Using Predator call on birds - yes BIRDS!

[suttoman]

I was at my favorite place in the desert about two weeks ago - doing stump shooting and looking for rabbits.   We have lots of foxes in Australia, but I have not seen any out in the desert town where I currently live.

I did the rabbit distress call (I purse my lips and place them against the palm of my hand, as I suck in air), and immediately two Butcher Birds flew straight into the tree above me.   These are an Australian bird who have a reputation for being aggressive.   When they catch a snake or lizard, or other bird, they impale them on a barbed-wire fence or thorn bush.  That softens them up a bit and gets them ready for the Coupe De Grace.

They sat there and looked at me for ages, wondering where the wounded rabbit was for them to pounce on.   I was very surprised that birds would come to that call.

Well - today I was at my same spot shooting my wonderful J/J Firefly bow.  I saw a raptor fly over-head.   I remembered what happened the other day, so decided to do my predator call again.   It was like magic.   Immediately the Hawk (or maybe a Falcon), did a huge U turn in the sky and swept very close over my head (only about six feet above me), and landed in the adjacent tree.

It was wonderful to see such a beautiful bird up close.   I was amazed that it reacted so dramatically to the predator call.   I have never seen this recorded or reported on before.

Sorry about the terrible photos - I only had my cell-phone with me.

Is this an Australian thing, or do you lads have the same experience in the States?   Tell me about it please.

Sutto

PS - can some kind soul please put up my pick's for me - still haven't figured that part out yet!


 http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l167/suttoman/2013-06-30165126.jpg

 http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l167/suttoman/2013-06-30171910.jpg

 http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l167/suttoman/2013-06-30171922.jpg

[Charlie Lamb]

Yep, it works here as well. All kinds of birds will respond to a varmint call. Our common Blue Jay is really a sucker for it.
Some times birds will follow a predator to the call, raising a ruckus all the way.

[suttoman]

Oh wow - thanks Charlie.   It was a phenomenon I had never heard of before.   Never too old to learn ha?

Sutto

[Timberking]

Suttoman,
I've called in many birds while calling Coyotes and Cats. Almost every set I do I see Eagles, Hawks, Owls, Crows etc. We have a little black and white bird here called the black capped chick-a-dee that will come into calls too. Sometimes I'll have half a dozen of the little fellas sitting around me on branches.  

[slivrslingr]

Sutto, nice pics!  Here's a quick tutorial to post a pic.

Since you can get the photos into Photobucket, posting them is easy.  

Hover your cursor over the photo you want to post.

A gear icon will appear in the upper righthand corner, move your cursor over that icon.

A drop down menu will appear, click on "get links".  

Move your cursor to the bottom choice, IMG Codes, it will start with [URL.

Click on that line of code, it will flash yellow and say "copied".

Go back to TG and the box where you would type the text for a post and put your cursor where you want to the photo to go, right click or hit edit and then click "paste", the line of code will show up and your pic is now posted.

[Brianlocal3]

 
 

[ishoot4thrills]

I like it when bunches of crows come to my rabbit distress calls. I believe it makes for better calling because predators feel safer coming in to a situation where smart birds are comfortable being close by looking for the "wounded" animal.

[BDann]

I've had hawks come in several times while calling, and crows are pretty curious too.  I had a couple of owls come in one time and just about got my head.  Scared me pretty good!

[suttoman]

Slivrs - thanks heaps for taking the time to explain all of that.  I have cut and pasted that for next time.

Sutto

[Goshawkin]

I've had hawks and crows come in pretty close while calling. Chickadees,Titmice and catbirds all get pretty worked up from calling as well.I've had bunches of them hopping around just inches from me while I'm hunting.