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Does anyone use a bird-caller like this? (1 Viewer)

Sancho

Well-known member
Europe
I bought this recently in the Birdwatch Ireland shop. I spent ten minutes trying to get a sound by attempting to blow into it like a whistle, until one of my kids figured out you simply twist it to get various squeaks and twitters. As I´ve never been able to "Pish" successfully, I was wondering if anyone used one of these and if it works?
 
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What's the female part made of, plastic? That's what it looks like in the photo. In the States identical looking devices--made of birch wood--go back at least 60 years when they were marketed as "Audubon bird calls".

Do they work? I don't know. I've had one for years & have never had much luck with it, but then I haven't given it a fair trial (same with pishing, for that matter, which I also don't do often enough to have an opinion whether it works or not). My (birch wood) call certainly sounds nice, to my ear like the warbling of a House Finch.
 
Thanks, fugl and Jon.

fugl...yes, this is the birch-wood Audubon Bird Call, made in the US by American Bird Products, Inc., of Rhode Island. I´ll try it during the week and see if it works on Irish birds (maybe I should have gotten a Chinese-made one...;))

Jon....no Penduline Tits here. But I´ll see what it can do!
 
They do work Sancho....i used to use one many years ago before i became a 'pish-head' and bird mimic. My mate's still got one of these devices which he has used with varying success....[seems to work quite well in the America's]. It can make all sorts of subtle little sounds which can intrigue birds....depends how you fiddle with it! Think you have to keep 'em chalked up? Best o luck anyway......autumn on the way...so soon time to be squeaking in bushes....
 
I seem to remember that one way of getting the best out of these Birdcalls is to sprinkle a very small amount of rosin (used for putting on violin bows, which you can get at musical instrument shops). Just use a knife to scrape a small amount of rosin off the solid block, into the space between metal and the outer wooden bit.
 
years ago i used one similar to this mine had wood as well.

i had varied success it was fun to give a whirl though.

maybe you will have better luck in your neck of the woods
 
I've never used one, never even heard of one til I read this thread. I'm still in the dark ages and my bird caller is still a piece of grass stretched between me thumbs. :-O
 
Funnily enough, I saw someone with one only yesterday. I thought they were difficult to get hold of on this side of the Atlantic.
 
Funnily enough, I saw someone with one only yesterday. I thought they were difficult to get hold of on this side of the Atlantic.
Here´s the item in question:
http://shop.birdwatchireland.ie/bir...result.php?keywords=audubon+bird+call&x=8&y=9

It´s really great fun as a squeaky-toy. I´ve figured out how to make loads of clicks, chirrups, "tecks", and even a continuous rather sweet warble with it. Still haven´t attracted any actual birds with it, but the kids think it´s great.
 
Don't use these things around other people. Really annoys me when people pull these things out in public or groups and start making a racket when the rest of us are trying to observe and enjoy nature.
 
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