The Vulture Menace

Whatever...just get it on film!!!

 

How has the tree-banging been working? Just today I noticed vultures taking up residence behind the pool across Claiborne from the Nature Center. They're in the trees and on the roofs of the townhouses next to mine. The trees they are in are really big (much taller than the townhouses) so I don't know how much anyone could shake them. What's the contact info for the person who is helping you?

 

From the reports I have received from the residents the tree banging is working and there have been less and less vultures. You do not actually have to shake the tree to make this work. All you need to do is make loud noises around the base of the trees that the vultures are on. Hitting the tree with a stick, clapping your hands banging wood together even just yelling in the area. The best time to do this is at dusk as this is the time of day they decide where they are spending the night and thus where they will sun themselves in the morning. The person who I have talked to at the USDA is Dage Blixt but if they have just started to show up in the area this is the advice he will give you. If you have any questions please feel free to email me.
Staci

 

Actually, I think you all have made them mad! They've gone and gotten all their family and friends. There were TONS flying around Autumnwood just now.

 

You may have seen them when someone hit the trees. They scatter everywhere. The last few mornings I've seen 0-3 maybe on the roofs (but the weather could be affecting that). Still the same amounts (roughly) in the evenings when we bang on the trees however. We still have a good 10 days or so of this to see if its really working. So far I think its is.

 

Nope. It was around 3:30. There were quite a lot in the trees tonight. They are coming back after you are disturbing them, but hopefully, choosing a different sunning spot in the mornings.

 

Yep, we know. They have been back every evening. The intent is to annoy them enough that they leave altogether. We'll see!

 

10 minutes ago counted 28 flying from your area southeast. It was quite a spectacle! They must be roosting somewhere else for the evening.

 

Driving into work this morning I noticed a dead deer along Waxpool Road.
A group of our fine feathered friends were enjoying their version of a Thanksgiving feast!

 

Saw a large group of them on the playground at Hillside yesterday around 11:45 a.m.
About a year ago I saw them regularly on the houses in Carisbrook that back or side to Waxpool Road.

 

I don't know why everyone is so surprised to see groups of vultures. We have so much diverse wildlife around here, we really should be thankful and enjoy it. After all, we are supposed to be a Community Wildlife Community. And the group we are seeing really isn't that large. They sometimes get up to 500 or more.

 

Sorry, but I disagree. I don't enjoy wildlife ripping up my roof, hacking up hairballs on my deck and pooping out #2 that is caustic enough to damage paint on cars. There were not here the first 8 or so years I've been in my house and they don't need to be here now. One way or another we're getting rid of these pests.

 

Totally agree. I'm fine with the vultures eating and barfing up roadkill and lurking in trees all day, but they can do it in the nature center, not my yard.

 

Unfortunately, they are not going away, they are just moving to a different part of the neighborhood. They are now being sighted atop the townhouses backing to the Greenway near Waxpool.

 

If they are showing up in another section, please work with your neighbors to go out and scare the vultures out in the morning and evenings.

 

I saw two large groups of them devouring 2 dead deer on Waxpool, right at the overpass to the Greenway today. Perhaps that is why they have taken up roost there.

 

"Seeing" them is okay but I'm glad I don't have them hanging out on top of my house or in my driveway. I imagine that's a difficult co-existence.

 

It IS difficult! They've ripped our gutter guard off in the front and back and I am sure there are damaged shingles up there too. Don't get me started on their hairballs and poo! I wish they'd just stay in the trees and off the houses....if they did that, I'd have NO problem with them.

 

As construction continues to take away their habitat I'm sure it will continue to be an issue.