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Author Topic: Swallow Traffic  (Read 2030 times)

Offline Howard Rush

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Swallow Traffic
« on: August 16, 2018, 12:14:57 AM »
Monday evening was pleasant with a nice breeze coming from a favorable direction, so I went to fly some stunt.  Scores of swallows set upon the circle, buzzing my aircraft.  They dodged the reverse wingover, but came back for the inside squares, where I hit one with a line, detaching a feather.  I flew out the flight level to be predictable.  I then affixed a bird-scaring owl, recommended to me by Uncle Jimby for woodpecker deterrence, to my wind pole (see photograph).  Swallows were undeterred.  Then I got an air horn used to start combat matches and honked it at the swallows to no avail.  Hundreds of swallows turned out for my last flight, but stayed high enough that I only had to skip the last three maneuvers. 

I promised my neighbors that I'd only fly electric.  I'd kinda like to fire up a combat plane and clear the air, so to speak.



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Offline L0U CRANE

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2018, 02:50:34 AM »
Forget trying to chase swallows away. They know and rely on their agility too well.

Had a similar thing while in Massachusetts many yrs back. Flew at a commuter rail station that was about 105% occupied weekdays, but empty Sats and Suns. For the half-buck or less parking fee, I had a great site.

A small bird must have had a nest with hatchlings somewhere nearby. He swooped in and tried to catch up with a Magician I was flying. Gave him some exercise chasing me, but surprised him with a wingover entry. He was more surprised when inside squares not only dodged him, but came back at him! The image of him backpedaling out of the way remains a grin for me! He never figured going over the top to intercept.

Never did catch me, gave up about at the Sq 8s.

Only time I had a line strike was at a Lake Charles NATS. Definite twang I could feel! Model felt okay, and it was an Official, so plowed on through the pattern. Yep, a feather and a small smear of blood on the lines. but no kinks.

Memories, memories...
\BEST\LOU

Offline Andre Ming

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2018, 07:38:58 AM »

Waaay back when (1970?) I was practicing using an X powered "Vampire" combat ship at about 115+ MPH. Had one of those swallows enter the circle and start dicing with the plane. Mistake. For a few frenzied seconds it was great fun chasing and dicing with it, and I finally got him/her with the inboard wing... a few feathers flew.... it did a few somersaults in the air... then, quick as a snap, it regathered itself... and made a beeline for parts elsewhere. That was a hoot! From then on I loved it when one or more would show up to dice... but can't recall ever hitting another.

Andre

Searching to find my new place in this hobby!

Offline Shug Emery

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2018, 07:55:52 AM »
It is the swallow version of Extreme Dodgeball.
Shug
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Offline Louis Rankin

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2018, 09:02:46 AM »
Barn swallows inhabite the overhang at our field.  We have learned to live with them and them with us.  In all the years they have been around I have not experienced or heard of a mishap.  They are very good at staying out of the way.  The only complaints are of their waste.  It piles up on the slab under the overhang wherever there is a nest.
Louis Rankin
Somerville Tennessee
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Offline Louis Rankin

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2018, 09:07:36 AM »
Concerning that owl facsimile.  I can't imagine a creature on this earth that would notice or, much less, be intimidated by that pitiful looking thing.
Louis Rankin
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Offline Will Hinton

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2018, 09:15:01 AM »
Concerning that owl facsimile.  I can't imagine a creature on this earth that would notice or, much less, be intimidated by that pitiful looking thing.
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Offline john e. holliday

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2018, 10:26:49 AM »
That was what was fun flying at the old KC City Park and later years at the Shawnee Mission Park.  Have take a few feathers with the night hawks skeedaddling to other parts of the park.   Wonder how many guys remember me taking out a small bird at Topeka Gage Park 1/2A Mouse Race.   Poor bird I don't think knew what hit him/her.  Wings were wrapped around the fuselage and wing.   That Golden Bee didn't even burp but speed was just barely fiyable. H^^
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Offline TigreST

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2018, 12:05:49 PM »
Caution: Not c/l related:  About 8 years ago we had a infestation (?) of Starlings in our Alky Unit at work.  They somehow figured that they numbered into the 2500 to 3000 range. No idea how they counted them to come up with that number.  Anyway, these bird sort of hung out in the processing unit for about two weeks before we brought in a professional pest control guy to get them to move on to a different location.  The noise and the mess they made was unbelievable.  So bad that fellow operators were at one point beginning to refuse to go into the unit to do the normal routine work.

Don't think you could fly in this type of situation:   

This one's c/l related, and a story I've told before but...  Back around 1985 we started flying Ringmasters/Fox 35's and Enya 35's in a open field near a industrial warehousing complex away from the housing area's.  One evening during the middle of a flight a Kill Deer took flight and basically flew combat type moves against the planes.  We noticed that his/her nest was actual in the tall-ish grass  inside our flying circle.  He/she was simply protecting the nest.  Happy to say there were not any line contact or plane/bird strikes that night.  We shut things down because of the bird and failing light.

T.
Tony Bagley
Ontario, Canada

Offline Howard Rush

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2018, 01:13:05 PM »
Electric airplanes may have more of a bird problem than acoustic airplanes. Paul Walker hit a bird just before the 2008 world champs, destroying his airplane.  I presume it was a swallow.  They infested that field, too.  Swallows kept their distance from the louder planes. 

