Bye bye blackbirds.

We have some unique pests to deal with in Australia. Post your experiences and treatments here for others to learn from.
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Damian Bee
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Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Damian Bee »

A great and entertaining way to help rid your bonsai collection of this scourge.
Get some wattle birds in and watch the feathers fly.
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by shibui »

The wattle birds here always have their heads in banksia flowers so the blackbirds are free to kick mulch and moss wherever they like. More every year despite my attempts to thin them out :evil:
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Damian Bee »

Footscray = no Banksia, plenty of wattle.
Those Turdus don't stand a chance :lol:
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Sno »

They have just moved in to my area. I didn't know what they were until a twitcher mate told me they were a weed which displaced native birds. I was calling them the 'arse bird ' because every time i saw them they were flying away. At the moment i have one attacking its reflection in a window there is a smear of bird shari all over the window.during November we have an annual bird war . The wattle birds are flat out at that time and they don't seem to worry the blackbird yet. Shibui does your control method involve things that go pop? Deer are my biggest problem they love exotic trees one of the reasons I'm going native. :aussie:
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by shibui »

Blackbird control here consists of pop, snap and search and destroy but they seem to be learning or evolving and are much quicker and far more evasive this year :shake:
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Sno »

Thanks Shibui ,now if I could just work out how to crackle I might solve this problem.
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Theodore »

I don't have a cat a dog or a gun and right now I wish I had all three!!

Over the last couple of weeks these pesky birds have been giving me nothing but grief morning and night as you can see from the pics below.

ImageImageImage

If anyone has any ideas, I'd be happy to hear them.

Thanks
Theo


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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Watto »

Scat, a product available at all good nursery's and establishments like the green shed. A good spray will give protection for some time and does work.
Check out my blog at http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/blog/Watto" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Theodore »

Thanks Watto!


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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Milo »

Hi Guys
Most Mens sheds make and sell Indian Myna bird traps . Google Indian Myna bird traps
Canberra indian myna action group have a lot of info on protocols to dispose of them humanly

http://www.indianmynaaction.org.au

Aldi's cat food is good bait
It's great to see the small native birds come back into my yard
Best of luck

My tally for this year is 55

Milo
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Ryceman3 »

Milo wrote:
My tally for this year is 55

Milo
That is dedication ... If nothing else! :tu: long live the natives!!
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Grant Bowie
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Grant Bowie »

I have a resident pair of Blackbirds in my back yard and have had for about 7 or 8 years.

They have raised multiple families and are very calm in my presence; and they never attack my trees or soil, moss etc.

We also have lots of Wattle birds, Pee Wees, Magpies and less frequently small parrots of different kinds.

I love them all equally.

Grant
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Kevin »

I'm with you Grant,

We love the native inhabitants calling our place home too. A safe haven for them to raise their young.
Watching them is extremely enjoyable, educational and very relaxing. A pair of wattle birds nested in a 'freestyle' Elk Horn hanging under our pergola one spring, with the blackbirds in the trees at the back and other little nests - no doubt sparrows.

The Wattle birds had two 'flight paths' they would enter from - honestly unbelievable - the speed in which they flew in and then instantly stop above the Elk Horn where the parents would change shift on the nest.

The blackbirds do regularly turn my mulch over for me, only causing a mild amount of work immediately following fresh sugar cane being laid.

May i suggest Theo - use a stone mulch on your potted plants. The birds will soon go to an easier target. Also, don't forget about all the pests the birds would regularly consume from your small trees. I'm constantly amased at what the sparrows are eating from my small trees.

Kevin
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by Kevin »

Edit - Double post, deleting one.
Last edited by Kevin on March 8th, 2016, 10:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Bye bye blackbirds.

Post by MoGanic »

Are people seriously killing birds to protect their Bonsai?...
There are many ways to do things, but only one "best" way.
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