"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote in message
...
"peter" wrote in message
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote in message
"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message

I'd like to try it with cabbage worms......

Om were you thinking of the cabbage grubs that are laid by the
white
cabbage butterflies? If you were then this does work. Make up
some
fake cabbage butterflies (I use the white opaque plastic form old
milk
cartons) and mark then so that they have the black markings of
real
cabbage butterflies with a felt tip pen and then put them on
bamboo
stakes and put them around your cabbages. The cabbage butterfly
is
territorial and will go elsewhere if it thinks that that cabbage
is
already taken by another cabbage butterfly.


what an elegant solution, I'll use that idea. Thanks

One more trick. I put the little fake butterflys on the tiny bamboo
sate sticks then push these sticks into the tops of bigger bamboo
staking sticks.




Just remember if you try this to watch your eyes. Is far better to use
something like the plastic bread bag sealer thingos and to cover any sharp
bits.

Richard

"Kimberly" writes:
If you're talking about usual garden snails then they are edible. Putting
them in a pan with hot water would make soup.

So, add garlic and butter to taste.

Bon apetite!!
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow writes:
Om were you thinking of the cabbage grubs that are laid by the white
cabbage butterflies? If you were then this does work. Make up some
fake cabbage butterflies (I use the white opaque plastic form old milk
cartons) and mark then so that they have the black markings of real
cabbage butterflies with a felt tip pen and then put them on bamboo
stakes and put them around your cabbages. The cabbage butterfly is
territorial and will go elsewhere if it thinks that that cabbage is
already taken by another cabbage butterfly.

Why bother making plastic b'flies? Just catch some real ones, add a dab of
wood glue and fix them to the end of sticks that you can move around your
plants as needed! That way you reduce the population of moths into the
bargain! But I admit the real ones are not as rain resistant as the plastic
replicas.

I think you are right about them being territorial. I recall many a time
seeing a white moth lazily bobbing around my father's cabbage patch until
it neared another when one would zoom into the path of the first until they
seemed to momentarily collide and then one would leap away to put some
distance between them. At the time I assumed I was witnessing an attempt at
romance, and subsequent rebuff, but now that you have pointed it out, this
behaviour could have been a moth protecting its patch.

For Australian readers: Noisy miner and Indian mynah birds just love
catching moths on the wing. Currawongs are good at it, too.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

"John Savage" wrote in
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow writes:
Om were you thinking of the cabbage grubs that are laid by the
white
cabbage butterflies? If you were then this does work. Make up
some
fake cabbage butterflies (I use the white opaque plastic form old
milk
cartons) and mark then so that they have the black markings of real
cabbage butterflies with a felt tip pen and then put them on bamboo
stakes and put them around your cabbages. The cabbage butterfly is
territorial and will go elsewhere if it thinks that that cabbage is
already taken by another cabbage butterfly.

Why bother making plastic b'flies? Just catch some real ones, add a
dab of
wood glue and fix them to the end of sticks that you can move around
your
plants as needed! That way you reduce the population of moths into
the
bargain! But I admit the real ones are not as rain resistant as the
plastic
replicas.

I'll bet you took the wings off flies as a youngster :-)))

It took about 3 minutes to cut up a milk carton and put a few spots of
texta on. It would have taken much more time for me to try to catch
the blighters.

For Australian readers: Noisy miner and Indian mynah birds just love
catching moths on the wing. Currawongs are good at it, too.

But do you have any ideas for getting rid of currawongs? The mongrel
*******s eat smaller birds and I need my wrens for aphid patrols.
BTW, the aphids have arrived and still not a sign of any ants anywhere
near the roses but the wrens are very active.

In article
,
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote:

But do you have any ideas for getting rid of currawongs? The mongrel
*******s eat smaller birds and I need my wrens for aphid patrols.
BTW, the aphids have arrived and still not a sign of any ants anywhere
near the roses but the wrens are very active.

A good way to increase your local wren population is to provide them
with nesting sites. A lot of my birdhouse gourd houses are occupied
every year, sometimes twice in a season. :-)

Easy to make too.