Reminds me of a conversation I had one time with Boeing's VP of environmental stuff, whom I confronted in the cafeteria.  "The problem with airplanes now is that they are no longer loud and smoky," I told him.  "People don't respect them like they did in the old days."  He didn't listen.  Nobody pays any attention to me. 
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Offline Randy Powell

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2018, 02:36:09 PM »
As noted, perhaps a more realistic Owl with sound effects. A Screech Owl, perhaps
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Offline Norm Furutani

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2018, 03:05:47 PM »
Often, swallows are attracted to the bugs we stir up. Our activity gets the bugs in the air, swallows come in for an easy meal! In free flight, it’s a good sign of a thermal. Bugs are looking for an easy ride, lunch time for the swallows.

Norm

Offline billbyles

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2018, 03:41:18 PM »
Electric airplanes may have more of a bird problem than acoustic airplanes. Paul Walker hit a bird just before the 2008 world champs, destroying his airplane.  I presume it was a swallow.  They infested that field, too.  Swallows kept their distance from the louder planes. 

Reminds me of a conversation I had one time with Boeing's VP of environmental stuff, whom I confronted in the cafeteria.  "The problem with airplanes now is that they are no longer loud and smoky," I told him.  "People don't respect them like they did in the old days."  He didn't listen.  Nobody pays any attention to me.

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Offline Scott Richlen

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2018, 06:40:24 PM »
Considering where you stuck that pole to mount it, its no wonder the birds weren't afraid...

Offline JohnCallentine

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2018, 07:15:02 PM »
I had a bird incident recently also. I took off without noticing the dove that was sitting on the runway. As I passed quietly over him at about 12" of altitude he jumped up and put his head thru my leading edge sheathing. I finished the flight and never found the dove. It was a bother to fix.

Offline pmackenzie

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #15 on: August 16, 2018, 07:15:51 PM »
 To get rid of the swallows you need a new hobby - falconry  >:D

  Lost a PA 40 powered Saturn to a swallow strike once. Hit the elevator and broke it off the model.
There were a bunch flying around at the practice site in France, made me quite nervous.

But the parrots(?) in Perth were much scarier, the locals said they took out models quite often.
 At the practice site a whole flock through right through the circle while I was flying, fortunately the model was on the other side of the circle at the time.

Pat MacKenzie

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Offline wwwarbird

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #16 on: August 16, 2018, 07:36:52 PM »
 I think they're just after all the mouse poop on your wings. And yeah, that owl is terribly under qualified.  :)
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Offline Air Ministry .

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #17 on: August 16, 2018, 07:52:24 PM »
Might do the trick .

or this .

Offline Mike Griffin

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #18 on: August 16, 2018, 11:09:50 PM »
Swallows?  PFFT.... Eric tells me the guys in California have to dodge Condors. 

Mike

Offline Jim Svitko

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #19 on: August 17, 2018, 08:15:29 AM »
Concerning that owl facsimile.  I can't imagine a creature on this earth that would notice or, much less, be intimidated by that pitiful looking thing.

Agreed.  The local Kroger put those plastic owls above the entrance to keep the pigeons away.  I would look up and see a pigeon perched on the head of that owl.

Offline Andre Ming

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #20 on: August 17, 2018, 10:05:37 AM »
A reasonably realistic owl "decoy" will be effective on the short term... until the critters figure out it ain't moving and acclimate to it. Only about two longer-term options, and a couple long term options:

Longer term:

* Move it to a different location often.

* Get one of the animated ones that moves it head. (You'll have to move it to a different location less often.)

Long term:

* Accept the critters and go about yer business.

* "Neutralize" them.

FWIW: Decades ago, had a swallow set up shop (built a mud nest) under the eave of my carport. (Complete with droppings on the vehicle/etc.) The only true solution was is neutralize the critter. That was accomplished via my 1960s model Sheridan "Blue Streak" pellet rifle. (Of all the BB guns I've owned, and this pellet rifle, I haven't shot my eye out yet.) Never had another swallow try the carport again. Guess the word got around about their dearly departed feathered friend.

Andre

Searching to find my new place in this hobby!

Offline John Watson

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #21 on: August 17, 2018, 11:37:05 AM »
Are you near Capistrano?...………………..

Offline Steve Helmick

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #22 on: August 17, 2018, 12:45:24 PM »
Often, swallows are attracted to the bugs we stir up. Our activity gets the bugs in the air, swallows come in for an easy meal! In free flight, it’s a good sign of a thermal. Bugs are looking for an easy ride, lunch time for the swallows.

Norm


Norm has it right. Swallows are the only kind of bird I trusted for a sign of thermal activity. They're there for the bugs sucked up in thermals. Howard's solution is to spray for the bugs, thus encouraging the Swallows to go elsewhere. We see lots of Swallow nests under bridges while fishing. If there are any bridges near Stonehedge, I suggest inviting a certain Canadian truck driver to come meet the Jivettes, and provide appropriate routing information.  y1 Steve 


PS: Howard needs to 3D print a large owl with flapping wings and engineer a hybrid power system to make it look alive and threatening.   
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Offline Steve Thompson

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Re: Swallow Traffic
« Reply #23 on: August 17, 2018, 03:37:32 PM »
Paint shark teeth on it?


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