Anyone Pish?

[Booswalia]

Just wondering if anyone here has any luck with pishing birds out. Any secrets to grabbing their attention? Any advise on how to learn?

[kenyc]

Well, I try, but seems to be very random as to when and whether it works or not. Can't say I've had much success with it.

[canonloader]

I pish all the time. In fact, I did it at the park yeaterday when nothing showed at the feeder I go to and it brought out a warbler, a Red Belly, Blue Jay and I think some kind of thrush that I could not see clearly. I had been sitting there for 20 minutes with nothing, then pished. I also do a kissing sound from the back of my hand. It can get quite loud and will carry further, which is what I actually did to get them in. You can make a lot of different sounds and tempos that way. I pish from my desk though, to get the birds out of the Lilac bush. They seem to like it. :)

[Hikin Mike]

I never heard the term before, so I had to Google it. Yes, I guess I've tried that. Not sure if it works or not.

[badams]

Yes I do it quite a bit usually when I am by myself (don't like doing it around others). I have found here it works better on the winter birds than the summer migrants. Don't know why, but it just seems like it.

Also it seems like the smaller birds (warblers) like it/will come out more so than the larger birds.

Prothonotary Warblers usually always come. That is how I get them on my truck all the time.

Sometimes squeaking works as well. I'm not a good squeaker, but I've been with someone else who can sometimes get them to come in with it.

Then there is also the Eastern Screen Owl call that will sometimes work.


I've got some of the "better" bird calls on my phone that I will play when I'm out to try to call them in as well.

[alohabob]

Oh yeah, it's an occasional tool. Usually to get a head turn for a shot. The kissing/squeaky noises can get the attention of a raptor sometimes.

[davebreal]

A lot of my frame fillers were prompted by pishing. I mostly learned my techniques from Pete Dunne's book, the Art of Pishing (comes with audio cd). Effectiveness depends on the species and I've found works best when the birds are completely unsuspecting. If they've laid eyes on you, the often lose interest quickly.

[scrumpy]

Never tried pishing, but I know woodpeckers will often investigate the rapid knocking of a rock on a tree trunk, though it works best in early spring when they do it all the time.

[davebreal]

speaking of woodpecker luring. my local woodpeckers are especially prone to responding to pishing.

i had just made a few notes and then this bird arrived....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidraymond/3285091193/

[Jack Dawe]

There's definitely a technique to it. I've tried, but I've never been able to get it to work. However, recently my wife and I were patiently waiting for a reappearance of some Bearded Tits that we had seen dive into some reeds. As we wait, this chap walks up and makes a squeaking noise and immediately out they all hop! Amazing.

[snowyowl13]

As you know, Shirley, I do. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. It is very much species dependent. People who are really good at it can really pull out warblers.

[Mr. E]

I do pish when I am by myself and don't think anyone else is around. I use it sporadically at times when I may hear birds rustling in the thick underbrush or high up in a thick forest canopy. I don't know if it really works or not as they sometimes come and sometimes don't whether I just sit and wait or pish

[Nighthound]

I've been using with the Wilson's Plover but not so much to call them out. They find me since it's nesting time and they're very good at keeping an eye on anyone coming close. But when pishing, or doing my best to imitate them, they almost always start to walk toward me and sometimes very quickly. It seems to make them curious to whether there might be a rival bird in the area. If I set up my tripod to a very low level they'll walk up very close. The method also worked very well for the Florida Scrub Jays but I'm not sure it's necessary for them.

[tc1761]

I find its rather hit or miss, sometimes when I do it birds from all directions are drawn in, and other times they don't even seem to be bothered.

[Stormin_24]

Never heard of that term used before, so I Wiki'ed it... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pish

[SacMac]

I do it too, with little success, unfortunately. This seems like a thread for Pishers Anonymous though, with all the people saying they do it, as long as nobody else is around :D I'm as guilty as the next one in that respect :D

[davebreal]

I do it too, with little success, unfortunately. This seems like a thread for Pishers Anonymous though, with all the people saying they do it, as long as nobody else is around :D I'm as guilty as the next one in that respect :D

I can do it pretty effectively, generally bringing in warblers and woodland birds. My technique is a pattern of a basic pish, chip notes, squeals, and screech owl trills. It does take a lot of effort, plus it's embarasssing if anyone stumbles into me while I'm doing it!

Pete Dunne performing Screech Owl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlCUXcEPdvw

[jack lumber]

PISH as though no one can hear you. Love as though you have never been hurt before.

[kenyc]

PISH as though no one can hear you. Love as though you have never been hurt before.


LOL! Love it!
:cool: