Pishing in Public (1 Viewer)

crispycreme

Well-known member

• Apr 12, 2005

• #1

I was reading on some website that if there was one thing to point to when it comes to birder weirdness, it would be the act of pishing - especially in public! However, what I've found is, if you're good enough, no one will know! If you sound enough like a natural bird sound (in our case it'd be a Cactus Wren pish - very alarming to the birds, quite easy to emulate and very much of a "background noise" to humans, i.e. something no one here in Arizona would stop to pay attention to), you can stand in a fairly occupied, if not crowded, park or preserve and make fairly loud pishes without causing strange looks. At least, that's what I tell myself!

So I ask you, do you pish in public? :eek!:

 

Hanno

Ho Ho Ho

• Apr 12, 2005

• #2

I do, and have felt like a complete moron in the past))))

 

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Apr 12, 2005

• #3

It works but I would caution anyone using the art of pishing during the breeding season. The birds are under enough stress at this time.

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Apr 12, 2005

• #4

No, I'm too self-conscious to do it in front of non-birders. In any case, I tend to prefer my Audubon birdcall - it's more effective (and that's probably more a coment on the efficacy of my pishing than the contraption itself).

 

Grousemore

Senior Member

• Apr 13, 2005

• #5

Whist basically opposed to artificial birding 'aids', I was very impressed recently to see a birder bring in a couple of Towhees by replicating their whistles.
He did have most of the fingers of both hands in his mouth though.

 

Hanno

Ho Ho Ho

• Apr 13, 2005

• #6

I don't think "pishing" is a problem here in Vietnam, there are so few birders. I went with a friend recently, and he used an owl call, the results were amazing! And he only used for a minute or so, I don't think that subjected the birds to undue stress.

 

crispycreme

Well-known member

• Apr 13, 2005

• #7

(DISCLAIMER - This thread is certainly not an endorsement of unethical birding practices - not that that needs emphasizing ((or maybe it does..)). Never cause undue stress on birds, especially during breeding season. Pishing is probably best saved for Fall and Winter.)


Anyway...

 

T

Terry O'Nolley

Cow-headed Jaybird

• Apr 15, 2005

• #8

I do it - even in parks and other public places if I have my camera with me.

I never realized it caused stress on the birds and will stop doing until breeding season is over.

I also didn't realize it had a name or that others did it. I am just really good at duplicating sparrow chieeps by sucking in air between my pursed lips.

 

Allen

Well-known member

• Apr 15, 2005

• #9

KCFoggin said:

It works but I would caution anyone using the art of pishing during the breeding season. The birds are under enough stress at this time.

Click to expand...

Probably no need to worry with my pishing - never seems to attract anything avian!!!!

But seriously a good point.

 

F

fledgling

Well-known member

• Apr 15, 2005

• #10

i have just one problem with this question i am from sunny scotland and here the word pish is used frequently,but it is used in the context of eg "donay talk pish" ie don't talk sh*t so i ask you by pish do you mean what i hope you mean haha!!