Sand hill Cranes...urgh...

[nanajoy]

Our neighborhood has two pairs of sandhill cranes which have chicks each year. They are very large birds, almost as tall as me, and they have an immense wing span when they rear up to threaten. They are a protected species, and have no fear whatsoever of humans.

Although it is illegal, we have a neighbor in the community who sets out birdseed for them in their driveway. For some reason, the adult male bird has taken a dislike of Ty. Tyrone is skittish by nature, and we walk by on the sidewalk across the street to avoid triggering the bird. Gus ignores, and is ignored, by the birds.

Today the large male flew over and landed no more than two feet from Ty. It reared up and threatened with a flapping wing display, and did not back up when my husband yelled at it to get away. It finally stood still and let us pass, but protected or not, someone is asking for pepper spray if this persists!

[Yorkie guy]

Carry a small spray bottle of Ammonia with you,find that works with unruly dogs,should work with these cranes as well.

[matese]

OMG that had to be scary, thank goodness Ty ignored that aggressive bird. Any noise making thing I can think of to maybe scare this bird off will more then likely scare little Ty also. Ty gets one attaboy for not getting scared of it.

[nanajoy]

Originally Posted by Yorkie guy

Carry a small spray bottle of Ammonia with you,find that works with unruly dogs,should work with these cranes as well.

Thanks, that sounds like a much milder solution! I really do not want to injure the birds...but this one really wants to injure my baby.

[lilgidget]

You need to protect sweet Ty no matter what it takes - anything that's legal that is.

[Bluebells]

Originally Posted by nanajoy

Thanks, that sounds like a much milder solution! I really do not want to injure the birds...but this one really wants to injure my baby.

I think ammonia might actually be more harsh than pepper spray. Ammonia is toxic and could injure or kill a bird. You could try vinegar, which is non toxic but has a strong smell. Many birds don’t have a strong sense of smell, though. (I’m not sure about cranes.) Or you might try blowing a loud whistle to scare it away. Or maybe carry an umbrella, which you could open and put between the crane and your little one.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Might try opening up a large, black, suddenly-unfolding, automatic umbrella to give your outline a much larger, more imposing outline and a barrier between your baby and the bird who feels he's got his rights. Has worked for years on would-be bully dogs, no matter the size, maybe will on big birds and no alleged "assault" w/chemicals involved to stir up law enforcement or neighbors with cell phone cameras.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Don't know why I can't post a link to it but an Arkansas Democrat Gazette article: The World's Most Dangerous Gamebird? describes a horrifying attack by thought-dead Sandhilll Cranes. Scary creatures!

Also read some other articles that said startling them with sudden, unexpected things like rubber snakes or things they fear can scare them off, too. But the unfolding automatic umbrella suddenly swishing from little to giant before another creature's eyes usually sends them scrambling.

[nanajoy]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Don't know why I can't post a link to it but an Arkansas Democrat Gazette article: The World's Most Dangerous Gamebird? describes a horrifying attack by thought-dead Sandhilll Cranes. Scary creatures!

Also read some other articles that said startling them with sudden, unexpected things like rubber snakes or things they fear can scare them off, too. But the unfolding automatic umbrella suddenly swishing from little to giant before another creature's eyes usually sends them scrambling.

Loud noises do not bother these guys in the least, but an umbrella might. As I said, I do not wish to harm, but these birds are extremely aggressive and fearless of humans. I don't know why one particular crane is targeting Tyrone and leaving Gus be, but do not like that it is now flying over to attack! Today they ignored Ty. Maybe they will understand that we mean them no harm and we can coexist in peace. In any case, my guard is up...

[matese]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Might try opening up a large, black, suddenly-unfolding, automatic umbrella to give your outline a much larger, more imposing outline and a barrier between your baby and the bird who feels he's got his rights. Has worked for years on would-be bully dogs, no matter the size, maybe will on big birds and no alleged "assault" w/chemicals involved to stir up law enforcement or neighbors with cell phone cameras.

That was my first thought, but with Ty being on the skittish side my concern was scaring Ty as well as the bird. Even shaking a jar with coins in it can scare the dog.

[nanajoy]

Originally Posted by matese

That was my first thought, but with Ty being on the skittish side my concern was scaring Ty as well as the bird. Even shaking a jar with coins in it can scare the dog.

My concern is not scaring Ty as well. We have worked so hard on building his confidence, and he is now happy to greet neighbors and friends...rather than shy away. I think I will try activating an umbrella while we are home, in a safe place, so that he will not be startled. As I have said before, it takes way more time and effort to undo negative experiences for sensitive little ones, and they can revert so quickly if they feel unsafe!

[nanajoy]

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions everyone!

[Lovetodream88]

That sounds scary. You could also get a picture of your neighbor feeding them and report it or maybe talk to your neighbor about how scary these birds are and that by feeding them they are keeping them around and making it unsafe for you and other people and their pets.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by nanajoy

My concern is not scaring Ty as well. We have worked so hard on building his confidence, and he is now happy to greet neighbors and friends...rather than shy away. I think I will try activating an umbrella while we are home, in a safe place, so that he will not be startled. As I have said before, it takes way more time and effort to undo negative experiences for sensitive little ones, and they can revert so quickly if they feel unsafe!

My Jilly and then Tibbe were skittish too around the umbrella at first but with fun-associated desensitization training, treats, lots of laughing, happy praise every time it opened up, they both got used to it, accepted it; and outside on walkies were so excited by all the other energy and scents there, they each accepted it like anything else going on. And it's not like you have to open it all the time, in fact, rarely but it's there in case its their life vs. a giant bully dog or dangerous bird with a stiletto beak starts to draw a bead on them.

But, look, even if they didn't accept it gracefully, I'd rather take a chance of briefly scaring my dog than the horror and trauma associated with an actual vicious attack, the blood and pain, awful vet treatments, painful rehab or losing it to a creature out to maim or kill it!

[matese]

Originally Posted by nanajoy

My concern is not scaring Ty as well. We have worked so hard on building his confidence, and he is now happy to greet neighbors and friends...rather than shy away. I think I will try activating an umbrella while we are home, in a safe place, so that he will not be startled. As I have said before, it takes way more time and effort to undo negative experiences for sensitive little ones, and they can revert so quickly if they feel unsafe!

I would think a fast opening big black umbrella would scare the c$$p out of this bird. Working with it at home is a great idea to get both pups use to umbrella suddenly opening up. I agree 1000 % with the bold above.

Good luck.