Golf ball in a nest.

By Birding-Aus, on May 25th, 2015

Hello Scott, Australian Ravens become quite a nuisance on some golf courses because they steal golf balls and golfers get very cranky because if you don’t actually witness the bird stealing the ball, you are penalised for a lost ball. The ravens take the ball to a convenient place (like the nest you found, NOT normally their own nest), where they peck it fairly viciously trying to “open” it. Even if you somehow get your golf ball back, it is usually so roughed up with peck marks, that it is no longer usable. Tony, it would have been an amazing putt indeed! Golf balls are a real mouthful for an Australian Raven. It would be interesting to know if any of our other corvids are known to steal golf balls, either because of different behaviour or because their bills (mouths) are not as big. In Tasmania it would be easy to prove – only one species there and it is our biggest corvid. Anybody know? Cheers Graeme Chapman, (4 handicap once upon a time, now probably 27. The joys of getting older!)

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pratincole08

May 26, 2015 at 9:16 am

Yes, and imagine some thundering great eagles and albatrosses pinching the balls as well. Sent: Monday, 25 May 2015 10:40 PM drscotteaton@gmail.com Cc: birding-aus@birding-aus.org Is THAT what a birdie is, I had always wondered Robin Ashford drscotteaton@gmail.com Of Of they

shirleycook

May 26, 2015 at 7:27 am

At the local golf course, for several years, one particular golfer was the target of the nesting Masked Lapwings. His fury was something to behold. It almost seemed as though those Lapwings singled him out! Missiles aimed at the birds included both clubs and golf balls. Shirley Cook —– Original Message —– < drscotteaton@gmail.com> Cc: < birding-aus@birding-aus.org> Sent: Monday, May 25, 2015 3:35 PM

r_ashford

May 25, 2015 at 11:09 pm

Is THAT what a birdie is, I had always wondered Robin Ashford

rmacfarl

May 25, 2015 at 8:59 pm

Golf is a stupid game. There’s hardly any time to spot birds before the other players start complaining. —–Original Message—– Tony Russell Sent: Monday, 25 May 2015 3:35 PM Cc: birding-aus@birding-aus.org I find this quite a positive outcome. There’s nothing as funny as an angry golfer. —–Original Message—– Graeme Chapman Sent: Monday, 25 May 2015 11:21 AM Cc: birding-aus@birding-aus.org Hello Scott, Australian Ravens become quite a nuisance on some golf courses because they steal golf balls and golfers get very cranky because if you don’t actually witness the bird stealing the ball, you are penalised for a lost ball.

May 25, 2015 at 3:35 pm

I find this quite a positive outcome. There’s nothing as funny as an angry golfer. —–Original Message—– Graeme Chapman Sent: Monday, 25 May 2015 11:21 AM Cc: birding-aus@birding-aus.org Hello Scott, Australian Ravens become quite a nuisance on some golf courses because they steal golf balls and golfers get very cranky because if you don’t actually witness the bird stealing the ball, you are penalised for a lost ball.

carlsclifford

May 25, 2015 at 1:04 pm

Hi Graeme, I have just done a quick web search, and found reports of corvids stealing golf balls in Eire, the UK, USA South Africa and Bangladesh. Seems like a common problem. Perhaps the solution would be to change to cubic balls, which would not only deter the Corvids, but make the game much more interesting. Carl Clifford

pterodroma

May 25, 2015 at 12:34 pm

Little Ravens regularly take golf balls from the course at Edithvale and deposit drop them on the adjacent wetlands SE of Melbourne. Mike Carter, 03 9787 7136 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza, VIC 3930, Australia —–Original Message—– Graeme Chapman Sent: Monday, 25 May 2015 11:51 AM Cc: birding-aus@birding-aus.org Hello Scott, Australian Ravens become quite a nuisance on some golf courses because they steal golf balls and golfers get very cranky because if you don’t actually witness the bird stealing the ball, you are penalised for a lost ball. The ravens take the ball to a convenient place (like the nest you found, NOT normally their own nest), where they peck it fairly viciously trying to “open” it. Even if you somehow get your golf ball back, it is usually so roughed up with peck marks, that it is no longer usable. Tony, it would have been an amazing putt indeed! Golf balls are a real mouthful for an Australian Raven. It would be interesting to know if any of our other corvids are known to steal golf balls, either because of different behaviour or because their bills (mouths) are not as big. In Tasmania it would be easy to prove – only one species there and it is our biggest corvid. Anybody know? Cheers Graeme Chapman, (4 handicap once upon a time, now probably 27. The joys of getting older!)

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Golf ball in a nest.

7 comments to Golf ball in a nest.

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