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Amazing Bird Attractant
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu (CAROLINA BIRDS), birdchat@listserv.arizona.edu
- Subject: Amazing Bird Attractant
- From: "BILL HILTON JR. (Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History)"<hilton@hiltonpond.org>
- Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 15:20:05 -0400
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Last winter, in a tongue-in-cheek posting to CarolinBirds, I
suggested that the best cure for too many Gray Squirrels at the
feeder was two words: "Boa Constrictor." Today I discovered quite by
accident that "Boa Constrictor" may also be the most powerful bird
attractant I've ever seen.
This afternoon I placed Paco, my nine-foot boa, on the back deck
while I was cleaning her cage. I stepped back into the house, and
within a minute or so there began a substantial avian commotion the
likes of which I have never experienced. Literally dozens of birds
apparently were attracted to this serpentine predator, and they lined
up in surrounding trees and even on the deck railing.
Most of the birds were American Robins--a mixed bunch of perhaps 15
or so adults and spotted juveniles--but there were numerous Northern
Cardinals, several Eastern Towhees, two Gray Catbirds, and a Great
Crested Flycatcher. The boldest birds were two Tufted Titmice and a
Carolina Wren that got within three feet of the snake--plus a
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that fluttered down and almost landed on the
coils. Even a couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds appeared to join
in the commotion.
One snake, nine bird species. Not bad for an afternoon Audubon moment.
Best wishes,
BILL
--
**********
BILL HILTON JR., "The Piedmont Naturalist"
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road
York, South Carolina 29745
USA
e-mail: <hilton@hiltonpond.org>
Voice: (803) 684-5852
eFax: (503) 218-0845
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit research and education organization, so all in-kind or
monetary gifts to Operation RubyThroat and the Center are
tax-deductible. Please visit our websites:
Hilton Pond: <http://www.hiltonpond.org>
Operation RubyThroat: <http://www.rubythroat.org>
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to
watch the sunset."
BHjr.
**********