@KeLynn having lived through more than a few of these: what they're doing is pooping. In absolutely massive quantities. To the point where it's literally a health hazard.
When I was going to college (in Texas vs. Kentucky, but same phenomenon) they had to put out gas-fired "cannons" that made loud explosions every so often, in the hopes of driving away the enormous flocks of blackbirds that would show up. It didn't work that well.
And the fungus from the bird-poop is airborne, you don't even have to come in contact with it. Nasty stuff and a pretty serious health hazard in urban areas. Sound canons, as well as distress calls of the species you're trying to evict (these are likely grackles and starlings) will help them move along.
The flock itself isn't an issue, per se. But continuous roosting in one spot is not good for nearby humans.
This has been your daily news from a KY bird biologist.
A flock not quite as big as this one has been in a park I go to in Floyd County (I guess about three hours from Owen County) a couple times in the past two months. The sound when they all take flight at once is incredible; the first time I heard it I thought a tree was falling down.
Fortunately there are plenty of unoccupied hills nearby that they also spent time in, so it doesn't seem to have become a public safety issue. I haven't seen them in a couple of weeks, so maybe they've somehow joined up with Owen County's flock?
I've been assuming in a totally uninformed manner that the behavior's got to do with the unusually warm winter.
Wait, why do they want to scare them away? What are they doing?
@KeLynn having lived through more than a few of these: what they're doing is pooping. In absolutely massive quantities. To the point where it's literally a health hazard.
When I was going to college (in Texas vs. Kentucky, but same phenomenon) they had to put out gas-fired "cannons" that made loud explosions every so often, in the hopes of driving away the enormous flocks of blackbirds that would show up. It didn't work that well.
@SeanP oh, and making a deafening racket. But it's the pooping that's the real issue.
@SeanP A Storm of Birdshit
@KeLynn
Some people get histoplasmosis from it and others just go totally batshit.
Fuck, I'd sacrifice Kentucky for a peanut chew
@RonMwangaguhung Have fun swillin Jack daniels, fella.
but where will we get our bourbon?
Yankee retirees do something similar. There's really only one thing you can do about it.
And the fungus from the bird-poop is airborne, you don't even have to come in contact with it. Nasty stuff and a pretty serious health hazard in urban areas. Sound canons, as well as distress calls of the species you're trying to evict (these are likely grackles and starlings) will help them move along.
The flock itself isn't an issue, per se. But continuous roosting in one spot is not good for nearby humans.
This has been your daily news from a KY bird biologist.
A flock not quite as big as this one has been in a park I go to in Floyd County (I guess about three hours from Owen County) a couple times in the past two months. The sound when they all take flight at once is incredible; the first time I heard it I thought a tree was falling down.
Fortunately there are plenty of unoccupied hills nearby that they also spent time in, so it doesn't seem to have become a public safety issue. I haven't seen them in a couple of weeks, so maybe they've somehow joined up with Owen County's flock?
I've been assuming in a totally uninformed manner that the behavior's got to do with the unusually warm winter.