Evening star., 1947-10-14
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,Deu

BETHESDA, Md.
Dear Sir:
What do you think of this plan I have
heard about OF putting some Of these toy
snakes to drive pigeons away?
Il read>about 1t some place, but haven't seen
anything in your column about this matter
so am holding of my purchase OF the snakes
will the use of these toys drive other birds
away, too?
Where should the snakes be placed, If one
merely wishes to drive away the pigeons with
out chasing OF the good birds3
Sincerely, J. H. L."
= =
Green toy snakes as pigeon chasers are
fraud and delusion.
We tried them out recently. with high hopes
Two neat specimens, comparatively realistic
looking, were put down on the ground by the
maple tree.
This is favorite feeding places for all our
birds. Sometimes we use a feeding station
there, and sometimes merely throw the grain
and seed on the ground.
Generations Of birds now have found this
a good place to come They not only have the
tree branches to perch on, but shrubbery, in
cluding lilacs, to hide in, in case OF intrusion
The garage roof close by also affords them
shelter and perching place. 1t is to the latter
that the pigeons come.
Usually they line up along the hip roof of
the garage, and peer over at the feeding small
plfos peloW oe1ore tney come down.
The day we placed the toy snakes on the
ground close to the food, two pigeons flew from
a nearby house and alighted on the garage
roof.
They looked over, rs usual, before flying
down.
We were hopeful that when they saw the
green monsters, writhing below they would
retreat in terror, but no such thing; they
edged back no more than q few inches, then
came forward again.
Now" we thought. hopefully, "they will get
q good look and fly away"
They got their good look, all right-but
down on the ground, right alongside the
snakes"
There they were, eating away, and at the
same time puncturing the claims made for toy
snakes as pigeon chasers.
OF course, it may be that the man up North
who reported the use of such toys against
pigeons used larger and more fearsome looking
ones.
We wouldn't know; but we do know that q
telephone caller was asking us if there is any
way of chasing unwanted pigeons from bird
feeding stations, when we suggested the toy
snakes.
THAT is to laugh she responded. ri have
tried them, and they don't work. I got small
ones, large ones, snakes with flexible tongues,
snakes made out of wood, snakes made from
paper.
II put two of the largest in the yard, and
waited for the pigeons to see them. They would
not come down, I thought hopefully.
After awhile, my husband called to me to
come to the window. Come see your snakes,
he called.
II looked out, and there were six pigeons in
the yard, two of them perched calmly on the
biggest snakesl"
So there you are, folks.
Maybe some people can get the wooden
snakes to work.
We are thinking of tieing long string to
one, and giving it jerk when pigeon alights
nearby.
Maybe that might workout simple stick
would do as well.
Pigeons are hardy. capable birds. They are
intelligent, and know how to think. Even If
frightened for an'hour or two, once they had
determined that the toys did not move, they
would come down, because, after all, they are
hungry, and no one can blame them for sam
pling free lunch.