[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Amazing Bird Attractant



We had a similar experience last Saturday at Linnvile Falls.  We were on one
of the trails and heard alot of commotion about 60 ft. up in a tulip poplar.
There were Juncos, Black-throated Green Warblers, WB Nuthatches,
Chickadees, Titmice and a Downy Woodpecker all congregated in this one tree.
After a few minutes of searching, we saw what all the commotion was about.
It was a black snake laying out on a limb.  It never moved the whole time we
watched it and the birds finally left it alone.

*************************
Dwayne & Lori Martin
Foothills Bird Club
Claremont, NC
dlmartin@twave.net
-----Original Message-----
From: BILL HILTON JR. (Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History)
<hilton@hiltonpond.org>
To: CAROLINA BIRDS <carolinabirds@duke.edu>; birdchat@listserv.arizona.edu
<birdchat@listserv.arizona.edu>
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 3:55 PM
Subject: Amazing Bird Attractant


>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.
>
>**********
>