Audubon Bird Call - Where can I get a new one? (1 Viewer)

[SimonC]

Does anyone know where I can get a new Audubon Bird Call in the UK. My old one has suffered a mishap & is now minus the red wooden "barrel".
Not that I ever had any luck with it you understand, but I do enjoy confusing (& possibly annoying) the odd Robin & Wren now & then!
Besides, one day it (was) gonna work wonders and call up some vagrant American Warbler (apparently they appreciate the spectacle of an idiot birder making stupid squeeking noises in the middle of the woods )
At least that's the theory.

BTW, I've seen the ones made from the "Rustic" lumps of wood with the Audubon key, but they are not as good as the "proper" red ones!

Cheers for humouring a fool 3

See pic if you haven't a clue what I'm on about (it's all that's left of my old one)

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Simon,

Dunno off hand - but watch out, if I remember rightly, they're a real example of rip-off Britain taken to extreme: before getting one myself while on a trip to the US, I remember the prices as about US$7 in America, and £25 in Britain.

Perhaps an idea for the BirdForum shop to buy a batch in the US, and sell them in Britain at a reasonable price?

Michael

 

[CJW]

I hope they aren't worth £25 Michael - I gave mine to peteh last year!

 

[Michael Frankis]

I hope they aren't worth £25 Michael - I gave mine to peteh last year!

Hi CJ,

No they aren't - that's why I didn't get one until I was in the US!

Michael

 

[Edward woodwood]

if anyone knows how to get a cheap one can they post it somewhere on BF please........my broke a while back and I'd love a new one!

 

[CJW]

if anyone knows how to get a cheap one can they post it somewhere on BF please........my broke a while back and I'd love a new one!

Aren't they a bit dude for you Tim? Not really in keeping with developing one's field craft......

 

[SimonC]

Aren't they a bit dude for you Tim? Not really in keeping with developing one's field craft......

You've missed the point! They're actually just for annoying Robins,Wrens & the occasional Dunnock, which is immense fun (unless of course you are in the vicinity of a particularly stupid Sparrowhawk - in which case, it's possible to find you have a rather painful new body peircing, complete with feathers )

 

[SimonC]

if anyone knows how to get a cheap one can they post it somewhere on BF please........my broke a while back and I'd love a new one!

Tim, maybe one of our transatlantic cousins could see their way clear to buying a couple & PMing us with details. I'd be willing to reimburse the cost+postage (especially if said person had a PayPal account!)

Even if some people do consider them dude!! (the Bird Calls - not our American friends )

 

[SimonC]

OK I've found them in the UK (under a tenner inc. P&P) if anybody's interested they're HERE

Cheers (& they're not Dude - honest! )

 

[Marmot]

My suggestion was to try EBay, my last one was purchased through this method (Cost about $9 this included postage) . You will have to check the "available to the UK".
Always check that the rosin is with it.

 

[SimonC]

My suggestion was to try EBay, my last one was purchased through this method (Cost about $9 this included postage) . You will have to check the "available to the UK".
Always check that the rosin is with it.

Just did that & found a couple to keep my eye on, but I also found this which had me in hysterics 3
Some people will try & sell anything

 

[IanF]

Somone with a sense of humour - I hope!

 

[SimonC]

Somone with a sense of humour - I hope!

You would've thought so wouldn't you? But if you look at the sellers other items, it looks like it's not a joke!!!!!!!!!

 

[deboo]

Don't you lot dare outbid me on the '27 different dog postcards'....I'm going all the way up to £4.01.....

Dave

P.S. I know I sound stupid (always)....but what is an Audobon thingy???

 

[Michael Frankis]

Always check that the rosin is with it.

Alternatively, find a pine cone or similar with some resin on it, and use the resin off it. That's what I do. Works really well, except the new resin needs a few hours in a warm room to dry to the right consistency.

Michael

 

[Edward woodwood]

Aren't they a bit dude for you Tim? Not really in keeping with developing one's field craft......

Chris,
used judiciously they are a valuable addition to fieldcraft and I wouldn't have considered them at all dudey, after all they would be most useful dearching for skulking warblers on the coast or in a forest to attract flocks.....not something your average dude/lister would do - their main item of fieldcraft is the car.

Simon - cheers for the link

 

[SimonC]

Alternatively, find a pine cone or similar with some resin on it, and use the resin off it. That's what I do. Works really well, except the new resin needs a few hours in a warm room to dry to the right consistency.

Michael

Thanks for posting that Michael
It saves me the embarrassment of starting a virgin thread entitled "what can I use as an alternative for rosin"!

I'll pick one up next time I visit Holkham then!

Cheers

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Simon,

Alternatively (if you can't find a resiny cone), break a twig off a pine, and use the resin that oozes out at the base. Note though that this (being very fresh) is very liquid and will take longer to dry to 'squeakable' use (I tried this once, and it was a day or two before it started working again, but when it did, it worked very well indeed)

Michael

 

[SimonC]

Cheers Michael, i'll bear that in mind (I did actually try Frankinsence once but it was just too sticky!)

On a slight side-track, have you had much success with yours? as indicated in my other replies in this thread, I usually only manage to annoy a robin but on one occasion I claim to have called up a RB Flycatcher on the cliffs at Hunstanton (During a very interesting October day!) but as my companions had decided to walk off in the opposite direction, I never did get confirmation - so didn't "tick" it! (I was just getting back into birding at the time & wasn't confident in my ID - though the more I think about it............ )

Cheers

 

[Swift]

The link from SimonC on post 9 of this thread is a cracker , due to the price of postage asked around to see if anybody else wanted one, put in an order for 4 and voila , they arrived resin and all for about £5 each ,cheers SimonC.