Snow Day for Atomic XR, starlings down

Took this “baker’s dozen” today, from 27-30 yards. At those ranges, I’m simply not missing them, the Atomic is wickedly deadly at twice the distance. Took 14 shots, downed 13 birds. All this after snow blowing mine and my neighbors driveway. I thought the starlings are probably at it. So drove down to the former dairy. Yup, there they were, two hours later, heading back home. So it was a good day, got home and put my remaining 8 shots into a dime size group at 25 yards. The Atomic went BOOM today, the CPHPs simply devastated them birds.

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Thats about my favorite airgun quarry.I have had the least snowiest February on record here,so its been hampering my efforts at backyard birds.But the few times I have gotten snow storms starting around Christmas,I have been able to get a few.This is just backyard poop,no dairy farm. Lol . I was using .25 xrmagnum and 33.95 mk2

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@Steveguy, good shooting. They stay away from my backyard. After rats, starlings and English sparrows are my preferred pests.
The house sparrows are starting to shy from my backyard.lol. You know,but I have to believe that new seasons bring new birds and they cant all know to avoid me.I have only managed to shoot one backyard starling in the month of February, and before I could put my boots on to go recover it,a dam large raptor snatched it up,and flew off with it!
 
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The house sparrows are starting to shy from my backyard.lol. You know,but I have to believe that new seasons bring new birds and they cant all know to avoid me.I have only managed to shoot one backyard starling in the month of February, and before I could put my boots on to go recover it,a dam large raptor snatched it up,and flew off with it!
Theyre very communal. HOSPs and starlings also don't migrate so they learn where they can and shouldn't go.

I'm having the same issue at the house. This year the grackles aren't being stupid either and it's really got me jonesin' for those bastards. They won't even come in for cracked corn or stale bread bait. A bunch of chickadees and wrens have indulged so at least I get a show for the expensive corn.
 
Good shooting Leon and Steveguy those things use to be all over my yard and not the neighbors, but as of the last five years it's just the opposite. Guess I should of stuck with my springer and never got into pcp's lol
They learn quick, which makes them even more desirable to shoot. They don’t come to my yard either. It’s a mystery…🤓
 
Get some starling decoys, really makes a big difference for me, around here, and it draws other targets in.................LoL

Get some fingernail paint for the beak and feet.............I am color blind,
so I took a dead target to the local Dollar store, (Know the clerk),
and she helped me match the best colors, plus she wanted me to clean out the starlings in her chicken place. One a week I go over and thump them, no end of them......LOL

Also do NOT leave the starling decoys out over night, unless they are tethered down, as Hootie my resident Great Horn Owl, loves them, he get's several per week (lead free), he is a character to watch when I bring them out and toss them on the hay bales, he dances on the Elm Tree limbs, then leans over and lands on them when I am less than 10' from him.
 
Get some starling decoys, really makes a big difference for me, around here, and it draws other targets in.................LoL

Get some fingernail paint for the beak and feet.............I am color blind,
so I took a dead target to the local Dollar store, (Know the clerk),
and she helped me match the best colors, plus she wanted me to clean out the starlings in her chicken place. One a week I go over and thump them, no end of them......LOL

Also do NOT leave the starling decoys out over night, unless they are tethered down, as Hootie my resident Great Horn Owl, loves them, he get's several per week (lead free), he is a character to watch when I bring them out and toss them on the hay bales, he dances on the Elm Tree limbs, then leans over and lands on them when I am less than 10' from him.
I made starling and sparrow decoys. Yes it does make a big difference.
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