of course you need a decoy!!!!! first of allif they dont see a bird they have no interests of coming closer becasue they no they think the calling birds to far,and also they know theressomething fishy if they dont see another bird, second of all a decoy keeps them from looking at you, 3 of all a decoy brings them right to where you want, 4th of all a there stupid animals and will attack and even attempt to mate with the decoy so you dont have to worry about them no its fake.