[Spanky-spangler]

A good fishing catapult and using skittle sweets as ammo would help then.

This is probably the best safest option.

I forgot to say, another neighbour told me yesterday, the crows have disconnected his tv ariel twice which results in paying someone to get up on roof to reconnect it. A third neighbour has had to wrap his wiper blades in mesh to prevent them getting to them.

 

[Spanky-spangler]

Fookin clever crows if they can destroy your car while sitting on a neighbour's fence.

They're smart birds.

 

[saxavordian]

Predator birds like crow family watch what you do. I have the odd rat waltzing about, yet I could do with a crow or two. Just pigeons doves and generally standard little tits.

 

[Spanky-spangler]

This was 2 minutes ago. Such a temptation.

 

[GrumpyGel]

Over here, its these that do all the damage...

Kea, they are the most amazing animal.

Not the most beautiful, but they are awesome and the world's only alpine Parrot.

 

[Spanky-spangler]

Over here, its these that do all the damage...

View attachment 343610

View attachment 343611

Kea, they are the most amazing animal.

Not the most beautiful, but they are awesome and the world's only alpine Parrot.

I would hazzard a guess and say they do far more damage than crows. I know in certain parts of London, Paraquets are the hooligan bird due to their numbers.

 

[hughdavies]

I would have my airgun out. larrsen traps work well, leave it till dark to remove them so the others dont see, change the call bird every few days.

 

[Spanky-spangler]

I would have my airgun out. larrsen traps work well, leave it till dark to remove them so the others dont see, change the call bird every few days.

I have considered a larsen trap but for it to be effective, it would need to be at front of house and i know someone would release the bird.

i bought another wiper blade earlier from Halfrauds so will see how long it lasts.

 

[Hicap phill]

I have considered a larsen trap but for it to be effective, it would need to be at front of house and i know someone would release the bird.

i bought another wiper blade earlier from Halfrauds so will see how long it lasts.

Smother them in laxatives. The neighbours will moan about the crap and you have a solution…

 

[saxavordian]

Interesting I put some rotten grapes out for the birdies. Naturally Mr and Mrs Rat wanted to get in the act. Then I noticed a young rat also making three what I can see. Now the fun part was a pigeon reaction normally was to move around or away. To my surprise when watching the pigeon actually challenges the rats one by one. Youngster and family later on was scared off by the pigeon flaring it's wings
So I taking it method stood stark naked flaring my arms in a the same pigeon motion.
Unfortunately not all neighbours around here were amused by my antics and the police was involved.

 

[Spanky-spangler]

Smother them in laxatives. The neighbours will moan about the crap and you have a solution…

I know everyone (there is only eight houses on my road) will be suffering with damage to some degree but i guess some people just accept it.

 

[GrumpyGel]

I would hazzard a guess and say they do far more damage than crows. I know in certain parts of London, Paraquets are the hooligan bird due to their numbers.

They are me fave animal. They are cheeky, naughty, inquisitive and exceedingly clever. They are well known as destructive and thieves!

At work I check campervans between hires and 1 of the checks is that the armour we put on the roof wiring (solar), specifically for Kea damage, is in tact.

I went up to Arthurs Pass last winter to fix the heating on a camper. We made a bit of a trip our of it and while I fixed the camper, Mrs Grumpy, Ms Grumpy and Ruby (the Springer) went to the cafe. Ms Grumpy went inside to get the hot chocolates while Mrs Grumpy sat at a table outside... watching a Kea hop between the seat backs. When Ms Grumpy came back with the drinks she saw a Kea taking notice of her and covered the marshmellows supplied with the drinks thinking the Kea would nick them... but the Kea made a B line for her and while she protected the marshmellows, it made off with the crisps she'd bought

Tramping is a big thing over here. There are 100's of tracks and 1,000's of huts you can stay in. Many of these are in Kea territory and you need to be careful what you leave laying around outside. They will be off with drying tea towels, nick the show laces out of boots... This family thought it would be a good idea to film them with the GoPro...

 

[J_D]

You can legally take crow and magpie under General Licence.
Just stick a bit of rape or some fruit trees next to it

I'm sure they need to be damaging to crops to do that.

 

[Freddie17]

I'm sure they need to be damaging to crops to do that.

Yes.
Or for the protection of certain wild birds.
Hence the slightly tongue-in-cheek “stick some rape or fruit tress next to it”.

 

[Hicap phill]

Have you tried to put a white plastic bag over the wipers?
(If I remember crows when the hatch have white feathers when born & until they turn black,crows won’t feed them)
Theory may mean they leave white things alone

 

[Freddie17]

Have you tried to put a white plastic bag over the wipers?
(If I remember crows when the hatch have white feathers when born & until they turn black,crows won’t feed them)
Theory may mean they leave white things alone

The OP is welcome to borrow some of my decoys.
Crows tend to complete ignore them, too

 

[resto_d1]

Ensure you’re on the right side of the law. I personally this GL42 is insane but still work to it.
I’ve got a perm where an elderly lady with hip replacement has her paths and tractors decorated by pigeons. Piles and piles of sh!t.
She no longer has livestock so currently the only things I can drop are the ferals.
Once her fields are bailed and the hay is in, the woodies are fair game. It’s insane.
I’ve got jackdaws that damage my roof and shred my apple tree - they’re a bit easier on the licence to justify.
I’ve attached this years GL for your reference

 

[kernowsvenski]

@GrumpyGel that Kea looks amazing. Sort of a cross between a Parrot and a Falcon. Can they be trained/kept such?

 

[GrumpyGel]

@GrumpyGel that Kea looks amazing. Sort of a cross between a Parrot and a Falcon. Can they be trained/kept such?

They're highly protected and there's a lot of work going on to build their numbers back up.

Their numbers have been badly affected by rats (brought over by Maori & Europeans) and stoats (by Europeans).

I'm sure it's illegal to keep them in captivity (outside of a santuary/zoo).

San Diego Zoo (used to?) do an 'exhibit' showing off their cleverness (training).

 

[Spanky-spangler]

The OP is welcome to borrow some of my decoys.
Crows tend to complete ignore them, too

I already have a stack of crow decoys. When i used shoot them, i used to put egg shells and kitchen waste amongst them to lure them in. Always wanted to try mirrors but sadly that would be illegal.

The cardboard i had on rear window must have blew off in the wind last night as it was gone when i left to go to work at 3.00am and when i got home (you couldn't make this up) there was a huge crow sitting on rear wiper pecking at it. The front and rear nearside windows showed signs of crow attack.

Im really getting fed up now.