Feeding the birds

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Oldjohnw
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Location: South Warwickshire

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Oldjohnw »

We see only red squirrels. I won’t be scaring them.

This morning both a couple of wood pigeons and a couple of sparrows were making babies on our fence.
John
Bonefishblues
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Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Bonefishblues »

Vorpal wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 9:04am There are lots of ways to keep squirrels off feeders without resorting to harming them.
Quote right - your pellets might damage the feeders - best to use some other method of destruction.
Bonefishblues
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Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Bonefishblues »

Oldjohnw wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 9:31am We see only red squirrels. I won’t be scaring them.
Oh go on - this would be perfect:

https://www.halloweencostumes.co.uk/adu ... 47EALw_wcB
Jdsk
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Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Jdsk »

Oldjohnw wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 9:31amThis morning both a couple of wood pigeons and a couple of sparrows were making babies on our fence.
But the pigeons do it with so much more style.

Jonathan
Vorpal
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Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Vorpal »

Bonefishblues wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:05am
Vorpal wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 9:04am There are lots of ways to keep squirrels off feeders without resorting to harming them.
Quote right - your pellets might damage the feeders - best to use some other method of destruction.
:evil: :evil: At least, please don't harm native red squirrels.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
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Bonefishblues
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Location: Near Bicester Oxon

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Bonefishblues »

Vorpal wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:10am
Bonefishblues wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:05am
Vorpal wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 9:04am There are lots of ways to keep squirrels off feeders without resorting to harming them.
Quote right - your pellets might damage the feeders - best to use some other method of destruction.
:evil: :evil: At least, please don't harm native red squirrels.
I might have missed the smiley VP - no feeders were harmed, I assure you (although our dogs do love a squirrel chase, and are always nonplussed at their ability to go vertical) :wink:
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NATURAL ANKLING
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Re: Feeding the birds

Post by NATURAL ANKLING »

Hi,
Jdsk wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:48am
philvantwo wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:22amThe squirrels only have to see my air rifle poke out of the bathroom window and their gone!!
I recommend a humane trap as the first step in the process.

Jonathan
I've got some spare rat poison, it seems to work okay on the seagulls :mrgreen:

Seriously though I've had to add more birdfeeders and stop putting food on the ground.
I commonly see rats at least one every time I ride my bike at night mostly.
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Oldjohnw
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Location: South Warwickshire

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Oldjohnw »

Jdsk wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:07am
Oldjohnw wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 9:31amThis morning both a couple of wood pigeons and a couple of sparrows were making babies on our fence.
But the pigeons do it with so much more style.

Jonathan
Don't know how the pigeon species survives.
John
Pebble
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Joined: 7 Jun 2020, 11:59pm

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Pebble »

Jdsk wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:48am
philvantwo wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:22amThe squirrels only have to see my air rifle poke out of the bathroom window and their gone!!
I recommend a humane trap as the first step in the process.

Jonathan
But what would you do with a grey squirrel if you caught it ? it is an invasive species and in the UK it would be illegal to release it back into the wild.

We do have greys but since I made squirrel proof feeders for the birds I don't mind them now.
Jdsk
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Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Jdsk »

Pebble wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:28am
Jdsk wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:48am
philvantwo wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:22amThe squirrels only have to see my air rifle poke out of the bathroom window and their gone!!
I recommend a humane trap as the first step in the process.
But what would you do with a grey squirrel if you caught it ? it is an invasive species and in the UK it would be illegal to release it back into the wild.
Shoot it.

Jonathan
Oldjohnw
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Location: South Warwickshire

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Oldjohnw »

Bonefishblues wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:07am
Oldjohnw wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 9:31am We see only red squirrels. I won’t be scaring them.
Oh go on - this would be perfect:

https://www.halloweencostumes.co.uk/adu ... 47EALw_wcB

:D
John
Oldjohnw
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Location: South Warwickshire

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Oldjohnw »

Jdsk wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:37am
Pebble wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:28am
Jdsk wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:48am
I recommend a humane trap as the first step in the process.
But what would you do with a grey squirrel if you caught it ? it is an invasive species and in the UK it would be illegal to release it back into the wild.
Shoot it.

Jonathan
Take it to the Barbecue thread on this forum. It will be dealt with there.
John
VinceLedge
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Re: Feeding the birds

Post by VinceLedge »

We are part of a red squirrel conservation programme , main part of which is reducing the grey squirrel population, as they compete for food resources with the reds and also carry squirrel pox whi reds have no resistance to. This involves trapping and dispatch of greys.
I suspect there is little point in doing this where grey squirrels have become the only species, however they shouldn't be encouraged by deliberate feeding.
Jdsk
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Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by Jdsk »

Oldjohnw wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:49am
Jdsk wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:37am
Pebble wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:28am
But what would you do with a grey squirrel if you caught it ? it is an invasive species and in the UK it would be illegal to release it back into the wild.
Shoot it.
Take it to the Barbecue thread on this forum. It will be dealt with there.
Even the red kites won't eat grey squirrel.

Jonathan
markjohnobrien
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Joined: 4 Oct 2007, 8:15pm

Re: Feeding the birds

Post by markjohnobrien »

Pebble wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 10:28am
Jdsk wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:48am
philvantwo wrote: 29 Apr 2021, 8:22amThe squirrels only have to see my air rifle poke out of the bathroom window and their gone!!
I recommend a humane trap as the first step in the process.

Jonathan
But what would you do with a grey squirrel if you caught it ? it is an invasive species and in the UK it would be illegal to release it back into the wild.

We do have greys but since I made squirrel proof feeders for the birds I don't mind them now.
Horrible things: kill reds, destroy trees, and utter vermin.

Shoot with catapult.
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