Birds building nest on porch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. 7 a.m. I look out the window, and there is the momma bird, sitting right next to the lemon and lime halves I placed up there (because I read that birds hate citrus). She hasn't even put more nest materials there, she's just sitting next to the fruit.

Not sure what kind of bird this is. She's gray, medium size (not tiny but not as big as a pigeon), and has a tail that tapers to a point. I looked at bird photos and maybe she is a mourning dove.

Update: After sitting there with the fruit for a little while this morning, she took off and hasn't come back. So I think the citrus fruit actually worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want to scare them off? We have had this happen several times with no issues.

I'm worried there will be bird crap and lots of squawking. It's a small porch on a city rowhouse.

Get rid of it now. If you let it stay it will become an annual nesting spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same problem but it's in our covered gutters so they'll be doomed, right?

Remove it, it'll clog your gutters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, I was going to try the fan idea, but I didn't have the right kind of fan to point it up where the nest was. The momma bird was sitting so solidly, I thought she might have eggs already (even though they just started on this nest this morning). Then she was gone, so I went and peeked and no eggs. Removed nest and put some cut lemons and limes in that spot. Have ordered wind chimes, and owl decoy and wondering about the bird spikes. I have two of these spots on my porch at the top of the brick porch posts, up high by the porch roof, all protected, nice place to nest I guess.

Baby birds do sound cute but ugh, I saw lots of problems coming along. I hope the birds find a happy home.

So instead of a family of songbirds, you'll hanging annoying wind chimes and clamping fake plastic birds to your house?

I cannot believe DCUM approves.

Well, I've always like wind chimes, and I got a smaller set that I hope will tinkle gently and not disturb neighbors. I've noticed many other houses in my neighborhood that have them. Good feng shui, I think. Wind chime hasn't arrived yet, so we'll see. The decoy owl will sit in a spot where no one will see it unless they look right at it, up under my porch roof.

Thank you for your concern; my descent into old-lady kitschiness has begun and may not be derailed. I'm also interested in German garden gnomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, I was going to try the fan idea, but I didn't have the right kind of fan to point it up where the nest was. The momma bird was sitting so solidly, I thought she might have eggs already (even though they just started on this nest this morning). Then she was gone, so I went and peeked and no eggs. Removed nest and put some cut lemons and limes in that spot. Have ordered wind chimes, and owl decoy and wondering about the bird spikes. I have two of these spots on my porch at the top of the brick porch posts, up high by the porch roof, all protected, nice place to nest I guess.

Baby birds do sound cute but ugh, I saw lots of problems coming along. I hope the birds find a happy home.

So instead of a family of songbirds, you'll hanging annoying wind chimes and clamping fake plastic birds to your house?

I cannot believe DCUM approves.

"Song" birds don't sound like Maria Callas. They sound more like car alarms.

[Anonymous]

Birds and squirrels have found a home in the roof over my porch. They are destroying the roof. I waited too long thinking they would leave. Looking for solutions to get rid of them while I search for a handyman that is affordable to fix or patch the porch roof.

[Anonymous]

I used aluminum foil to deter them - put it over the spot where they were building. I read that they don't like the reflection, plus it made it physically difficult for them to get to the area they'd started nesting.

[Anonymous]

I get nests in a transom window over my front door. I hang mirrored disks there now (they are sold as bird deterrent; foil or CDs would also work) to both block and scare them off.

My neighbor with the same sitution puts a plastic snake there, but I don't think the birds are fooled.

PP who has them actually in the roof, you need an exterminator. They will remove and can also put a patch (probably ugly) over the hole until you can get a handyman in for nicer repair.

[Anonymous]

Pathetic DCUM NIMBYs. The way some of you talk, every living being except for your own selves is a walking mass of lethal pathogens. I could not roll my eyes harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. 7 a.m. I look out the window, and there is the momma bird, sitting right next to the lemon and lime halves I placed up there (because I read that birds hate citrus). She hasn't even put more nest materials there, she's just sitting next to the fruit.

Not sure what kind of bird this is. She's gray, medium size (not tiny but not as big as a pigeon), and has a tail that tapers to a point. I looked at bird photos and maybe she is a mourning dove.

Catbird or titmouse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pathetic DCUM NIMBYs. The way some of you talk, every living being except for your own selves is a walking mass of lethal pathogens. I could not roll my eyes harder.

+1000. Unless they're nonnative (starlings or house sparrows, which are also loud), enjoy them. Put some plastic sheeting under the nest if you're worried about bird poop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pathetic DCUM NIMBYs. The way some of you talk, every living being except for your own selves is a walking mass of lethal pathogens. I could not roll my eyes harder.

Most DCUMers would die of terror if they lived more than 100 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Fake snakes will scare them.

[Anonymous]

You "people" are horrible and don't know how to live in harmony with nature. Most birds are harmless, there is no reason to knock down their nest.

FFS, you are the hazard OP. Suppose your house starting having issues & falling apart from a higher power because you don't belong here in DC? How would you feel? MTMHYJU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You "people" are horrible and don't know how to live in harmony with nature. Most birds are harmless, there is no reason to knock down their nest.

FFS, you are the hazard OP. Suppose your house starting having issues & falling apart from a higher power because you don't belong here in DC? How would you feel? MTMHYJU

NP. Except that birds are often not "harmless." I didn't mind birds building a nest in the arbor leading to our back yard...until they started attacking us every time we tried to walk through. So when we saw that the birds were starting to claim a spot in our portico right above the front door, you better believe we took steps to deter them. I did not want to be attacked every time I returned home.