Pishing. (1 Viewer)

[mountain man]

I reckon I'm an awesome pisher. I've been doing it for years and I've now got it really fine tuned.

However, I think the standard of pishing is truly dreadful. I frequently see people stood right next to a bush going "pish pish pish" with no sense of rhythm or understanding of the bird they are trying to pish out.

These are a few of my observations on how to pish:

1) Don't do it too loud or forcefully. I think pishing should be a novelty sound for a bird to hear, thus making it curious and bringing it out to have a closer look. If it sounds at all dangerous to a bird they will just vanish. A gradual crescendo from near nothing is also good.

2) Correct rhythm is essential. Listen to most sylvia warbler's alarm calls. They will speed up and slow down randomly - try to emualte this. Straight forward "pish pish pish" rarely works.

3) Length of pish is also important. Again vary it:

"pssssssssh psh psh psssh psssssshhh pshhhhhhh psh psh"

4) Don't appear physically intimidating. If you see a bird dart into a bush stand still and well back or sit on the floor and then begin pishing. If they can see somone stood in close proximity or moving about a lot they know you are just messing about and won't bother responding.

5) Copy what you hear. If a bird is calling and you want to bring it out, try pishing in it's style. For example if you hear a phyllosc going "hweet" try and make your pish rise in pitch - "pieesh" maybe.

6) Pitch. The single most important thing to develop. I've experimented with all sorts of different pitches from very low to very high, and the same pitch keeps producing the goods. It's high, but not at the very top of my range - this will vary from pisher to pisher.

7) Don't try and produce the "i" sound. It should be "psh."

8) Be content with just a call as a response to your pishing. Sometimes you can pish and pish but the bird will sit tight. However they will very often give a call during your pause. Garden Warblers often do this.

Also, certain species just won't respond no matter how good you are (shearwaters are obviousy not good!!!!)

For those who have never tried pishing give it a go. For Europeans, I would recommend giving Long Tailed Tits a try at first. Just wait for a party to come by then start experimenting. They can sometimes come within a couple of feet and it is really amazing.

Honestly, I swear I'm not kidding, give it a try.

 

[CarolineT]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for this really fascinating post. I have only been birding for about 10 months, and I have been wondering exactly how pishing is done. Most people I have spoken to have said that it doesn't work and not to bother, but maybe they're wrong. I read in a Bill Oddie book that he reckons it only works on American birds!
One thing I'm not sure about - is it voiced (like speech/song) or unvoiced (like a whisper)? From what you say, it seems it should be voiced.
The other thing I suppose is the embarrassment factor! However, if I actually managed to draw out a bird by pishing I think I would stop worrying about that!

 

[mountain man]

Hi Caroline. It's definitely a whisper. I should have used the word frequency instead of pitch.

And yes, you do feel very stupid!

 

[Bluetail]

Tom: from one who has never had any success with pishing, thanks for the tips!

Caroline: the way it's usually done is "sh" as in "shut up!!" with a "p" in front of it. Of course, Tom may say that's entirely the wrong way to do it!

 

[Nightranger]

Hi Tom,
Thanks for this really fascinating post. I have only been birding for about 10 months, and I have been wondering exactly how pishing is done. Most people I have spoken to have said that it doesn't work and not to bother, but maybe they're wrong. I read in a Bill Oddie book that he reckons it only works on American birds!
One thing I'm not sure about - is it voiced (like speech/song) or unvoiced (like a whisper)? From what you say, it seems it should be voiced.
The other thing I suppose is the embarrassment factor! However, if I actually managed to draw out a bird by pishing I think I would stop worrying about that!

There are quite a few ways of doing this and voicing is just one of the techniques. Another recommended way is to loudly 'kiss' the back of the hand but I cannot attest to the success of the latter because one tends to feel a tad self-conscious. The sound is supposed to approximate the 'growl' of a weasel or stoat but I suspect it is just arousing the curiousity of the birds "wondering what that mad human is doing". I have tried the voice method to 'communicate' with blue tits and it seems to work quite well.

 

[Steve Lister]

Hi Tom

From one pish artist to another I would congratulate you on an excellent description of the technique.

In parts of the USA pishing is regarded as 'harrassing the wildlife' - we were warned off by a ranger at Mt Rainier a few years ago.

Good pishing
Steve

 

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Excellent post Tom, many thanks.

I've tried pishing in woods, scrubland and the like with limited success and your excellent tips have encouraged me to experiment more with my pitch and rhythm.

The only real success I have had is with Goldcrests.

For the benefit of the uninitiated, are certain species more susceptible to the technique than others?

 

[Michael Frankis]

I find it is much better to imitate various bird and small mammal noises - squeaks, soft whistles, tongue-clicking, etc. If you have a particular species that's hiding, try to imitate its call (or better, song) as closely as you can.