I have quite a few birdhouse gourd seeds on hand if you want some?
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote:

But do you have any ideas for getting rid of currawongs? The
mongrel
*******s eat smaller birds and I need my wrens for aphid patrols.
BTW, the aphids have arrived and still not a sign of any ants
anywhere
near the roses but the wrens are very active.

A good way to increase your local wren population is to provide them
with nesting sites. A lot of my birdhouse gourd houses are occupied
every year, sometimes twice in a season. :-)

Easy to make too.

I have quite a few birdhouse gourd seeds on hand if you want some?

Thanks for the generous offer Om. Are you in Australia? If not then
I must sadly decline due to quarantine concerns. However, I'm sure
that the problem isn't breeding, we have lots odfine leaved shrubs and
bushes and each year we have babies. It's just that the sodding
Currawongs are such efficient and effective killers.

We went away for 3 days and when we came back we both noticed how much
the small bird population had dropped. We keep an eye on the
Currawongs when we are here and "discourage" them for being aroudn.

Farm1 wrote:

A good way to increase your local wren population is to provide them
with nesting sites. A lot of my birdhouse gourd houses are occupied
every year, sometimes twice in a season. :-)

Easy to make too.

I have quite a few birdhouse gourd seeds on hand if you want some?


Thanks for the generous offer Om. Are you in Australia? If not then
I must sadly decline due to quarantine concerns.

Look at some of the gourds offered by Eden Seeds.
http://www.edenseeds.com.au
alphabetical, then G for gourds. (search for gourds didn't work)

you might need to hand pollinate as well (like pumpkins). We grew one
of their Large gourds (bottle) last years, but it wasn't pollinated and
remained small and eventually rotted away.had

However, I'm sure
that the problem isn't breeding, we have lots odfine leaved shrubs and
bushes and each year we have babies. It's just that the sodding
Currawongs are such efficient and effective killers.

Hmm, if you have stuff like cotoneaster, pycantha, etc locally, do all
you can to get rid of them. It is believed these are part of the reason,
currowangs overwinter on these and thus survive in greater numbers for
spring.

You also might like to observer if the small leaved stuff is actually
protecting the small birds or if the currawongs "enter" the shrtubs in
pursuit. chicken wire cage it or spiny pshrubs (bursaria)

In article
,
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote:

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote:

But do you have any ideas for getting rid of currawongs? The
mongrel
*******s eat smaller birds and I need my wrens for aphid patrols.
BTW, the aphids have arrived and still not a sign of any ants
anywhere
near the roses but the wrens are very active.

A good way to increase your local wren population is to provide them
with nesting sites. A lot of my birdhouse gourd houses are occupied
every year, sometimes twice in a season. :-)

Easy to make too.

I have quite a few birdhouse gourd seeds on hand if you want some?

Thanks for the generous offer Om. Are you in Australia? If not then
I must sadly decline due to quarantine concerns. However, I'm sure
that the problem isn't breeding, we have lots odfine leaved shrubs and
bushes and each year we have babies. It's just that the sodding
Currawongs are such efficient and effective killers.

Don't think I've never sent seeds to Australia. ;-)
One just has to have the "knack" if you know what I mean.

Seriously, contact me off line. The beauty of birdhouse gourds is that
you can control the hole size and keep the killers out and protect the
young. House wrens are pretty tiny.

Of course, you can use just about any gourd, or build some small bird
houses. It's just that the gourds are convenient and easy, and fast. One
of my most valuable items is time it seems! Hence the "pop up"
greenhouses I have. Spent maybe 1 hour max erecting each one and putting
in the shelving.


We went away for 3 days and when we came back we both noticed how much
the small bird population had dropped. We keep an eye on the
Currawongs when we are here and "discourage" them for being aroudn.

Are you allowed to own an air rifle? Around here, those are not
classified as a firearm.

Squirrel is delicious. Can't help but wonder the same about Currawongs?

;-)
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote:

I have quite a few birdhouse gourd seeds on hand if you want
some?

