Advice for birds?

**UnOrthodOx** · 10-10-2011,04:59 AM

I've used this combo of paper towel and latex to make corpses in the past. However, I've never had this happen before..

The BIRDS ARE EATING IT!

We come home yesterday and saw a bunch of birds over on our corpse, and thought it was funny. There's enough corn and grass seed (essentially a wild rye) around we figured they were just picking it over. When one of the birds didn't fly off, we grabbed a camera. Didn't notice immediately, but note the hand there has been picked clean...

Not after grass...what, did a worm get into the mache paper towel last night?

!!!His lower leg is nearly gone! The birds are EATING my corpse!!! (which would be a really wierd sentence on any other forum)

Now, I can't imagine that latex rubber and oil based wood stain are GOOD for birds, so, um...any advice? Why is this happening? (easy) ways to prevent?

**hollow** · 10-10-2011,05:30 AM

Geez! I have no idea? Buy a big bag of seed from Walmart, put it out, and hope they stop eating your prop!
Are you sure they are eating it and not taking the pieces back to build their nests?

**offmymeds** · 10-10-2011,05:42 AM

Poor corpse! Gettin pecked to death.................no idea how to prevent this, sorry.

**UnOrthodOx** · 10-10-2011,05:47 AM

Originally Posted by hollow

Geez! I have no idea? Buy a big bag of seed from Walmart, put it out, and hope they stop eating your prop!
Are you sure they are eating it and not taking the pieces back to build their nests?

Yep, they're eating it. Watched this one for a few minutes pecking and eating. As for seed, see all that corn in the background? It's got full ears in there they are welcome to.

**creeeepycathy** · 10-10-2011,05:54 AM

got a cat? If so, put him on a leash and strap him to the corpse.

j/k

btw- that is a beautiful bird. What kind is it?

**Dullahan** · 10-10-2011,06:34 AM

If I was you I would see about purchasing some life like Owls, a natural predator of many flying birds, from your local Garden Center or Supply store (even places like Wal-Mart or Loews may carry them) I know that they make some which have heads that pivot and rotate as the wind blows which makes them appear more life-like. Position one or two near your "Corpse" and it may be enough to frighten off any birds -- plus, Owls are spooky anyway and may add to the theme of your haunt.

I would also recommend that you speak with people at the Garden Supply (or where ever you go) as they might have better suggestions to keep the pests away.

I had a similar problem with Deer (which are prevalent here in Northern Jersey) coming and nibbling on my foam headstones and knocking over my props. It drove me to NEAR MADNESS! Finally I went to the store and bought pepper spray, spraying down my props at night when no one was around, in hopes it would do something. In the end it did keep the animals away, but I wouldn't recommend doing something so extreme. I had put on safety glasses as well as a rag over my nose and mouth but was still 'irritated' by the spray. Also, I did it at a late hour when I knew that none of my neighbors would be out and about.

As you could imagine, my actions that night became something of a joke within my family and I often have to relive the night as the story is told by my girlfriend at many family and social functions.

**Dullahan** · 10-10-2011,06:37 AM

And I WOULDN'T recommend putting down seed or anything else as an enticing deterrent, as someone else suggested. If anything it is just going to attract more Birds.

**UnOrthodOx** · 10-10-2011,06:49 AM

Originally Posted by creeeepycathy

got a cat? If so, put him on a leash and strap him to the corpse.

j/k

Just buried her.

btw- that is a beautiful bird. What kind is it?

It's a Magpie, relative of the crow. I've become rather attached to this particular one (why it doesn't run from me), since discovering it in our yard having been driven from it's nest and being dive bombed by birds. (I didn't realize at the time that this was "normal" for them, but the parents basically beat the kids till they fly)

**Ghouliet** · 10-10-2011,07:18 AM

I have never had this type of problem but perhaps a motion or sound activated prop would deter them. The sort of thing I have in mind is a stobe light that is set off with sound and makes scary noises and thunder claps. The noise and light but be enough to scare the birds.