Sunday, July 6, 2008

July 6 2008

12 - Noon

Noticed that one of my "double-decker" bamboo poles was bending down. Went out and replaced it with a 31' fiberglass JacKite pole. I had spliced two bamboo poles together to make a longer pole, but the bottom one was too small, weak.

Also noticed that a number of the Peregrine JacKites were splitting open at the "breastbone". I suspected this would happen, since I errantly squeezed the fiberfill "guts" and inserted when I put the birds together yesterday. This caused the fill to expand and push the bird open. I pulled the bird apart and reset everything.

Installed one more Peregrine, and used another 31' fiberglass pole. Put this bird up on the center of the eastern most row.

Observations:
1. There were 5-7 Robins on the ground near the western most row when I first arrived.
2. Did not see any Starlings in or near the field. In-fact, I did not see any even in or flying over nearby fields. Only as I was leaving I heard a hawk screeching and then saw the hawk fly by my woods, then 15 Starlings flew east over to the trees across the blueberry field and road. They flew high and wide of the JK's. Other than that, it is remarkably quiet in-terms of evidence of Starlings presence.
3. I learned from the grower a couple days ago, that the field is comprised of 2 blueberry varieties. One ripens early the other later. The western most rows have zero (0) evidence of any signs of ripening. This is the bulk of the total field. The center, short rows have about 1% ripe, with 2% ripening. The eastern most rows have zero (0) evidence of ripening. The reason the squawkers and 2 JK's were put up and started by the grower was because a couple of the center row berries showed evidence of predation.

My concern is that habituation will set in soon if the repellent approaches are not substantially altered, changed or shut down. If all this anti-Starling action is happening this early (pre-ripening), then by the time most of the field is ripe, Starlings will be desensitized.

If the substantial decrease of the presence of Starlings today is due to the JK's and squawkers, that's good. Perhaps just shutting down the squawkers and taking down the JK's for a couple days will be wise. Then we could restart again, and then begin the 50-day plan's schedule.

Reflection:
So this issue now seems to be "at precisely what stage in berry ripening is it wise to start the repellents?" Is it possible to start the Starling repellents too soon?

5-8 pm

Again the number of Starlings is remarkably low. Only saw that flock of 15.

CS

REMEMBER: The Starling is the villain. It is not the grower.

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