My long-time habit of whistling Golden Oriole imitations in woods in late May paid off last week, almost couldn't believe it when I got a reply from the treetops . . .

Michael

 

[mountain man]

Goldcrests are very receptive. All the Tits (including Crested) as well. Most sylvia warblers (Whitethroat go mad for it). Leaf warblers usually respond very well - Chiffchaff love it as do Yellow-browed. A lot of Finches seem to respond well.

 

[Michael Frankis]

Firecrests usually respond better than Goldcrests, which is nice.

Best of all are Long-tailed Tits. One came to 2 feet in front of my face a few days ago.

Michael

 

[tomjenner]

I never had much luck when pishing in the UK, but since moving to Central America it has become a common technique for me to use. However, I still can't quite figure out exactly why it works so well on some occasions and has no effect on others. On several ocasions I have seen a group of birds and 'felt' that it was just the right time to pish, with a great response. On other occasions, when it didn't particularly feel like the right time, there has been almost no response. I would like to try and identify what it is that makes me think its the right time to pish. Some of you may have some suggestions.
Pishing also seems to work better in different parts of the world. Apparently, it is better the further north you go in the Americas. I have had little luck in South America, I get a mixed reaction here in Central America, but it was far more effective in Cuba and I have heard that it is more effective still in the US.
The main species that seem to respond to my pishing are warblers (especially the resident ones), vireos, jays, ant-tanagers, gnatcatchers and a few others. Others show little response. I have often tried to lure out a skulking wren, but they tend to shut up and stay out of sight.
This is a very interesting thread and I am really looking forward to hearing other people's techniques and theories.

Tom

 

[weather]

I use to use one of those brass and wood bird calls, I never had much luck. I'll have to try pishing again. How do you guys feel about recordings of bird calls used in the field?

Mike

 

[gthang]

I have trouble learning to whistle like everyone else can, but i've been practicing my pshing technique since I first learned about it. Every so often, I get a birdish whistle from the air rushing into my mouth.

One question, is it really like a kiss, as I've been told?

 

[Edward]

In the complete absence of Long-tailed Tits, tits of any kind in fact, I find it works an absolute treat on Wrens in Iceland and often on Goldcrests although they are nowhere near as responsive as Wrens. Although not classed under pishing, the "white hanky trick" works a treat on Nightjars in my very limited experience.

Michael, where was your Golden Oriole, Northumberland?

Great thread by the way, Tom.

E

 

[weather]

In the complete absence of Long-tailed Tits, tits of any kind in fact, I find it works an absolute treat on Wrens in Iceland and often on Goldcrests although they are nowhere near as responsive as Wrens. Although not classed under pishing, the "white hanky trick" works a treat on Nightjars in my very limited experience.

Michael, where was your Golden Oriole, Northumberland?

Great thread by the way, Tom.

E

What is the white hanky trick?

Mike

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Edward,

Michael, where was your Golden Oriole, Northumberland?

Yep, at Gosforth Park reserve just north of Newcastle

Michael

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Mike,

What is the white hanky trick?

Mike

Waving a white rag in the air above your head at night to attract Caprimulgus species - the theory is that they think it is a giant moth, or else perhaps a stimulus resembling the white display flashes the males of many species have in their wings.

Worth trying on Nighthawks, as well as Whip-poor-wills, etc.

Michael

 

[Edward]

What is the white hanky trick?

Mike

It's something I only heard of a week ago but as three separate people told me about it when they knew I was looking for Nightjars I decided to try it. Stand in an area where there are Nightjars at dusk or dawn and wave your arms up and down with a white handkerchief in each hand. I did this and Nightjars immediately started flying round me and displaying. Perhaps it will work with Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will or Chuck-will's-widow (the best bird name ever) or whatever species of nightjar you get in your part of the US. Only one way to find out!

E

 

[Edward woodwood]

works ok here like michael says , sometimes better with squeaks and tongue clicks. See how the birds respond and pish accordingly

used it a lot on mixed flocks abroad and it always pulls birds in. dusky and radde's sem to respond very well. it's all down to technique really.

we squeaked in a Yellow-bellied Marten (a mustelid/weasely animal) in India recently.....stood stock still and ran along the trail directly at us until five yards away and reared up having a good sniff.....it does work!

for real skulkers mimicking the call works as well as anything, and i think i'm blessed with a musical ear and good technique!

 

[weather]

It's something I only heard of a week ago but as three separate people told me about it when they knew I was looking for Nightjars I decided to try it. Stand in an area where there are Nightjars at dusk or dawn and wave your arms up and down with a white handkerchief in each hand. I did this and Nightjars immediately started flying round me and displaying. Perhaps it will work with Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will or Chuck-will's-widow (the best bird name ever) or whatever species of nightjar you get in your part of the US. Only one way to find out!

E

I'll have to give it a try! Not something you would want to try in Bagdad...

Mike