North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jimfruth@charter.net>]

A METHOD THAT WORKS

    My black raspberry patch used to be plagued by flocks of Robins and the 
dummy (black) fruit didn't work like the red decoys did so I bought a BB 
gun.  The BB gun was the old fashioned, lever action type that doesn't make 
a dent in hard (Oak) wood.  I didn't kill any Robins with it but sure made a 
pest of myself.  I soon discovered that if I knocked one down, he'd take off 
like a bat out of hell and the whole flock followed.  Of course, they 
returned in a week or so and this great white hunter went after them again, 
and again.  Also, when they arrived during their Spring migration, I gave 
them no rest.  I kept at them for several years and, now, they don't come 
back.  No Robins.  None.  I think they took the hint but I still keep the BB 
gun handy, just in case.