Cow birds - 12 month Season

[dougk]

I have been looking for a shotgunning activity during the off season. And I think I might have found the perfect off activity.

In researching the Black Capped Vireo which is endangered I found one of the main reason is cow birds, which are classified as parasites. Cow birds leave their eggs in the Black Capped Vireo nests, these eggs hatch faster than Vireo eggs and the cow bird young take all the food from the Vireo surrogate parents causing the Vireo off spring to starve to death.

Hence, my off season hunting activity is the cow bird. I am going to try it over the next few days as we have a large population of cow birds.

Doug

[Graybeard]

I've been shooting cowbirds on sight for years but apparently my efforts aren't enough. This year we have more cowbirds around here than I've ever seen before. They will lay their eggs in the nest of many different birds here. I do what I can to control their population locally but it seems more help is needed.

[Drilling Man]

  Agreed!  We shoot them here too, all for the same reason you folks do...  Have been for many years too...

  DM

[gypsyman]

Well, gonna show my stupidity here. What's a cow bird? Around here,(in Ohio) we crows, blackbirds, sparrows,grackels,pigieons, doves, and awhole lot more. But none, at least that I can think of, is called a cow bird. I learned about Nixon birds, in Idaho years ago on some elk hunts. But what heck is a cow bird. Thanks in advance-gypsyman

[Graybeard]

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/BNHCOW/

[quickdtoo]

I've got about a dozen of em this year so far.   

Tim

http://www.audubon.org/bird/research/

[Drilling Man]

  QUICK! Shoot that damn thing Graybeard!!!   

  SM

[oleman]

  COWBIRDS

   tear out the breast and start with a roux. Have had many a cow bird gumbo. Down here they flock up in the winter and many times three quick shots with No. 8 shot will kill/cripple  30 or 40 birds. Makes a great pot of gumbo.

     PS. keep this between you and me or they will be as popular as crawfish 

    Oleman
    Baker, La.

[Nimrod71]

I like shooting them with my 22-250.  It really blows them up.  A big puff of white.  I have seen them eat baby quail.  I keep a rifle on the tractor as I cut and bale hay.  Those cow birds are drown to a fresh hay field like ants to sugar.  I have killed dozens in a day.  Haven't thought about eating one, may try that next time.

[dougk]

  COWBIRDS


     PS. keep this between you and me or they will be as popular as crawfish 

    Oleman
    Baker, La.

I was thinking as popular as blackened red fish