Decoy trickery
Getting birds over to the feeder (for photography) required more than an enticing seed mix. We also use songs. There’s a handy app on the smartphone that plays excerts of songs. Top 40 or old classics; I don’t have any idea. I leave it up to our winged visitors. And it does work. There is a need for the species to actually be close by, which is a downside. We dream of an eventual cardinal.
But let’s go back to decoys. I don’t hunt. Our only wooden decoys are kept as proof of the art form. We also might have a plastic owl, which is used to warn other visitors that this could be a risky roost. There is a pattern here. Birds have tiny brains. They are easily fooled by replicants. No need to strut or wing-wave. Sit there and see who gets tricked. Again, we have no need for decoys when it comes to the songsters. Tiny brains with talent.
In sharp contrast, mammals pay little attention. A coyote or a fox won’t sniff about. Skunk; haven’t tried to attract them, but my guess is that nobody makes a skunk decoy. Dogs are smart. They notice new cars (OK, not always) but a sleepy statue will do little to bring you a new puppy. As for bigger visitors, we haven’t had bears or deer in these parts for a long time. And I doubt that local hunters had the time to pass the winter constructing anything related. Just get out there and hunt. Maybe bring the dogs. No decoys.
How about humans? If you place all the spare mannequins in front of your store, will it draw in the wallets? Doubtful. We have better ways to fake out the shopper. Searchlights. Flyers under the rain wipers. Radio ads (which are akin to bird calls). I’m going to watch carefully, going forward.