Thanks for the generous offer Om. Are you in Australia? If not
then
I must sadly decline due to quarantine concerns. However, I'm
sure
that the problem isn't breeding, we have lots odfine leaved shrubs
and
bushes and each year we have babies. It's just that the sodding
Currawongs are such efficient and effective killers.

Don't think I've never sent seeds to Australia. ;-)
One just has to have the "knack" if you know what I mean.

I know it has been done but as I live on a farm and we derive part of
our income from the land, I'm very conscious of the quarantine laws.
I'd never do anything to contravene them. In fact I will vote against
any government who tries to endanger our environment by chanhing our
import laws as a result of sodding globalisation. Thanks again Om but
since Teryc gave a site for them in Aus, I know I'll be able to get
them locally. It's a good firm and I've used them before.

Of course, you can use just about any gourd, or build some small
bird
houses. It's just that the gourds are convenient and easy, and fast.

How do you make the nest?

One
of my most valuable items is time it seems! Hence the "pop up"
greenhouses I have. Spent maybe 1 hour max erecting each one and
putting
in the shelving.

Now that too sounds interesting. What is it and how do you make them.

We went away for 3 days and when we came back we both noticed how
much
the small bird population had dropped. We keep an eye on the
Currawongs when we are here and "discourage" them for being
aroudn.

Are you allowed to own an air rifle? Around here, those are not
classified as a firearm.

I've got a gun licence and guns so that isn't a problem. I suspect
that shooting Currawongs isn't allowed and a lead slug just makes then
squark but............

Squirrel is delicious. Can't help but wonder the same about
Currawongs?

Some of the real old timers round here have eaten just about anything
(like crows) but I've not heard of them eating currawongs. They'd
probably be most like a crow in taste and size. I think I'll stick to
real meat :-))

"Terryc" wrote in message
Farm1 wrote:

Thanks for the generous offer Om. Are you in Australia? If not
then
I must sadly decline due to quarantine concerns.

Look at some of the gourds offered by Eden Seeds.
http://www.edenseeds.com.au
alphabetical, then G for gourds. (search for gourds didn't work)

Thanks for that. Found'em.

you might need to hand pollinate as well (like pumpkins).

Will keep that in mind.

However, I'm sure
that the problem isn't breeding, we have lots odfine leaved shrubs
and
bushes and each year we have babies. It's just that the sodding
Currawongs are such efficient and effective killers.

Hmm, if you have stuff like cotoneaster, pycantha, etc locally, do
all
you can to get rid of them. It is believed these are part of the
reason,
currowangs overwinter on these and thus survive in greater numbers
for
spring.

The sodding things live in the huge pinewind breaks around the
machinery shed and shearing shed and the perimeters of the paddocks
out from our house. They have lots of road kill to keep them going
all year round. We must have at least 100 round here - probably more.
At least they aren't the only birds we have. We saw a stunning little
kingfisher today. It wasn't an Azure kingfisher and I haven't been
able to find it in the 2 bird books I've looked at so far but it was
gorgeous - rarer than some of the other birds we have though.

You also might like to observer if the small leaved stuff is
actually
protecting the small birds

They do protect them, thankfully. Too shrubby and twiggy and lots of
it but the currawongs sit on the big trees and watch like proverbial
hawks. The currawongs have now become very cautious. Walking out of
the house with a gun makes then take off quick smart but we can't be
here to protect the little birds all the time and they need to come
out to feed at times when we aren't around.

In article
,
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote:


Of course, you can use just about any gourd, or build some small
bird
houses. It's just that the gourds are convenient and easy, and fast.

How do you make the nest?

The bird builds it's own nest inside.
Just carve the hole small enough so the Currawong cannot get inside and
the bird still can. Make sure the nesting space is at lest 6 cm. deep
and drill 3 drain holes in the bottom for when it rains. They will build
on top of the drains but it does not plug them.

