yak2you2
2009-01-21 08:34:14
I was walking down the dock early one morning, not another sole insight, when I heard this whack! sound. I looked around puzzled, couldn't see anything or anybody, so I turned and walked a little further, when I heard it again. This time I noticed something though, there was a clam laying on the dock a little ways off that hadn't been there before. I looked up, and there on top of the light pole was a crow. He eventually flew down, picked up the clam and landed on top of the pole again. He watched me for a minute or so, until he had satisfied himself that I wasn't interested in stealing his clam, then took off, flew up to about 50 feet and dropped the clam on the dock again. The little buggers are smart, he was trying to bust it open so he could have his breakfast.
I can't tell you how many times I've been frustrated by leaving herring, or anything else uncovered by these clever devils. It wouldn't be so bad if they'd just steal my herring and be gone, but no, they got leave their calling cards behind just to make sure we both know that they outsmarted me.
Worse, some of their antics can be damaging. A few years ago I put a shiny new plastic cover over my deck to keep the rain off of me. I hadn't had it on for more than a week when I found a nice 6 inch hole pecked in it, right over where I stand at one of my gurdies, completed with an empty clam shell and more calling card smears.
A fair amount of work went into installing my new roof, so my natural reaction was to round up the shotgun, but this is generally frowned upon at the harbor, so I started trying to outsmart them. I tied a gaff crossways onto a snow shovel then hung my rain jacket on it like a scarecrow. The next day I made note that which ever one them who left the telltale calling card, hadn't been eating well.
Frustrated, I was talking to a friend who said he was having problems with them pecking at his electronic array so he installed a plastic owl. He said that by the next day they had pecked the eyes out of his owl, and left more calling card smears on it too.
Anybody got any ideas for keeping these critters off of the roofs?
spike christopher
2009-01-21 17:55:15
Take a cat/animal trap and set in the area, the first crow caught will make such a fuss that the others will stay back. When you leave the area release the crow, the greenies are happy along with the jailed crow.
groundhog
2009-01-22 03:27:53
Catching a crow with a trap should be easy. A raven, not so much.
In Juneau the ravens get into everyones garbage and make a huge mess. Then the garbage cops give you a ticket for littering. The ravens have even figured out how to unhook the bungee cord that secures the lid of the garbage can.
An angry homeowner once hid in the bow of their parked boat with a pellet gun on garbage day. They managed to shoot a raven right off the can. It started making a distress call that pulled in a whole flock of ravens.
The guy thought he had really tought them a lesson untill the flock landed on his roof and started peeling off shingles.
So, maybe put the trap on sixlines boat.
Bigwave jim
2009-01-22 06:03:07
Crows and Ravens can be a total pain. But, I've learned a few things which might stop the problem.
about 15yrs ago, I did some work on large roof and started the job off by noticing dead sea gulls, crows and ravens laying on the roof. YUCK. The owner claimed the practice of tossing the dead birds on the roof stopped their relatives from using the place as their private bus stop. With that in mind, my folks where having a terrible time with crows in there back yard. Since the yard faced a heavily wood track of land, the idea of shooting a few with my trusty pellet gun seemed like a great idea. Before putting that plan into action, low and behold I found a crow on the road who'd lost a short battle with a car.
I simply hung the dead bird in a tree facing my folks back yard and PHOOF...no crow problem. Fact is, my parents haven't had a crow problem for 10 years!
Crows, Ravens and Sea Gulls are smart and live long lives. WIth out making to much of a fuss, I'd suggest finding a deceased bird and hang the thing in your rigging. Granted it's a bit morbid, but from my experiance, I'd be willing to wager your bird problem will be solved!
yak2you2
2009-01-22 12:59:09
All good thoughts. I was sort of hoping for a smell or something they didn't like though, you know, so It doesn't have to look like a voodoo magic boat. A guy might have to though if that's what it takes to keep them away. When I was a kid I already discovered there's always more crows than there is pellets.