Turkey vultures acting strange!

[OccamsTazer]

Hm, I just had another thought. Can one deter a predatory bird with a shotgun full of rock salt? I'd think that unless you were profoundly unlucky and damaged the poor bird's eyes, it wouldn't harm him.
It would hurt like the dickens, make him furious, and then maybe he'd never ever come back?
I'd much rather pizz him off than kill him.
Has anybody tried this?

 

[dacjohns]

Quote:
You might want to research the laws regarding migratory and other birds. I believe a shotgun full of rock salt would come under harming the animal.

 

[bigstack]

I am so sorry for your Loss!

I have been yelled at for this befor BUT, If ANYTHING or ANYONE (protected or not) is threatening me, my family, or my property (animals included) They are Not going to see the next sunrise!!!

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Well you will have a hard time protecting your family, if you are setting in a jail cell for shooting a bird. Yes many have been send to jail for killing bird of prey.

Trouble with this kind of thinking, killing turkey vultures because you think they will kill chicken. Would be very rare , for them to kill.

 

[BlackBart]

Never had a problem with Turkey Vultures, they mostly eat the roadkill. But Bald Eagles can be a big problem and Ravens. The Ravens carry off young birds, then eat them in a tree nearby. Bald Eagles carry off full grown birds.
A Bald Eagle last year carried off somebody's big red Rooster and flew it up to his nest of chicks. It was all recorded on the video camera pointed at the nest. Took one day for him to be consumed.

I didn't want to shoot the birds of prey, just deter them, so I solved the problem using a homemade slingshot. I have a case of stale Jujubes (don't ask) and they make the perfect bullet.
Even if I hit one (which be like winning the Lotto, highly unlikely) it wouldn't hurt them too much. Now if I even point the slingshot at the Ravens they take off squawking.

 

[Daidohead]

I have a Turkey Vulture roost right next to my house and have never had even a small problem with them and my Ladies. The only thing that does concern me is that my Roo's are so used to seeing large birds flying by they don't warn the girls anymore. I do see Red Tails flying with the vultures quite often.

 

[gottsegnet]

I don't like this thread. We have turkey vultures everywhere and I've never been concerned about them. One flew in today quite low and I ran out thinking it was a hawk but as soon as I got outside, I realized it was a turkey vulture so I went in and didn't worry about it.

They circle around here all the time. They roost not too far away and our neighbors are constantly firing off something to scare them off. I hear a shot and then see half a dozen turkey vultures take to the air.

Maybe try something loud? But check with local laws. Sometimes "harassment" is illegal and that can include disturbing them in any manner.

 

[sommrluv]

I've seen turkey vultures attack small animals. Is spring coming a little late where you are? Maybe they are hungry.

If you call your local wildlife center to get permission to kill those birds protected under that old law. It's normally a very simple process.

Jail? Hmmm. Sounds very unlikely to me as there is already a system in place (fines)

 

[rittert3]

I saw a red tailed hawk "sharing" a road killed coon with three turkey vultures the other day and when my car spooked the vultures the hawk fallowed. So it kind of made me think maybe they are more similar than I thought.

 

[zazouse]

Those vultures are in cohoots with the hawks, they fly around trying to give a flock a false sence of security, then the hawk will come in and try to catch one in the open, If they get one they can't carry they leave the left overs to the vultures.