Pallets in fields

[smstonypoint]

Can it really be as simple as a "goose scare crow"??? Is it really solved? Has the fun ended?

Naaaa no way ... Can't be .. Time for the goose deal to be truly scientifically examined .. Scientist proceed on!!!

Hopefully, Sparc's explanation will be as successful at ending this tnread as the time someone admitted they had been making crop circles for years and years.
Now, as the first debunker I ask, where in their upbringing migrating birds could have developed a fear of pallets?

As both blueriver and stuckmotor point out, sparc's "explanation" raises more questions than it answers. However, please note that I raised the possibility that the pallets were used as scarecrows last evening. Doubters may point out that I edited my post this morning, but I was correcting a typo.

You need to recalibrate your detector -- it has given you a false positive result.

Steve

PS A possibility that I haven't seen mentioned yet is that the pallets are used as scarecrows in winter wheat fields to deter migrating birds. Of course, I had alluded to laden swallows and a murmuration of starlings in my earlier posts.

Now, let us turn our attention to the so-called "explanation" offered by sparc.

Ok, I ran into a neighbor who though the fields in question are not his has lived here longer than I and knows the owners. Since they live in another state (I think he said TX but not sure I remember that correctly) they are not around to ask directly. I just happened on him as he was out cutting down some branches off tres along the roadside that blew down in the last storm.

Anyway, I asked if he knew why some of the local fields had the pallets leaned up against each other in some fields.
He said all the fields where he has seen them are planted with winter wheat and that they are meant to keep the birds from landing as they migrate south.

I was thinking they might be some type of crude scarecrow too but I did not offer that to him I let him tell me what they were.

Anyway, that's what I was able to find out. He says the owners are not around that often but he would ask next time he sees them if he remembers to, but that probably won't be until Spring.

As stuckmotor asked "where in their upbringing migrating birds could have developed a fear of pallets"?

Let us consult the scientific literature.

ABSTRACT: Scarecrows and raptor models are fairly common traditional methods of attempting to frighten unwanted birds. Their effectiveness depends on the conditions under which they are used and the unwanted bird species involved. Best results are obtained from those that are most lifelike and have motion. When coupled with loud startling sounds or recorded distress calls their effectiveness is generally enhanced. Habituation by at least some birds is inevitable so the duration of effectiveness diminishes with time. It is essential to know what works best in a given situation so those methods can be employed to achieve maximum efficiency. An understanding of the limitations of these devices will temper expectations to a realistic level.

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=vpc15

Are the pallets lifelike? Do they have motion? Do they emit loud startling sounds or distress calls? I think not.

The only factor that makes the "scarecrow" explanation plausible is that the owner of the property is from Texas. He then may be a graduate of Texas A&M University -- an Aggie. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of knowing and/or working with Texas A&M graduates, they are not known for their intellectual prowess. To avoid distraction, do not Google "Texas A&M Aggie jokes." The best Aggie jokes cannot be related in this forum.

I don't know how this simple question got to 43 pages or replies. I didn't think this would be so difficult to answer. But I must admit I have not read all 1700+ replies.

Case closed as far as I am concerned.

I'll be more careful what I inquire about in the future. I hesitated to even ask the question cause I thought it's probably so obvious what they are for I will feel dumb for asking, but since it has raised so much debate I guess that's not the case.


Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled program.

You now have control of the horizontal and verticle again.

What are we to make of sparc's use of "verticle" and his desire to close this case?

Glossary of Astrological Terms
The prime verticle or circle of observation is the circle in which an observer stands when facing south. This circle is divided into 12 equal parts, comprising the 12 houses through which the signs and planets seem to pass obliquely in their apparent diurnal motion from east to west.

Verticle definition by Babylon?s free dictionary

Does sparc know Madam Zelda? And whatever happened to Robert?

Steve

 

[k0ua]

I think the scare crow "faction" sounds about right, Yeah I am in the scare crow camp now. Besides I have a headache after that party last night.:laughing:

 

[stuckmotor]

I 'm afraid that Robert stumbled upon the REAL answer and had to be silenced...

 

[dragoneggs]

Celebrations are in order and the burning of pallets are perhaps appropriate now that sparc has chimed in. Personally I am not convinced that the scare cow theorists should be vindicated just yet. But for those of us that have erected, observed, documented, and possibly worshipped our pallet formations in hopes that clairvoyance will be bestowed upon us... the timing could be right.

That said, my inverted V will remain erected until at least the end of February in case other unbeknown factions with credible hypotheses are revealed.

 

[dave1949]

I 'm afraid that Robert stumbled upon the REAL answer and had to be silenced...

I have my suspicions.

Florida is overrun with prowling cougars, like this example of cougarus floridiians:



What chance would a monkey have? RIP Robert.

 

[stuckmotor]

I have my suspicions.

Florida is overrun with prowling cougars, like this example of cougarus floridiians:

View attachment 360521

What chance would a monkey have? RIP Robert.

It's kinda cold in SC. I think I'll head down to Florida.

 

[k0ua]

I have my suspicions.

Florida is overrun with prowling cougars, like this example of cougarus floridiians:

View attachment 360521

What chance would a monkey have? RIP Robert.

I believe that is a snow leopard.:laughing:

 

[dave1949]

I believe that is a snow leopard.:laughing:

Too technical for me James. A puddy tat is a puddy tat in my book.

Just in case you thought I was makin' stuff up:
Classic Beauties of Florida by Kathleen Slaven | Cougars of Florida | Classic Beauties of Florida by Kathleen Slaven

 

[k0ua]

Too technical for me James. A puddy tat is a puddy tat in my book.

Just in case you thought I was makin' stuff up:
Classic Beauties of Florida by Kathleen Slaven | Cougars of Florida | Classic Beauties of Florida by Kathleen Slaven

Wow!.. that cougar on the horse is nice!

 

[sparc]

What are we to make of sparc's use of "verticle" and his desire to close this case?

sorry for the typo, hope i didn't confuse you too much.

my 'explanation' was not taken from anyones responses in this thread. as I said I have not read them all, maybe 50 of the over 1700 posts at the most, and your post with the scarecrow idea was not one of them.