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Mary Jayne
Stranger
Registered: 03/25/11
Posts: 28
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
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Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily
#14530307 - 05/29/11 11:50 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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So, San Pedro and other even more active cacti taste like utter shit! After downing the vile tea a couple times, i've come to understand how beautiful of an experience it is. I guess the birds who live around me are catching on!
I have quite a sizable cacti garden making home for specifically the active trichocereus... they are the most beautiful, and the most useful to have growing in my opinion. Since I still live in apartment, my cacti (most are varieties of San Pedro, but I also have a Bridgesii x Torch hybrid and etc) live in giant clay pots by my patio. Everyday, there will be a chunk missing out of at least one of my cacti specimens; until recently the bird(s) so interested in the cacti had been sticking to only one. At first, I didn't really mind one chunk the size of a large bird's head missing from one of my many Pedros, but for the past week I have awoken to another chunk missing. A week or two ago, a bird found my small 3" cutting, pulled it out of the ground and ate 4/5 of the ribs to the core... I doubt this clone will ever be able to root now. This cacti is pretty much the worst tasting variety I have, besides my legendary Bridgesii x Torch cutting that has finally rooted.. which would explain why the birds keep eating it. I have the idea it's a specific bird too, because there is always a big noisy bird hanging around the area that seems like he sits around the cacti a little too much for a bird. He also acts incredibly spacey and calm about half of the time I see him.. to the point that you notice the bird is acting spacey. They never eat it when I'm around though! It's quite obvious that these missing chunks were taken by a bird, and not a rodent or other animal.
I only use mescaline once a month... usually not even that often because I'm trying to accomplish something way more than just getting high. I don't do drugs, I just smoke marijuana, and trip on cactus every once in a while when it seems right. Why does this bird feel the need to start eating a chunk or two as big as his head every day at some point? The first time I saw a chunk missing, I figured the bird had a taste of that and wouldn't ever try again, but for the past week he has tried again all but like, one day. I really wish that birds would leave my cacti alone, and let them thrive! Does anyone have any suggestions, besides say killing the bird? I would try to make one of those noisy, shiny wind chimes but I really doubt it'd work for a bird intelligent enough to be eating mescaline cacti daily for the past almost two weeks.
When I was last tripping on cactus, I thought of how right it would feel to be a bird flying through a forest after having had eaten such a large amount of cacti. But really... I'm not going to let a bird start destroying all of my beaitful cacti! I need some advice.
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LucidReality
Gautama Bay


Registered: 12/13/07
Posts: 233
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Mary Jayne]
#14530319 - 05/29/11 11:55 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Not sure if it'll bother birds enough to keep them off, but I make a mixture of about 1 part jalapeno juice, one part ivory soap, and 5 parts water and spray that on my vegetable garden and it keeps the bugs off for the most part. Maybe adding more jalapeno juice will keep the pesky bird from coming back from more.
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p_walter
Lurker



Registered: 04/25/11
Posts: 535
Loc: Irrelevant
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: LucidReality]
#14530410 - 05/29/11 12:15 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Depending on how big they are, maybe some sort of chicken wire fence/box around your cacti?
-------------------- Coaster said: so i got free drug coupons witch u floozies refer to as "money"....
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BothHands
Dog Coffee



Registered: 10/28/09
Posts: 13,177
Loc:
Last seen: 4 years, 11 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: LucidReality] 2
#14530444 - 05/29/11 12:22 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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capsaicin evolved to repel mamals, and doesn't effect birds. They don't have the receptor for it to bind to. Same goes for sharks.
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Mary Jayne
Stranger
Registered: 03/25/11
Posts: 28
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: BothHands]
#14530586 - 05/29/11 12:47 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
BothHands said: capsaicin evolved to repel mamals, and doesn't effect birds. They don't have the receptor for it to bind to. Same goes for sharks.

Haha bummer. I'll have to see if scaring the bird away whenever he lurks is enough.. probably not!
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BothHands
Dog Coffee



Registered: 10/28/09
Posts: 13,177
Loc:
Last seen: 4 years, 11 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Mary Jayne]
#14530613 - 05/29/11 12:51 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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The wire fence sounds like a good idea. Also, I'm sure there are things that repel birds. Methyl anthranilate (grape flavoring) is supposed to be quite an effective bird deterrant.
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melfdis
Strangerer

Registered: 07/22/07
Posts: 302
Last seen: 7 years, 8 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: BothHands]
#14531694 - 05/29/11 05:00 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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You could try bird netting, if you can work that into your balcony.
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LC89
Shamn Intern


