next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
Hi there,
I'm puzzled as to why crackers or dog kibble would work as
well as the usual oily/fishy chum mixes.
When you see a fishing boat at work, it is often followed by
a cloud of gulls hoping for a free meal. Chum is supposed to
substitute for the fish waste that is thrown over the side
of fishing boats. There seem to be two theories about what prompts
the birds come in to investigate. Like Elizabeth, I have been on
whale and seabird cruises (Grand Manan, Brier Island) where old fish
scraps were mixed with bread and used to attract birds. The oily
smell was supposedly what drew in the birds. I think it is Fulton
Lavender who recommends bringing a can of sardines on the boat, and
after eating the sardines for lunch, tying a cord to the pull tab on
the can and then pitching it overboard. He said there was enough oil
left in the can to spread a slick behind the boat, and that would
bring in the birds.
On the other hand, some people think that the action of
flinging anything small and floatable overboard deludes the gulls,
and their more interesting fellow-travellers, into responding to an
apparent fishing boat.
Ideas?
Cheers,
Patricia L. Chalmers
Halifax
for At 05:51 PM 13/09/2008, you wrote:
>i always took a box of crackers with me works just fine
> just crush them up.
> no smell . but the real chum works better just ask carl haycock.
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "joan waldron" <waldrojo@ns.sympatico.ca>
>To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
>Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 10:37 AM
>Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Nova Scotia Bird Society field trip: Briar
>Island: Sept. 26 to Sept. 28
>
>
>>When Ken McK and I were on a sea bird trip off Woolongong Australia a couple
>>of years ago the "chum" used was dried dog food and it really worked.
>>Joan W
next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects