State bird of TX is Farmall fan

Dean Olson · Jul 12, 2012

My new battery box came in for my SH and was going to get it in the shop to replace it.

BUT

I have a very persistent mocking bird who is a big IH fan. I've removed the start of her nest from above the fan blades several times before she laid any eggs.

I guess I'll just wait till she's done.

Anybody have any idea how long the gestation period of a Mocking bird is?

CNKS · Jul 12, 2012

Mocking bird is the TX state bird? I grew up in TX, left in 1967. I always thought it was the Turkey Buzzard. I would just toss the nest, that bird is not exactly an endangered species. A couple of starlings (I think) insist on building their mud nests in the upper corners of my patio and front porch and pooping on the concrete. I pull them down several times each summer. If I had a shotgun they would be dead the first time I see them.

GordoSD · Jul 12, 2012

Barn swallows were nesting in my shop. Pooping on vehcles and tractors. Got the Red Ryder out and with a ricochet BB off the 12 foot white steel ceiling, knocked an eight foot florecent light to the concrete. What a mess.

SweetFeet · Jul 12, 2012

GordoSD,
We always think they are worth the poo... since they eat at least their body weight in bugs each day (especially skeeters - we hate skeeters).

SweetFeet · Jul 12, 2012

Dean O,

Neat photo. Cool that you're going to let them hatch since it is not just a sparrow or starling nest.

Dean Olson · Jul 12, 2012

She's safe from me. But that's not a great place to avoid the cats.

I've been looking for an excuse to get after the feral cats around here. Counted 12 different ones the other day. My neighbor feeds all the strays.

My rat,mouse,snake populations are low but my bluebirds,cardinals etc. are gone since they showed up.

Kippster · Jul 12, 2012

Was told by more than one old timer that if Swallows nested in your barn it would never burn. How much truth there is to that I'm not sure but those old guys got pretty near everything right so far as I can tell.

Kippster

Anonymous-0 · Jul 13, 2012

You'll shoot your eye out!

IH fan · Jul 13, 2012

(quoted from post at 22:40:48 07/12/12) Was told by more than one old timer that if Swallows nested in your barn it would never burn. How much truth there is to that I'm not sure but those old guys got pretty near everything right so far as I can tell. Kippster

When Dad had dairy cows, there was always at least one barn swallow nest in the barn. I shot a lot of sparrows with a BB gun as a kid, but if I'd shot one of those swallows, I think I would have been missing one BB gun.

Tom Fleming · Jul 13, 2012

Barn Swallows are a sign of good luck according to the local PA Dutch folks and my grandma. She always welcomed them on the farm, and we put up with the mess..........we had a pair on the side porch every year and a mess they did make........and lastly, they are hell on wheels for insects.

GordoSD · Jul 13, 2012

OK guys. You have convinced me to not shoot any. I really didn't want to kill them anyway. As a formewr fighter pilot I have watched them fly and they are extremely aerobatic. I think the only bird that flys nearly inverted.
I keep the smaller roll up door open about a foot during the afternoon hours. (Faces west).
They learned to swoop udeneath it, go vertical in a foot or two to miss the back of the Tahoe, then do a 90 degree left roll and and 90 degree immelman to miss the ceiling. Hell . the Blue Angels can't do that trick.
PS. They have three other nesting sites under the eaves and under the dog kennel lean-to.

Tom Fleming · Jul 13, 2012

If you really want to go soft, watch for 3-4 small heads with big eyes peering out of the nest waiting for momma or poppa to return with dinner. The young 'uns sit quietly, in a row, barely moving until one of the 'rents returns, then it is pandamonium! Actually, quite comical.....

sflem849 · Jul 13, 2012

I could stand to shoot some swallows, too. I'm with Gordo. They are fine until the start _____ing on the hood of my truck and I have a pile 6" high on a tractor. I can't seal my shed up, but I think my next trick is going to be stapling (sp???) plastic to the underside of the trusses to keep them out of the rafters.

BoonvilleKid · Jul 13, 2012

Dean, you'll have to remember not to park your tractor in the same location.....mocking birds nest in the same location year after year. You'll find them a delight. If you're good at whistling, blast out any birds song and they'll repeat it.

State bird of TX is Farmall fan

Dean Olson

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CNKS

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GordoSD

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SweetFeet

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SweetFeet

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Dean Olson

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Kippster

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Anonymous-0

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IH fan

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Tom Fleming

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GordoSD

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Tom Fleming

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sflem849

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BoonvilleKid

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