Frederick Scaring Off Birds

Using “bird gun” this week

It may sound like hunting season this week in Frederick, Md. But don’t be alarmed: City officials are just scaring off some frustrating foul.

Starting today, the city is using a so-called bird gun to scare off some annoying birds near Split Rail Lane. For the last 50 years, Frederick has faced an annual problem with flocks of birds, primarily starlings and crows, nesting in trees around the city. The birds are attracted to the residential areas because of food and warmth that comes off the pavement and homes.

The bird gun is one of several tools the city uses to get rid of nuisance birds, and is approved by the human society. The city has also used fireworks, tapes of bird distress calls and altered the tree environments in the past.

You’ll likely hear the gun go off around dusk when the birds are looking to nest. The city plans to use it every day through Friday.

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