Okay, so yesterday, I had my monthly allergy shot. Went to the clinic and walked in problem-free.

Got my shot and was waiting in line to schedule next month's shot when another patient walked in, and the receptionist said to them, "did he get you?"



It didn't take long to deduce that a bird outside had dive-bombed the guy on his way in.

After scheduling my appointment, I made my way out the door and proceeded to walk the 30 yards to my truck, when I hear a sonic boom whooosshhhh go by my left ear.

WTF?!?!

I look around and he must be in stealth mode. I think I see a brief blur go by on my left side, when I suddenly hear a flapping near my right ear. I feel the air from his rotor wash wings, he's that close.

GAH!

I shift it into overdrive, and see him at my six...he's too close for missile shot, but his guns are armed and ready! He goes swooping by with only my cat-like reflexes saving me from direct hit.

I'm nearly at my truck, and I swear as I watched, he pulled an Immelmann and was just on his way down to strafe again when I jumped into my truck.

Live to see another day.

Apparently, they say red-winged blackbirds are a protected species in Wisconsin...

But, does anyone have any good ideas for what to use to ward these bastards off?

Avoid walking by whatever tree their nest is in.

Wish that were an option. They must be in the spruce tree right next to the (only) entrance.

There are a ton of them at our favorite local NWR. One in particular believes he owns an entire observation platform and will guard it as fiercely as he can without actually landing on your head.

It's kind of cute, really.

Beautiful birds, aren't they?

-Rob

Used to have hose fights with starlings, they would dive bomb my dogs and i'd try to hit them with a shot of water, they can be very acrobatic...

Wear a helmet hardhat and goggles?

Speaking of acrobatic, ever watch crows harassing an eagle?

Yep, they guard their nests with great glee.

You have to admire that kind of guts in a little bird that weighs less that a cup of coffee.

RMD

So far, the only idea I've come up with is a quick deploy umbrella.

This clinic is 5 blocks off lake Michigan...lots of coyote and foxes near the lake. Pretty bad area to choose a nest site, imo.

Badminton racquet and an umbrella .

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Speaking of acrobatic, ever watch crows harassing an eagle?

No but I did just yesterday see about 6 smaller birds, probably robins as we have a bunch and have had two nest so far on front porch this season, harassing one of the nice sized red hawks we have here also. The smaller birds where just dive bombing and squawking at the hawk. The hawk just kept flying around doing his thing like they weren't even there. This went on for a good minute or two before the smaller birds all took off

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Speaking of acrobatic, ever watch crows harassing an eagle?

We see crows harassing Hawks pretty regularly, It always amazes me that the hawks put up with it like they do.

quote:

Originally posted by C-Dubs:
... This clinic is 5 blocks off lake Michigan...lots of coyote and foxes near the lake. Pretty bad area to choose a nest site, imo.

Yeah well, yotes and foxes don't climb trees and can be pretty cowardly when attacked. You ran didn't you?

Read the OP, trying to figure out what the problem is.

Red Wing blackbirds are song birds; beautiful song. Pretty loud, too. I don't think Red Wings nest in trees. The ones in my back yard swamp nest in the cattails. The Fish Crows rob their nests, as do snakes. That's why I have the silenced CZ 452. Death to crows!

quote:

Originally posted by Wasabibill:
Badminton racquet and an umbrella .

This. I have a racquet that I use when I mow the back acreage behind my house.
There's a bunch of the red wing blackbirds that nest in my backyard.
There's only a few that harass me but a few swings and they leave me alone. They do however hover about 15' above me and violently shrill at me.
Between the birds, snakes, mice, ticks and other things, mowing the backyard is a pain in the ass.

Outdoor dining areas in restaurants near the beach stretch heavy monofilament line every few feet to keep the birds out. Its unobtrusive but birds learn to stay away pretty quickly

I was visiting The Riverwalk in San Antonio, and there was a restaurant who's solution was to offer wide brimmed hats like a Tilley T4 with big targets painted on the top. I think all the patrons I saw were wearing these hats.

All that told me was to find somewhere else to eat.

I have one that sits on the french door handle, rattles it and screams at me.

quote:

Originally posted by cne32507:
Death to crows!

Preach it brother.