Prowler Owl ???

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by aarongreen123

i agree with Logan, so many comments, so few of them actually usable.

He asked a ???, so he got opinions, now Im wondering what is "usable" about your post?

[NZ Pigeon]

Originally Posted by spirit wings

I hope they do not let their guard down when they see a real Bird of pray once they "learn the owl is fake"., ever heard of the boy who cried wolf..

I don't see why they would let their gaurd down to a real bird of prey once they learn the Owl is fake. I'm sure they won't assume all BOP are fake jusy becuase the owl is, Pigeons are very smart, They will know the difference.

Also some buildings here in ChCh have magpies mounted on them to keep the pigeons off, It works for around a week then they are back, they know it's fake, If a real magpie flies over they take to the sky. They know the difference

[almondman]

Originally Posted by aarongreen123

i agree with Logan, so many comments, so few of them actually usable.

Forum - a public meeting place for open discussion? Which is supposed to be what we are doing here. Who are you to judge?

[Alamo]

The Owl will help keep a hawk away sometimes,as will crow decoys,and even Geese decoys....But I wouldn`t want my birds afraid to land and trap...And I would want them to be wary of a LIVE owl,just in case....Like a few guys said here alraedy...Flag them instead.....Alamo

[almondman]

As stated, pigeons are smart birds. Seeing a person waving a flag to keep them flying does not trigger a fear like bop, real or fake, does. The birds are smart enough to know that the same person waving the flag is usually the person that feeds them. It becomes part of their training, much like learning where they live, how to get in and out of the loft, etc.
Birds of prey, whether real or fake, will always cause a fear reaction. They will get used to seeing a fake, and will eventually acclimate to seeing it, if it's left out long enough. But they then loose they reactive response when the real thing shows up. Which can be deadly. I would suggest using decoys only occasionally, and never set them out for long periods of time.
I worked on fear studies at the psychology department at the University of Wisconsin. We used real, decoy, and even pictures, of bop. After prolonged acclimation to decoys and pictures we had several birds, pigeons included, that failed to respond even after being exposed to the real thing. If not separated by plexiglass, dinner would have been served.

Point is - it is much safer to use flagging methods than decoys, but if necessary, don't over use the decoys.

[NZ Pigeon]

Originally Posted by almondman

Forum - a public meeting place for open discussion? Which is supposed to be what we are doing here. Who are you to judge?

Agree completely.

Originally Posted by almondman

As stated, pigeons are smart birds. Seeing a person waving a flag to keep them flying does not trigger a fear like bop, real or fake, does. The birds are smart enough to know that the same person waving the flag is usually the person that feeds them. It becomes part of their training, much like learning where they live, how to get in and out of the loft, etc.
Birds of prey, whether real or fake, will always cause a fear reaction. They will get used to seeing a fake, and will eventually acclimate to seeing it, if it's left out long enough. But they then loose they reactive response when the real thing shows up. Which can be deadly. I would suggest using decoys only occasionally, and never set them out for long periods of time.
I worked on fear studies at the psychology department at the University of Wisconsin. We used real, decoy, and even pictures, of bop. After prolonged acclimation to decoys and pictures we had several birds, pigeons included, that failed to respond even after being exposed to the real thing. If not separated by plexiglass, dinner would have been served.

Point is - it is much safer to use flagging methods than decoys, but if necessary, don't over use the decoys.

Great advice, interesting about your study, I may have to retract my original thought on them knowing the difference.

[almondman]

We also did fear studies with snakes. Amazing to see people not afraid of 1 to 3 foot long boas that actually were striking the glass at the people, but totally freak out when exposed to a 12 footer that just layed there. Secret was the 12 footer had been handled every day for years, the younger ones only when placed in and out of the training aquariums. I guess size does matter.😜

[Lavender Hill Lofts]

I’m told that Bill Tadlock in Baltimore Maryland uses/used a Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man to keep his birds up when he raced.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euV1HmGm22s

[almondman]

Yikes, that might keep me flying.

[Lavender Hill Lofts]

Originally Posted by almondman

Yikes, that might keep me flying.

Ha! I'm told it did the trick.

[Lavender Hill Lofts]

Originally Posted by Homer3109

I like your idea. Thought of doing this myself. Should work as long as birds don't tire out and land.
Did it make them come straight in and trap in?

In my experience with flagging my birds as soon as they acted like there were going to land I waved the flag a few times. After a couple of days of doing this they get the point and when they see the flag they stay up. When you take it down they will come in.

If you have birds that decide to land on a neighbor’s roof away from your loft I give them a chance or two then I remove them from my flock. A top flyer in Seattle that I know swears that when you remove the lazy ones the rest will do better. I’ve found that the ones that do land elsewhere there is something wrong with them. At least this has been my experience.

[NZ Pigeon]

Originally Posted by Lavender Hill Lofts

In my experience with flagging my birds as soon as they acted like there were going to land I waved the flag a few times. After a couple of days of doing this they get the point and when they see the flag they stay up. When you take it down they will come in.

If you have birds that decide to land on a neighbor’s roof away from your loft I give them a chance or two then I remove them from my flock. A top flyer in Seattle that I know swears that when you remove the lazy ones the rest will do better. I’ve found that the ones that do land elsewhere there is something wrong with them. At least this has been my experience.

Agree, My young birds get two chances to land on the correct ( loft ) roof and thats it. I have neighbours everywhere and cannot risk any birds following the roof landers. In the four years at this property I have disposed of 4 birds total that got in a bad habit which is not to bad considering I have around 20 that now fly well.

[Wayne Johnson]

Deleted comment. Sorry

[spirit wings]

Originally Posted by NZ Pigeon

I don't see why they would let their gaurd down to a real bird of prey once they learn the Owl is fake. I'm sure they won't assume all BOP are fake jusy becuase the owl is, Pigeons are very smart, They will know the difference.

Also some buildings here in ChCh have magpies mounted on them to keep the pigeons off, It works for around a week then they are back, they know it's fake, If a real magpie flies over they take to the sky. They know the difference

I would think it would be best to not chance it like I was thinking in post #2, I would not want them to be afraid of their home. but I think folks will do what they want anyway, it may back fire as said also..so IMO use the flags as has been said as well. But it did work to get them up flying for sure. I suppose there is no right or wrong here but just a matter of opinion.

[kalapati]

hi guys,

i appreciate everone's feedback here. i am just experimenting alternative ways on limiting road training to save time and expensive gas. OB race season is coming in a couple of months. i agree it may have negative results on my birds using this method.

with regards to somebody's inquiry about my birds trapping faster after i removed the dummy owl - my racers have always been trapping fast inspite i did not have the chance to train them for they are well aware that they can become a cooper's meal if they stay longer after they landed. i have several birds snatched in front of other birds by hungry coopers here.


i respect everyone's opinion on this thread and once again thank you for your time.


kalapati
San Diego

http://blubarloft.dyndns.biz:81/jview.htm