Black Vultures Roosting Near Barn

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@Wanderosa - well, the article posted up thread, and the ones I have found searching for methods of deterring them, say otherwise concerning the Black Vulture specifically. It is different from other vultures, and does not just eat dead animals. Here are a few of the articles I’ve been reading:

https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/indiana/black-vultures-are-eating-cows-alive-in-indiana-but-its-difficult-to-legally-kill-the-birds/417-573621329

https://www.apnews.com/1e599a52651145bbb885a1224c060452

https://www.rfdtv.com/story/32375001/ky-buzzards-turn-from-scavengers-to-predators

Evidently, these birds are a real problem in a number of states - and have significantly increased their range over the past two decades. I really feel for these farmers in all these articles.

[clanter]

@4LeafCloverFarm

Any ideas?

red lasers

https://www.uaex.edu/environment-nature/wildlife/black-vulture-control.aspx

Black vultures that have been allowed to occupy a roost for an extended time are more difficult to drive away. For established roosts, USDA Wildlife Services recommends using laser pointers or pyrotechnics.

all else fails cut the tree down

[endlessclimb]

First I’d try the BB gun, really pepper them with it. I’d give this exactly three tries.

Then, I’d use the 3 Ss with a .22 and be done. Screw messing around with animals that could decide your dogs or cats or any small animal look tasty.

[clanter]

maybe get a drone then fly it up there to pester them,

[4LeafCloverFarm]

I did find one interesting tidbit in all my reading last night - Black Vultures do not build nests! They “nest” in a thicket or under a natural overhang of rock or in a hollow fallen tree, etc. on the ground. How odd is that? So no worry about them building a nest in the tree.

Never thought of use a laser pointer. I actually have one around here somewhere from my years of teaching.

Heckle and Jeckle were not in the tree last night at horse feeding time (around 5PM) or later at bed check, as they had been the previous few evenings and they weren’t wandering around my yard, on the ground like they were on Wed - totally unphased by me (which I found kind of creepy).

We have a mini drone my husband got for Christmas. I think that’s a great idea @clanter . Now if I can just figure out how to control it well enough to actually target something specific.

[clanter]

Now if I can just figure out how to control it well enough to actually target something specific.

my son has several drones… see if your husband’s has a follow the target mode… our son can set his to follow a horse (target) or whatever at a specific distance and it will keep at unless it gets outside of specific range

[Where_sMyWhite]

@4LeafCloverFarm

The Hackberry tree in question is a good 40-50 feet tall, so I’m thinking my husband isn’t going to be keen with me trying to trim branches on a 30’ extension ladder (and frankly, neither am I).

If you decide to go this route, use a certified arborist (licensed, bonded, insured). A certified arborist will have access to a truck with a bucket which is what should be used to prune a tree that large

No, do not use an extension ladder and saw to prune yourself… not a good idea on so many different levels.

Hope they have decided to move on from your hackberry.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Not to worry @Where’sMyWhite , I thankfully am of an age where I have no suicidal tenancies! lol Hauling a chainsaw up a 30’ extension ladder is not something I would attempt – trust me!

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@clanter

my son has several drones… see if your husband’s has a follow the target mode… our son can set his to follow a horse (target) or whatever at a specific distance and it will keep at unless it gets outside of specific range

I don’t think it’s that fancy. It was a “haha” type of Christmas gift. Kind of like my gold sequins slippers the year before. lol

[clanter]

@4LeafCloverFarm

I don’t think it’s that fancy. It was a “haha” type of Christmas gift. Kind of like my gold sequins slippers the year before. lol

tape laser pointer to it than fly up to show the birdies the light

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@clanter

tape laser pointer to it than fly up to show the birdies the light

:lol:

[Stonewall]

Hook up a lawn sprinkler to your excellent water pressured hose. Then affix it to the tree, aiming it for where the vultures regularly roost. Turn it on whenever you see them roosting. Bonus if the sprinkler has moving parts.

The birds get irritated and leave. Your tree gets watered. Repeat if they return.

