What Kind Of Bird Is This? (bugs, insects, birds, spider)
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Since there isn't a "birds" or "Nature" forum, I figure this would be the next best section to place this in. Someone in here ought to know about them.
Anyway. See the attached grab shots and tell me. What kind of bird is this? Can you tell me anything about them?
I live in the Central Valley, CA and I have to say. These critters are annoying as hell. They are constantly circling around. Their chirp or call or whatever it is drive me up the flipping wall. And these birds are apparently nocturnal and/or 24/7. I hear them flying around and squawking even at night (9PM, 2AM, 5AM, doesn't matter). They skitter around the driveway and sidewalk. You approach them and they run away. Maybe they'll take off. And the minute you go away, they come right back to where they were. Over and over and over.
Is there any way to keep these things away outside a bb gun or .22? I don't want to hurt/kill them. But at the same time, I see them as pests, what with the noise, droppings, and possible nesting in or near my house.
While their cry is piercing, nowhere can I find that they're nocturnal - we've got tons, and while you might hear them after a bit after dark, you certainly don't hear them in the dead of night. The only thing I can think it that it might be breeding season and that might give rise to more night-time activity?
They look like [URL="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/id"]killdeer[/URL].
You can try using predator urine, or let your grass grow out of control because they like short grass. Maybe plant some shrubbery. You might also want to bang pots and pans or make other noise to scatter them.
Thing is, they are really good at controlling insects, some of which carry disease, so you might want to consider that. They eat ticks, mosquitoes, fruit beetles, June beetles, alfalfa beetles, weevils, grasshoppers, spiders, ants, centipedes, and earthworms.
And not for nothing, but they make interesting bird-watching. Probably not what you want to hear, but they are one of the species that, when a predator is near the nest, the parent bird will act like it has a broken wing to draw the predator away from the babies.
Also, they are protected by the Migratory Bird Act, so kindly keep the BB gun in your closet because it is illegal to hunt, pursue, take, hurt, or kill them. Not saying that's what you want to do, but if someone sees you out on your lawn with a BB gun while they are there, they could call the police and then you'd get in trouble.
when a predator is near the nest, the parent bird will act like it has a broken wing to draw the predator away from the babies.
LOL - it's a hoot when they do that. We have tons of them and I'll be walking along with the dogs surrounded by all these "disabled" killdeer who run off a few paces and then look back to make sure we're following. You have to laugh.
Thanks for the info. If they eat bugs, then yes. That's something to consider. I occassionally see frogs and lizards near and around my home and always leave them alone for that reason.
LOL - it's a hoot when they do that. We have tons of them and I'll be walking along with the dogs surrounded by all these "disabled" killdeer who run off a few paces and then look back to make sure we're following. You have to laugh.
LOL! That made my day. I can almost hear the violins. "OOOOH, woe is me! I'm WOUNDED! You see? You see? Do you see? WOUNDED I tell you! Vern, are they looking?"
Killdeer are pretty cool little birds. The "wounded wing" act is to draw you away from their nest. They build their nests on the ground, often in the center of gravel roads, and make them of gravel and small stones. The eggs are speckeled to look like stones too. Hard to see if you do not see the bird on the nest.
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Des-Lab
Since there isn't a "birds" or "Nature" forum, I figure this would be the next best section to place this in. Someone in here ought to know about them.
Anyway. See the attached grab shots and tell me. What kind of bird is this? Can you tell me anything about them?
I live in the Central Valley, CA and I have to say. These critters are annoying as hell. They are constantly circling around. Their chirp or call or whatever it is drive me up the flipping wall. And these birds are apparently nocturnal and/or 24/7. I hear them flying around and squawking even at night (9PM, 2AM, 5AM, doesn't matter). They skitter around the driveway and sidewalk. You approach them and they run away. Maybe they'll take off. And the minute you go away, they come right back to where they were. Over and over and over.
Is there any way to keep these things away outside a bb gun or .22? I don't want to hurt/kill them. But at the same time, I see them as pests, what with the noise, droppings, and possible nesting in or near my house.
I can hear that chirping in my head reading your post.
It never really bothered me, but rest assured that the killdeer (in many parts of Texas this is actually pronounced "KIL-dee") will probably not be so noisy year round. Also rest assured that if they are, they are unlikely to be satisfactorily discouraged by banging pots, big arm gestures or other passive deterrents (if they are living close to people they are generally pretty wise to the carryings on of non-violent humans). An owl decoy may work for a while, but I've never tried one and I seem to see a lot of owl decoys with crows and grackles actually resting on top of them.
I can hear that chirping in my head reading your post.
It never really bothered me, but rest assured that the killdeer (in many parts of Texas this is actually pronounced "KIL-dee") will probably not be so noisy year round. Also rest assured that if they are, they are unlikely to be satisfactorily discouraged by banging pots, big arm gestures or other passive deterrents (if they are living close to people they are generally pretty wise to the carryings on of non-violent humans). An owl decoy may work for a while, but I've never tried one and I seem to see a lot of owl decoys with crows and grackles actually resting on top of them.
Move. They were there first. I can't believe someone would complain that a wild bird is around too much or makes too much noise. Reminds me of the idiots that move to the country and complain the cow patties stink and crickets make too much noise. If you don't enjoy that type of thing don't move there.
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