I don't have any pics on hand right now, sorry.
I cut a hole for the birds, drain holes in the bottom and stick a
screwed in eye bolt in the top for hanging, and hang them up between 5
and 6 ft. up. Mine seem to go for the lower ones.


One
of my most valuable items is time it seems! Hence the "pop up"
greenhouses I have. Spent maybe 1 hour max erecting each one and
putting
in the shelving.

Now that too sounds interesting. What is it and how do you make them.

I got them from he

http://tinyurl.com/kfmd9

Do a google search using "dreamhouse greenhouse" and see if you can find
one locally.


Are you allowed to own an air rifle? Around here, those are not
classified as a firearm.

I've got a gun licence and guns so that isn't a problem. I suspect
that shooting Currawongs isn't allowed and a lead slug just makes then
squark but............

Follow the 3S rule...... ;-)


Squirrel is delicious. Can't help but wonder the same about
Currawongs?

Some of the real old timers round here have eaten just about anything
(like crows) but I've not heard of them eating currawongs. They'd
probably be most like a crow in taste and size. I think I'll stick to
real meat :-))

lol
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote:
How do you make the nest?

The bird builds it's own nest inside.
Just carve the hole small enough so the Currawong cannot get inside
and
the bird still can. Make sure the nesting space is at lest 6 cm.
deep
and drill 3 drain holes in the bottom for when it rains. They will
build
on top of the drains but it does not plug them.

I don't have any pics on hand right now, sorry.
I cut a hole for the birds, drain holes in the bottom and stick a
screwed in eye bolt in the top for hanging, and hang them up between
5
and 6 ft. up. Mine seem to go for the lower ones.

Thanks for the instructions Om.

the "pop up"
greenhouses

Now that too sounds interesting. What is it and how do you make
them.

I got them from he
http://tinyurl.com/kfmd9

Do a google search using "dreamhouse greenhouse" and see if you can
find
one locally.

Looks great. Unfortunately not available locally. :-((
I've got a gun licence and guns so that isn't a problem. I
suspect
that shooting Currawongs isn't allowed and a lead slug just makes
then
squark but............

Follow the 3S rule...... ;-)

Yes :-)) I was telling a friend that rule today in relation to a cat
problem she has.

In article
,
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote:

I cut a hole for the birds, drain holes in the bottom and stick a
screwed in eye bolt in the top for hanging, and hang them up between
5
and 6 ft. up. Mine seem to go for the lower ones.

Thanks for the instructions Om.

Glad I could help!

I got them from he
http://tinyurl.com/kfmd9

Do a google search using "dreamhouse greenhouse" and see if you can
find
one locally.

Looks great. Unfortunately not available locally. :-((

I wonder tho' if the promised free shipping on most sites that sell
these includes your location? :-)

I've got a gun licence and guns so that isn't a problem. I
suspect
that shooting Currawongs isn't allowed and a lead slug just makes
then
squark but............

Follow the 3S rule...... ;-)

Yes :-)) I was telling a friend that rule today in relation to a cat
problem she has.

Indeed... Works for most any "pest" iykwim??? G
--
Peace!
Om

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
-- Jack Nicholson

"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow writes:
But do you have any ideas for getting rid of currawongs? The mongrel
*******s eat smaller birds and I need my wrens for aphid patrols.

It's a good question, but I can't think of any legal methods for getting
rid of currawongs. Being native, they would be a protected species, too.
I expect the best you can do is to eliminate (or net) fruiting trees and
berry bushes, to feed your cats/dogs indoors so there is no leftover food
for the currawongs, the same goes if you put out food for birds, and to
put netting over all water sources so only the small birds can get in to
drink. Water sources include dripping garden taps, hoses, and even roof
gutters that are so warped they store water after showers or heavy dew.
Lawn sprinklers provide birds with drinking water, but as most of Oz is
in drought, I suppose you are not using lawn sprinklers, but if you are
maybe you could limit their use to nighttime?

Then when you've attended to all those measures on your property, do the
same at your neighbours' places for a mile around!

Currawongs typically nest high up in leafy trees, so your getting to their
nest is out of the question, usually.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)