Cheap. Effective. Safe.

(Retired wildlife biologist)

[Where_sMyWhite]

@4LeafCloverFarm

Hauling a chainsaw up a 30’ extension ladder is not something I would attempt – trust me!

:eek: :lol:

That mental image is just downright scary

[cutter99]

@Wanderosa

Vultures are scavengers. They won’t bother anything alive. They also lack the powerful talons and sharp beaks typical of raptors.

Black vultures will come after live animals. I am in Middle TN as well, and ran into a neighbor this week, who recently had a calf killed by them. It is a known problem among farmers here, and we watch our livestock closely because of it.

[cutter99]

@4LeafCloverFarm

Not to worry @Where’sMyWhite , I thankfully am of an age where I have no suicidal tenancies! lol Hauling a chainsaw up a 30’ extension ladder is not something I would attempt – trust me!

Not sure where you are in Middle TN, but I am too. I have a neighbor who does great tree work for a reasonable price, has all the right equipment, and is licensed and insured, if you need a recommendation.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@cutter99 I’m in eastern Rutherford County, and my property backs up to the Cannon Country line (I’m closer to Woodbury than Murfreesboro). Not sure if that is close to you or not. We do have a few tree related projects we need to take care of, so if your neighbor ventures my direction, a recommendation would be great. Just message me the info.

Sorry about your neighbors calf. What a horrible way for a cute little calf to die. My neighbors Angus calve in the late fall. After all the reading I did about calves and lambs and kids, etc. killed by these birds, I wonder if births really late in the year helps avert deaths by the black vultures, since they migrate - maybe they are gone by then?

[Wanderosa]

Weird. We have tons of black vultures here (definitely not turkey vultures). Never had a problem with one attacking a live animal. Maybe because we have such an overpopulation problem with deer and subsequent deer vs vehicle collisions that there’s enough carrion that they don’t attack sick animals?

I’m going to sound like a jacka$$ for saying this. But as a farmer who works hard to care for stock, I don’t think much of farmers like those in those articles that knowing leave injured stock out to fend for themselves. Guy knew the cow had a “back problem” and left it out there knowing full well that something could get it? If not vultures; a neighbor’s dogs, coy-wolves, etc. And the guy who claims to have lost 3 bulls? That didn’t happen in a day. There wouldn’t be an ominous flock of buzzards around my herd for several days because I would’ve been out there the minute I saw buzzards to see what was going on.

Honestly? If I were you I would follow the 3 S’s of country living and shoot, shovel, and shut up. None of my neighbors would turn you in for it. Or pay the $100 for a license and do it. Why spend 10 or 20x that much for tree work, lasers, etc when it’s a potentially dangerous nuisance animal?

[cutter99]

@4LeafCloverFarm, sent you a pm!

[4LeafCloverFarm]

:lol: Thanks for the 3 S’s definition. I had no idea what it meant when someone used that term earlier in the thread. I didn’t want to look dumb and ask - I actually thought it was some sort of gun or bullet I wasn’t familiar with! LOL

Like I’ve said, I have no interest in killing them and I actually couldn’t if it came down to that. If I was shaking and in tears trying to kill a rattlesnake, I doubt killing a majestic bird would be any easier.

I’m not counting my chickens just yet, but Heckle and Jeckle were absent again this evening. I don’t want to jinx it by saying they’ve moved along just yet. but my fingers are crossed. But I am practicing with our little mini drone just in case. I’m still not very good at it. I wish I had a child - they could probably be an expert at it in 2 minutes!

[betonbill]

That reminds me of a story I heard about black vultures. Many years ago Disney World’s resort area became a large scale roosting place for black vultures. As one would imagine, this very large flock of birds did not fit the Disney image. Employees from their little zoo stepped in and tried everything they could think of to dissuade the birds, but they kept coming back. Eventually they “mysteriously disappeared.”

I do believe that the park received a fine/reprimand from Fish and Wildlife. It was also reported in the Orlando newspapers and was quite the scandal at the time.