4/20/2023 0 Comments Billboard tarps![]() ![]() The "roof" sagged with the weight of water so now I have more time this summer I am going to try to readjust it to collect rainwater for the garden. The one I put up in a hurry as a roof to shelter the lawnmower and chainsaw etc not only handled a skookum snowload (over a relatively small area, admittedly) but also was waterproof. They are HUGELY useful for all sorts of things and I have never been asked to pay for them. I just ask whenever I am there and often they will get me one which is on a partially sold stack of lumber. It's easier for them just to toss them in the dumpster than to stash them somewhere to get picked up. ![]() The main problem I have found is that because they are big and awkward, most of the lumberyard people don't like to deal with them. They are long and sort of cumbersome to deal with, and sometimes have pinholes or rips (Often where the lumberyard people have cut them open). These seem to be simply tossed by every lumber yard I have asked. I haven't been able to find cheap (or any! locally) used billboard tarps but last year I used the tarps that lumber is shipped to lumber yards in. Only thing I've ever found that they can do for me that is benefecial and I'd be glad to shovel if they'd just go elsewhere! They come in enforce and work the snow with their beaks, however, their heat from their feet as well as their weight compacts it. Remembering that there are a large number and their toes are as big as a gooses, I will leave a trail of some sort of grain or something they like to eat, in the snow. In the winter, rather than shoveling paths in the snow, I do intentionally feed them on occasion. Some of the communications are very subtle, but if I pay close attention to them, I can often tell when someone is driving up my road. They are incredible communicators, anytime I go for a walk, there are always a couple keeping an eye on me and "reporting" verbally back to the others. If I look in the direction of one, or move my arm as if to point, they fly. They aren't tame, they are incredibly shy. Seriously, if someone can come up with a training project for these birds it would probably be worth it. I keep hoping that they'll find the real thing one of these days! The ravens LOVE to drop things in my water troughs for my livestock (found my cell phone there a couple of times). I live in an area known for it's gold mines. Among many other research projects that have been done are some that are really intriguing to me involving. Not only is utilized with mammals (sea mammal trainers love it too!), it's been utilized at all levels of life. they are actually being "trained" if you want to look at it in that manner. The principles are identical to those which motivate people to gamble at slot machines. In livestock worlds, we usually call it clicker training and is a form of positive training. Just can't seem to think of anything to put the ravens to work doing. ![]() I've done operant conditioning for years. ![]()
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