Re: Squirrels and Crows

In a message dated 96-08-20 11:08:54 EDT, you write:

>these crows are not even
>afraid of human beings.  They will only fly if you get close enough to grap
>them...so I don't think a scarecrow will work.

I don't have crows after my iris, but corn is another matter.  Crows are very
intelligent and are real problem solvers, like squirrels, so something that
works today will not work for long.  Things that seem to work consistently:

Put up poles/stakes that are at least 3 ft tall in a perimeter around what
you are planting.  Tie string from pole to pole around what you plant.  If
it's a big planting, run some crosswise and diagonally across it as well.
 Only leave this contraption up long enough to provide the duration of
protection you need so they won't get used to it.  Apparently, this is
complicated and suspicious looking enough that they don't try it.

Wait until about a week after all the local farmers plant corn to plant
whatever you are planting.  The crows will be off eating corn and not come
back to your house until it's too late.  This only works if you live near a
lot of corn farmers.

Go outdoors at first light, midday, and evening and anytime you think a crow
may be within eyesight or earshot and shoot a shotgun into the air.  Crows do
not have to be present for this activity.  They are smart enough to figure
out where the noise is coming from and if anybody has ever shot at anyother
crow they know, they will ware off.  They don't know the difference between a
lousy shot and a deliberate miss.  I use a 22 rifle with shot shells.  If you
can shoot at a crow, do it, but be sure and aim far enough from the bird that
you won't hit it.  They need to be able to run back and warn all their
buddies.  Get a lawn chair and sit a scarecrow made out of your clothes out
next to the spot to be protected and give him a suspicious looking stickor
plastic gun  to hold.  Make sure part of the setup will move in the breeze.

Those big plastic inflateable scare eye things work, but I wouldn't trust
them to be effective forever.

I have heard of some absolutely ghoulish things to do that I will NOT share.

Indians used to use little boys and dogs to chase them off with sticks.
 Maybe buy an atlatl or a noisy slingshot.

Linda Mann lmann76543@aol.com east TN USA
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