When my sons received their air rifles at age 10, I gave them strict instructions to shoot all english sparrows and starlings that showed up on our Sinking Valley property. I fiqured that was a more likely to be followed rule, than telling them what not to shoot. (I was tempted to include brown headed cowbirds given their disgusting habits, but I was afraid the boys would include any bird that was black on their target list). Decades later we still rarely see either of these invaders !
Interesting. They most likely pass knowledge about threats through generations, as crows do. One reason so many in Tyrone = no shooting. But I think BH Cowbirds are the bigger threat given direct nest predation. BTW, do you have any House Wrens over there this year? All ours disappeared...
When my sons received their air rifles at age 10, I gave them strict instructions to shoot all english sparrows and starlings that showed up on our Sinking Valley property. I fiqured that was a more likely to be followed rule, than telling them what not to shoot. (I was tempted to include brown headed cowbirds given their disgusting habits, but I was afraid the boys would include any bird that was black on their target list). Decades later we still rarely see either of these invaders !
Interesting. They most likely pass knowledge about threats through generations, as crows do. One reason so many in Tyrone = no shooting. But I think BH Cowbirds are the bigger threat given direct nest predation. BTW, do you have any House Wrens over there this year? All ours disappeared...