Notable dates in a newbie's SFG...

Mid-March: discover ANSFG, read ravenously
Late March: determine location and materials for my SFG
4/7: discover ANSFG forums, read ravenously
4/9: construct SFG
4/16: acquire materials for MM, fill beds, install grids
4/19: begin planting seeds
4/21: at home sick, look out window, see crows picking up bits of peat moss from SFG
4/22-23: periodic visits to window to grumble and mutter at crows, occasionally punctuated by opening window to discourage said crows, followed by coughing, closing the window and returning to sofa or bed
4/24: trip to garden supply store, install bird netting and consider acquisition of slingshot

Sound familiar, anyone? ;-)

Awww, poor M! You will feel so much better if you get the slingshot or a paint ball. I am told that crows are a protected species because of some treaty we have with Mexico but have never checked into that. It sounds just weird enough to be true.

I have a small rat terrier who hates crows. I tell him, "RUDY, get that crow!" and he goes shooting out the doggie door in an indignant huff chasing off all black birds. Sometimes they just float up to the nearest roof top and laugh at him. Other times they head for the hills. Either way, even though they are bigger than he is, they still stay away though the damage to my peas is already done, it is still a small comfort to me.

Welcome to ANSFG (took me a moment to figure out the AN part).
Deborah....another rainy side gardener

MCard, my gardening adventure is very similar to yours. I don't have crows yet, but I have robins and squirrels and chipmunks. My defense is a grumpy old geezer poodle. It's about time he earned his keep!

4/11- Buy ANSFG Book and read cover to cover
4/15- Amend existing raised beds w/MM. Plant 16 tomato plants and 9 zucchini plants
4/18- Convince best friends with huge yard to share a SFG with us
4/20- Construct (4) 4x8 beds with neat trellis arch over center aisle. Fill with MM in the dark
4/21- Plant half a box of potatoes and 16 tomato plants IN THE RAIN! Lightning sends us inside.
4/22- RAINS
4/23- RAINS!
4/24- RAINS!!!
4/25- MORE FREAKIN' RAIN!!!!
I think it will be clear tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed, because Wednesday....you guessed it....MORE RAIN!!!

Welcome to ANSFG (took me a moment to figure out the AN part).
Deborah....another rainy side gardener[/quote]

It took me a while to figure it out as well LOL
I can't sleep well at night thinking about the lonely deer coming to my garden...I do feel a bit guilty as I hit its brother/sister deer...well actually, IT hit MY car but I still feel guilty.

Poor Pelujilla, I'm so sorry that deer hit your car.

Are you OK? Deer on the road can cause a lot of car damage and injuries.

As much as I might feel a bit of guilt and sympathy for the deer on the road,
I'm afraid I have NONE for deer in my garden.

MCard wrote:4/21: at home sick, look out window, see crows picking up bits of peat moss from SFG
4/22-23: periodic visits to window to grumble and mutter at crows, occasionally punctuated by opening window to discourage said crows, followed by coughing, closing the window and returning to sofa or bed

Are you the one that gave me this nasty nasty cold?

Sorry you are sick, makes life miserable, doesn't it? Feel better soon, and glad you got some deterrent for the crows. Like Lavender Debs said, Paintballs!

Lavender Debs wrote: I am told that crows are a protected species

You are correct!!!
American Crows are protected under the Migratory bird act of 1918. American Crow
They live in family groups, are very smart and fascinating to watch.

sorry mr whomeever department ya work for, not my fault 10 crow jus happen ta fly inta the flight path of the bullet that was aimed at that squarrell in that tree its not squarrell season either ?? OOOPPS.........


boog

not amused

not likly ta happen anyways, crows are few an far between here. the other 20+ veriatys more than make up for what the crows dont do. 2 legged and 4 legged.



boog

They are protected by the Migratory bird act. However,

In the United States it is legal to hunt crows in all states usually from around August to the end of March and anytime if they are causing a nuisance or health hazard. There is no bag limit when taken during the "crow hunting season." According to the US Code of Federal Regulations, crows may be taken without a permit in certain circumstances. USFWS 50 CFR 21.43 (Depredation order for blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles, crows and magpies) states that a Federal permit is not required to control these birds "when found committing or about to commit depredations upon ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in such numbers and manner as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance."

They are implicated to carry and spread the west nile virus to humans. I say get the slingshot.

Bayou Life wrote:
They are implicated to carry and spread the west nile virus to humans.

Do you have an informational link about this? Please post, thanks.

Mcard most of our threads do not go this direction. I am sorry about making a joke about a living creature who is only trying to feed itself. Your original post was lighthearted and fun. Tension seems to be growing and it is NOT anything you posted. I see that your post count has not gone up since posting on this thread. I so hope we have not scared you off.

Hoping to talk peas and carrots and harmony with all of God's creation.
Deborah... thinking she should think before she laughs at something.

Are you the one that gave me this nasty nasty cold?

Sorry you are sick, makes life miserable, doesn't it? Feel better soon, and glad you got some deterrent for the crows. Like Lavender Debs said, Paintballs!

This darn stuff has been going around, hasn't it... I thought I'd escaped it when it was running rampant in the office two months ago, but apparently not.

It was nice to be out on Saturday when we finally had a glimpse of what spring truly is, and I think probably did the cold some good too.

And to L Debs -- not to worry, I'm still around!

Camprn,

I lifted that line from the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries. The state has asked us for the past few years to report any bird found dead, crows being one of the species in particular, for testing of the virus. If you are located in an area with no mosquitoes then the risk goes down. For us, it's a reality. They also keep up with the spread of the virus by placing chicken coops around the unpopulated areas in the parish. The virus doesn't kill the chickens.

I did a search on "crows and west nile" and this report from 2007 was the first that popped up. Not much, that I'm aware of, has changed since then.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070814135646.htm

You are right, they are indeed highly intelligent. I spend lots of time in the woods or on the bayou, so I have plenty of time to watch them. Their problem solving ability is amazing to say the least.

Being from an agricultural town nicknamed 'Sugar City', I can factually say that they are also highly destructive. No, I don't hate them. No, I don't go out looking to exterminate them. I simply will not allow them in my garden.

Guys,

I did not mean for my post to cause tension or controversy. All I intended to do was state facts, to which I can not apologize for. If it offended anyone, it surely was not meant to. If it brought the thread down, well that I CAN apologize for.

MCard, I'm truly sorry if I took the mojo out of your thread.

On the upside, at least all the rain since Sunday has kept the crows from continuing their assault on my peat moss! I think the netting is also proving to be a good install, too.