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Post by YorksherLass on May 23, 2020 11:05:19 GMT
To be honest I hate cats because of their destructive behaviour & the only thing which stops them is the scarecrow. It's eye senses any movement & sprays it with water from the connected hosepipe - we had a laugh when it caught one and scared it that much that it jumped into the pond - more laughter!
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 23, 2020 11:16:43 GMT
Helen- I have two Scotty feeders and have reduced the squares with cable ties so that only BT's can get in works a treat. Makes me laugh though as they always go in through the top opening near the roof not the nest hole plate I made for them so I've put masking tape over that now and it all going swimmingly! So well done to you I have had a giggle this morning as my chicks are wing flapping now and standing on each other to get traction, I suppose they do this to prevent taking a siblings eye out
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Post by hfriel on May 23, 2020 13:00:37 GMT
To be honest I hate cats because of their destructive behaviour & the only thing which stops them is the scarecrow. It's eye senses any movement & sprays it with water from the connected hosepipe - we had a laugh when it caught one and scared it that much that it jumped into the pond - more laughter! I love cats Diane but hate what they do to the birds, so after our last cat died ( at 18 ) I swore I’d never get a cat again, but then we started getting RATS, some very old buildings were knocked down near us and its been a problem round here since, we had to get a cat again as well of course as the city council. The rats love the bird seed, so I’ll be cutting back all the foliage under the bird feeder as rats love cover (I’m now an expert on them ) once it’s cleared I’d love to put something like your ‘scarecrow’ .......do you remember where did you got it? I could get the cat and rats at the same time
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Post by hfriel on May 23, 2020 13:17:50 GMT
Helen- I have two Scotty feeders and have reduced the squares with cable ties so that only BT's can get in works a treat. Makes me laugh though as they always go in through the top opening near the roof not the nest hole plate I made for them so I've put masking tape over that now and it all going swimmingly! So well done to you I have had a giggle this morning as my chicks are wing flapping now and standing on each other to get traction, I suppose they do this to prevent taking a siblings eye out Hi Kathy, we were desperate in the beginning cause the huge amount of saprrows round here were devouring them, even had some starlings having a go and nearly upending the feeder, so the poor tits were never getting near the mealworms, i grabbed some blue tape and put it round just above top of container, then did a proper job with masking tape, just the line of squares above container, really works, sparrows don’t even bother trying it now, they stick with the seeds. They are a very mannerly lot these tits, they all even use the front entrance (hole). I thinks your birds are about 4 days older than mine Kathy, so they’ll be getting ready for the outside world....very exciting time
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Post by hfriel on May 23, 2020 13:23:39 GMT
Hope everything goes well for you and your BTs Helen. If that were me I think I would have tried the Scotty in that tree to the right of the photo - it's branches may well have been too flimsy to support the weight of your cat(?) Mind you if what you've done works.... That tree is a Rowan Beechnut and is thicker than it looks Beechnut, it would be easier for her to climb than the Birdfeeder post, but many thanks for the suggestion. To the right of the feeder is the Bottlebrush shrub and the birds just love to dart forwards and backwards to the feeder and they are very secluded and well covered from Mr and Mrs sparrowhawk....
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Post by hfriel on May 23, 2020 13:27:51 GMT
Well done Helen, we have to use all our ingenuity against these clever creatures, and it surprises me how many things people come up with Sue Thanks Sue, it is amazing the hidden talents we possess when are ‘Birds’ need us , I once ran out and climbed a tree when I saw my cats paw on the tv in my nestbox, I hadn’t climbed a tree in more than 40 years and didn’t know I still could
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Post by YorksherLass on May 23, 2020 13:42:27 GMT
Here's the link for the Contech Scarecrow:
Sorry, I clicked the button too early - meant to say that I understand your need to get a cat as rats are horrible & much worse than cats. Hopefully. the above will help with both problems.
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Post by hfriel on May 23, 2020 18:38:59 GMT
Thanks for that Diane, trying to convince Hubby at the moment that we really really need one......
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Post by hfriel on May 23, 2020 18:39:17 GMT
Thanks for that Diane, trying to convince Hubby at the moment that we really really need one......
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Post by hfriel on May 23, 2020 22:55:08 GMT
This is just a quick video of poor Zoom trying to sleep tonight.....
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Post by hfriel on May 24, 2020 10:35:08 GMT
Day 13 and they’ve started wing flapping Don’t ever remember them doing it this early!!! Still a week or more to go !! One keeps looking up at the entrance hole in anticipation....
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 24, 2020 10:38:26 GMT
Lovely videos Helen
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Post by YorksherLass on May 24, 2020 11:28:02 GMT
Two cracking videos and it looks like these chicks are really impatient to fly away - so they may surprise you by going earlier than expected!
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Post by Taz on May 24, 2020 18:52:32 GMT
Great videos Hfriel, can't wait to see these grow up.
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Post by greatbluehopeful on May 25, 2020 7:50:57 GMT
Wow Helen, they seem really advanced alright....maybe with the extra heat this year and plentiful supply of food, they thrived and are going to fledge on the earlier side of things?
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hardy
Senior Member
Posts: 166
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Post by hardy on May 25, 2020 11:11:27 GMT
Great videos Helen. Mine are at the same stage and will probably fledge before weekend, probably Friday or Saturday.
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Post by hfriel on May 25, 2020 19:47:05 GMT
The chicks were home alone last night, not surprised, poor Zoom wasn’t getting a wink of sleep...
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Post by Taz on May 25, 2020 19:54:58 GMT
The chicks were home alone last night, not surprised, poor Zoom wasn’t getting a wink of sleep... My one did that the two nights before fledging. It does look uncomfortable doesn't it? 😏
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Post by hfriel on May 25, 2020 21:05:28 GMT
Oh no ....hope she hasn’t left them too early, last night they still had at least another 6 nights till fledging Days are very warm but the nights are still cool enough
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hardy
Senior Member
Posts: 166
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Post by hardy on May 26, 2020 19:51:37 GMT
Mine were also alone last night. Chloe was sleeping at side of nest the night before. I think yours and mine will be ready before weekend
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hardy
Senior Member
Posts: 166
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Post by hardy on May 26, 2020 20:09:31 GMT
Mine were also alone last night. Chloe was sleeping at side of nest the night before. I think yours and mine will be ready before weekend
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Post by hfriel on May 27, 2020 22:35:53 GMT
This is so boring.....when can we go!!
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Post by hfriel on May 27, 2020 22:37:46 GMT
Finally all asleep.....
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Post by Taz on May 28, 2020 7:00:03 GMT
This is so boring.....when can we go!! They get so restless before going, at least they'll have good weather, were been really lucky so far
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Post by greatbluehopeful on May 28, 2020 7:59:12 GMT
They are so cute!!! Any day now!
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