nutter sampling the Meow Mix the other day.

We've already got two pair of Cardinals, tons of Juncos and Chickadees at our feeder everyday.

Maybe I'll just put the cat food out during the day until I get a larger caliber AR for night pesting...

Funny story about foxes... I saw one run into a large bush on my front yard the other day. A day later a friend of mine posts a pic on FB of a beautiful Gray Fox at his back door in North Troy, NY. Later that day I read a lost pet listing on CL of somebody's "pet" fox on the loose, collar and tags on it. Craziness, who would even try to keep one of those captive???

Thanks again on the advice, much appreciated.

[only1harry]

A lot of animal lovers like to keep wild animals in their home or caged up.  Half the time they escape.  Look at how Florida is full of none-indigenous reptiles.  It's sad really.

If you have other seeds and bird feeders, then the birds will prefer those over the cat food.  Cat food is not their normal diet, so they won't go for it.  Only if there is nothing else to eat.  So yes, put the cat food out along with your regular bird feeders, and the Starlings will come for the cat food when it gets cold out (especially in the mornng).  If you don't get up early in the morning to wait for the Starlings, a small flock (15-20 birds) could eat 1/2 pound of cat food in just a few minutes.  So don't be surprised if you see no cat food after 8 or 9am.  They eat a lot and they eat fast!  Be ready before 7am for them on a cold morning.  Starlings also tend to come when Blue Jays are at your feeder or eating the cat food.  They feel safer that way, and think if the Jays can eat unharassed, so can they.  It's good to let them get their fill the 1st day, so they are hooked to the cat food. They will also be more relaxed the next day and stay still longer for you to get a good shot off.   

The key to the Starlings returing for the cat food over & over after you have shot a few, is to stay out of sight.  Don't let them see you shooting at them.  After a while they will associate danger with the food bowl, but not you, or your property, and that's what you want.  If they get really cautious approaching the cat food or stop going near it after you have shot a few, you can always switch the bowl (to a different shape/color one) or drop the cat food on the floor.  Good luck!  The real fun starts around Thanksgiving or in December when the temps drop more.  On a cold day it's not uncommon to have 2 or 3 different flocks of 15-25 birds each come for the cat food 3-4 times/day. 

Harry

[jettaglikop]

Awesome advice!

I'm using an old broken base of a clay water jug I found while digging in my backyard as the Starling food dish.

We will wait and see if the Starlings like the rustic look, haha!!!

[shadow]

Great shooting and pics bro and I haven't seen them around here in a long while. Ed

[lastedtiger]

Great pix resolution and shooting!one less to worry about!

[Mebits]

Good advice and good shooting Harry. Another trick I use is to freeze after I shoot. The tendency is to pull the gun in to reload. Well, with a quiet gun, they my not be spooked by the sound and if you don't move they won't see you as readily.

I have noticed, however, that they get get spooked at a part of my garden, so when I see that, I just move food around.

Also, I try to put a piece of bread or 4 out as a visual lure in the morning.

I'm so excited. If you're getting starlings, it won't likely be long for me!

M

[Atchman2]

First that will teach your sorry rump to leave the toilet seat up won't it?   Great shooting on the yellow beaks with a variety of weapons.  

I still think crows are one of the hardest airgun trophies to get. With a shotgun and call they can be child's play, but to get close enough to them with an airgun is special.  I've only managed two ever, and ironically they were both with my .177 Whisper!    You'll get the next time; just don't leave the toilet seat up.

[jettaglikop]

A lot of animal lovers like to keep wild animals in their home or caged up.  Half the time they escape.  Look at how Florida is full of none-indigenous reptiles.  It's sad really.

If you have other seeds and bird feeders, then the birds will prefer those over the cat food.  Cat food is not their normal diet, so they won't go for it.  Only if there is nothing else to eat.  So yes, put the cat food out along with your regular bird feeders, and the Starlings will come for the cat food when it gets cold out (especially in the mornng).  If you don't get up early in the morning to wait for the Starlings, a small flock (15-20 birds) could eat 1/2 pound of cat food in just a few minutes.  So don't be surprised if you see no cat food after 8 or 9am.  They eat a lot and they eat fast!  Be ready before 7am for them on a cold morning.  Starlings also tend to come when Blue Jays are at your feeder or eating the cat food.  They feel safer that way, and think if the Jays can eat unharassed, so can they.  It's good to let them get their fill the 1st day, so they are hooked to the cat food. They will also be more relaxed the next day and stay still longer for you to get a good shot off.   

The key to the Starlings returing for the cat food over & over after you have shot a few, is to stay out of sight.  Don't let them see you shooting at them.  After a while they will associate danger with the food bowl, but not you, or your property, and that's what you want.  If they get really cautious approaching the cat food or stop going near it after you have shot a few, you can always switch the bowl (to a different shape/color one) or drop the cat food on the floor.  Good luck!  The real fun starts around Thanksgiving or in December when the temps drop more.  On a cold day it's not uncommon to have 2 or 3 different flocks of 15-25 birds each come for the cat food 3-4 times/day. 

Harry

I had my first scout Starling show up today!!!

He wasn't near the cat food. Only the Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and Cats have eaten that...

I let the scout go, hopefully he clues his friends in!

[dust]

I bought my 850 as the starling gun, but only have gotten to use it in winter, when they don't really show up, and it's too cold to shoot it.  Father switch to an 870 in 20ga. for starlings.  That puts them down with authority.  Also the skunk, raccoon, possum, feral gun