CHEEP help needed please! (Problem Resolved at the Moment)

[MamaBruff]

Thanks Everybody! Keeping these darn HOSP at bay is a harder job than I thought, and just getting started with one precious pair, it's ramped up to a personal, high alert level. Hard to control those raw, protective emotions.

Stretch, I like your idea too! It kinda goes along with KathyF's thinking of being patient and stealthy... Clapping and waving (and yelling) is indeed a waste of valuable time and energy.

Like all predators I have seen, from spiders, to fish, to cats, it's all about control and fooling the prey, waiting for the best opportunity to pounce with accurate, deadly force. Letting them (HOSP) think you are OK with them being there, like a true stealthy hunter... SO very hard to keep a level head like this when one is upset. I will work extra hard on that one, and keep on trappin'!

You guys and gals rock!

[willbird]

I have never tried it with birds really, but a buddy swears animals "rear end" gets warm when you draw a bead on them, so you must aim and shoot fast:-)....but another friend swears by wearing sunglasses, he claims deer and other animals get that warm rear end sensation from catching onto the eye contact.

[MamaBruff]

Hmmm, like a "I'm being stared at for some reason and feel restless" feeling we can all identify with? I agree. Patience and precision.

[tonyg]

Very nice colony site Mary, you will do very well with attracting martins.

[MamaBruff]

Thank you Tony; I can imagine it full of Purple Martin houses/gourds ... but would also like to have a pumpkin pie sized Xanax to nibble on for "those times" I need to be really calm... What a hobby! I'm hooked deep!

[KathyF]

I found that when you have a HOSP, it's best not to look them in the eye. Surprisingly, even the Sialis.org site says the same thing. These birds are unfortunately, smart.

And I used to try to shoot quickly, but more often than not, I would end up missing because, in my haste, I had forgotten to follow the correct way to shoot (breathing, squeeze the trigger, keep your eye open and follow the shot through).

So now, when I see a HOSP, I find a comfortable spot, and if the shot doesn't feel "right", I wait until he's in a better spot and me as well. Stretch is right.

And one thing I repeat every time in my head when I get him in my sights is, "you have all the time in the world - do it right". I take a couple of deep breaths until I see that my gun and scope are no longer wandering around and I've got him steady in my sights.

Because once you shoot and miss, your task becomes much harder.

[MamaBruff]

Thank you Kathy for patiently teaching me and other newbies these concepts. Words to landlord by... My new way of thinking....

You know the little plaques/posters that say something like "everything I needed to know about life I learned from my dog" or in Kindergarden, etc? There should be one for Purple Martin Landords as well....