Registered: 08/21/10
Posts: 288
Loc: Town of Diego Cali
Last seen: 1 hour, 5 minutes
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: melfdis]
#14532319 - 05/29/11 06:53 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I wonder if those plastic owl will scare them away.
--------------------
I have many strains(include rustica) of tobacco. Looking gourmet mushroom/cube
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Zaka
Explorer



Registered: 04/12/09
Posts: 665
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: LC89]
#14532427 - 05/29/11 07:09 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Irie, A Shotgun Nah? Respect, Z
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Ieponumos
Mycophile/Phytophile


Registered: 09/02/09
Posts: 4,850
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: LC89]
#14532918 - 05/29/11 08:42 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
LC89 said: I wonder if those plastic owl will scare them away.
That's what I was thinking.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Ieponumos]
#14533375 - 05/29/11 10:21 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ieponumos said:
Quote:
LC89 said: I wonder if those plastic owl will scare them away.
That's what I was thinking.
No, not for very long.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Ieponumos
Mycophile/Phytophile


Registered: 09/02/09
Posts: 4,850
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Doc_T]
#14533896 - 05/30/11 12:13 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Doc_T said:
Quote:
Ieponumos said:
Quote:
LC89 said: I wonder if those plastic owl will scare them away.
That's what I was thinking.
No, not for very long.
I've got an idea

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1351429/Birds-use-quantum-theory-literally-Earths-magnetic-field-fly.html http://news.softpedia.com/news/Birds-Employ-Earth-039-s-Magnetic-Field-for-Navigation-47384.shtml http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/magsense/ms.html
Does it not seem possible that a magnetic field could be made to disrupt a bird's sense of direction?
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Mary Jayne
Stranger
Registered: 03/25/11
Posts: 28
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Ieponumos]
#14534902 - 05/30/11 09:09 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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So, I came out today to find another owned up cutting... no hope this one will ever have of rooting. They birds ate 5 out of the 6 ribs to the core.
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East



Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Mary Jayne]
#14534987 - 05/30/11 09:37 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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have a picture? I very much doubt birds are actually eating whole cacti. they peck, and pick at them, but i have never even heard of birds actually eating them. My money is on a mammal, like rodents.
birds are a huge problem for cacti growers here as well though. strung up CDs help a lot, and shiny ribbon that flashes in the wind also is used here in vegetable farms.
if youre in an apartment, see if you can have a roll down shade installed, but instead of a shade, use clear plastic. i have this installed on both floors at our house for my cacti. it rolls up and down, and is clear plastic. so its sort of liek a greenhouse. i have been growing cacti on those decks for 5 years with almost no issues.
but try and get a pic up of the cactus, cause it seems to sound like not birds, and probably rodents and maybe even bugs if its not massive amounts.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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El Douche
El Douchius Maximus


Registered: 01/08/11
Posts: 538
Loc: Drippin Outa Da Vag
Last seen: 12 years, 4 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: kadakuda]
#14536766 - 05/30/11 04:57 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I use Have-a-heart traps. The big one for coons catches a lot of birds and squirls with seeds and/or peanut butter. Then drive them to the next city and drop them off.
What time of day does the damage happen? I would think that the daamage was more done by a squirl.
The animal probably will not stop, until you get rid of it.
-------------------- I'm The Douche, Doucher, His Royal Doucheness, or El Doucherino if you are not into that whole brevity thing. Trade List : Wanted/have edible cultures, ethobotanicals, cool plants, cacti.
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Zaka
Explorer



Registered: 04/12/09
Posts: 665
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: El Douche]
#14536881 - 05/30/11 05:29 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Irie,
Quote:
The animal probably will not stop, until you get rid of it.
Quote:
A Shotgun Nah? 
I think the second amendment is not just for corrupt politicians! Respect, Z
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Sorealism
Knowledge is Power



Registered: 08/04/06
Posts: 196
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Zaka]
#14537391 - 05/30/11 07:23 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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How about a cat?
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Locky
Dont Spill Me!



Registered: 11/27/10
Posts: 9,348
Loc: Over here, yes, here
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Sorealism]
#14538429 - 05/30/11 10:51 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Buy a sling shot! problem solved
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waixingren


Registered: 03/14/05
Posts: 2,644
Loc: SW Florida
Last seen: 1 month, 3 days
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: Mary Jayne]
#14538919 - 05/31/11 01:14 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I would also like to see a picture of the damage. birds just don't seem to fit the report.
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Mary Jayne
Stranger
Registered: 03/25/11
Posts: 28
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
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Re: Birds Eat my Cactus,., Daily [Re: waixingren]
#14542724 - 05/31/11 09:04 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Ok, I'll upload some picks tomorrow.. it's already dark outside. Another nibble is present today.
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