Subject: [Tweeters] pishing
Date: Sep 27 07:39:11 2004
From: Gary Bletsch - garybletsch at yahoo.com


Dear Tweeters,

Some British birders pish. I think they call it
"spishing."

Last summer I birded with a Costa Rican guide who had
a huge repertoire of pishes, squeaks, and even
finger-snaps (for mannakins). In fact, quite a few
birders in tropical countries use these
strategies--but it seems to me that they know when to
pish and when not to, because there are many
situations where these local birders prefer stealth.

I have had moderate success with pishing for birds on
other continents, but I don't think it has worked any
better or worse than it does here. Sometimes the birds
go crazy for pishing, other times they seem to ignore
it, whether one is birding in Sedro-Woolley, Seattle,
or Singapore.

I have found a whistled Pygmy Owl imitation useful in
many places, even where there are no Glaucidium owls.
I figure the birds just think, "Oh, there's some kind
of small owl here, we'd better go check it out."

One other thing that is a lot of fun when it works,
which isn't often--tapping on something to attract
woodpeckers. I have had them fly off in a tiff when I
have done this, but sometimes it works like a charm.
Last summer, a big Pale-billed Woodpecker--close
relative of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker--practically
attacked me when I did this. He probably knew my head
was made of wood.

PS A Western Meadowlark on Minkler Road yesterday
(easte of Sedro-Woolley in Skagit County) was an early arrival.

=====

Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington

garybletsch at yahoo.com




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