My first kill!!!!

[Tpatner412]

Took this guy out from about 25 yards.  All I heard was a nice smack and then saw it go down.  Taken with the RWS 48 and H&N Field Target Trophies weighing in at 14.6 grains.  I believe it's some kind of blackbird.  Can't really tell where the pellet hit but I'm thinking the neck area because it was very limp when I checked to find my POI.

[wahoowad]

Congratulations! My first today too - popped a wabbit. Your target was a lot smaller than mine. Good shooting!

[djmyers]

That's a red wing black bide. They are song birds and fall in the same catagory as a cardinalhere in nc.

[dk1677]

Good info here to ID birds  http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2653&mid=16647#M16647

[Tpatner412]

Thanks for the info guys. As far as I know they are not a protected species here in Illinois so I took the shot. I really don't have much to choose from
in the backyard though. The occasional grackle, and mainly all robins until I saw that one.

[Gene_SC]

I hate to say it but I would not shoot a bird that pretty...

[airiscool]

Good shot.

Looks like a Red Winged Black Bird to me also.

Paul

[only1harry]

Nice shot but we usually don't shoot red wing blackbirds.  We show no mercy however on their cousins the Grackle, which is all black with some slight bluish/purple on males.  The red-winged ones are prettier

[Tpatner412]

Well I suppose that I will take these guys off my target list.  I'm not a huge fan of shooting Robin's though.  Sadly, the majority of birds that I have opportunities to shoot are Robin's so I'm just gonna have to wait for the grackles and starlings.

[CharlieDaTuna]

That's a shame and not sure that I would be proud of it. Not sure why anybody would shoot song birds. The only birds that are normally shot are birds considered to be pests. Most birds are not protected spiecies but that doesn't give a person the right to shoot them and it is  illegal to shoot most birds with the exception of pests almost everywhere.  I would suggest that if you don't know what you are shooting at.... don't shot it. Besides, you might wind up being fined for it or even go to jail.

[jake]

nice shooting

[shadow]

Red Wing Blackbird and I love having them come into the feeders here, singing songs for me. Get the one's that don't have the racing stripe's on em. Ed

[Mebits]

Bait the pest birds in. Cat food for the starlings, cracked corn and bread for the sparrows. Check out the bird ID links above, too. My Brown Birds link is key on the sparrows.  Keep some cheap binoculars at hand and make sure you've got your ID down pat.

You can buy generic cat food for $1.79 at my grocery and cracked corn is like $2.75 for 5lbs at my feed store.

M

[Tpatner412]

Yea I won't be taking any more shots at these guys any more. What do you folks think about Robins?  Anyone on here go after them?

[Mebits]

No, Robins are song birds. Starlings, pigeon, and house sparrows. That's it, for non-game birds.

The good news is that there are PLENTY of pest birds around. You may just have to do a little work. You may also have to be patient for a bit until they find you. If by some odd chance of fate, you can almost assuredly find a place where there are a lot of pest birds and get permission to shoot there.

But do your homework first.

M