Birds nesting behind shutters

PKBoo · #1 05/17/08, 10:48 PM

Has anyone found a solution for this? The previous owners put wire netting behind the shutters, but it hasn't worked. They're making a mess...

Up North Louie · #2 05/18/08, 04:42 AM

You could try spraying the inside surfaces with bitter apple pet control stuff. It would have to be reapplied from time to time.

Don

jil101ca · #3 05/18/08, 07:33 AM

They are making a mess but they are also help you with bug control in exchange for nesting behind your shutters.

Rocky Fields · #4 05/18/08, 08:22 AM

Hey.

Birds mainly nest in the spring...maybe take them down for nesting season and put them up later on. You must have a large gap behind 'em...maybe cut a piece of plywood to fit behind them to fill up the space. "Roost No More" comes in a caulking tube and it slightly burns animal feet...they used to use it in big cities to keep pigeons away. I used it for squirrels years ago and it worked well.

RF

joyceb · #5 05/18/08, 08:32 AM

We always had barn swallows nesting over our porch light - wouldn't have been a problem, except for the HUGE parasite load they carry - little creepy crawlers getting all over the screen door!

Dad always used a plastic barn owl in his garage, but we didn't have room for that right under the porch roof. So I found a terrific (and cheap) way to keep the birds from nesting there... A little plastic snake! Just draped it against the siding & over the light where it wouldn't melt. 3 years and no unwanted nesting!

You can drape one that nearly matches the color of the shutters over the edge and no birds will even try it. If they are already nesting, knock down the nest and they will try to come back for awhile, but won't build - they will just hang around until they see that snake is not going anywhere, then they will move on.

Little rubber snakes can be found for less than a dollar a piece in most any store that sells toys.

It works like a charm!

Joyceb

Quint · #6 05/18/08, 11:55 PM

I had a similar problem with my shutters but it was wasps nesting behind them. I finally just removed the shutters since they were for aesthetics only.

You might try attaching anti-bird spikes to the areas where they're nesting.

I have phoebes and swallows that nest under my eaves and on my downspouts. I just go ahead and let them. Once they're gone I remove the nests. They build relatively unobtrusive nests and they're not particularly dirty or at least not in areas that overly concern me. Besides they fly around the outside of the house and catch wasps and other bugs.

On the other hand if they were the vile English Sparrows I'd murder the things in a heartbeat. They're a pestilence. They're noisy, have an obnoxious song, build large trashy nests and are generally filthy. They rank right up there with starlings.

I've built small sparrow traps and baited them with birdseed and at least cut the population for a time and reduced some of their nesting in outbuildings. As of right now I'm relatively free of the nasty things.

goat^farmer · #7 05/19/08, 01:16 AM

joyceb We always had barn swallows nesting over our porch light - wouldn't have been a problem, except for the HUGE parasite load they carry - little creepy crawlers getting all over the screen door!

Was your all little creepy crawlers small looking black bugs and lots of them?

What did you do to get rid of the creepy crawlers you all had on your screen door? My friend has a problem with a bird building a nest on her light on deck and have little bugs that looks scary...

joyceb · #8 05/19/08, 03:04 PM

They were kind of a rusty gray color - very small - bird lice. But all you had to do was touch the screen door and they were all over your hands and arms. eeeeew!

Once I got rid of the nest & put up the snake to keep them away, I sprayed the surface of the door and around all it's edges inside & out with Raid. Then I vacuumed within about 20 minutes & threw out the vac bag immediately. Repeated for a couple of days, but did not see any more of the little nasties. Once the warm feathery body leaves, the little bugs don't stick around long.

JoyceB (Itching just thinking about it!!)

MeanDean · #9 05/19/08, 03:05 PM

2 words - one solution:

"Flame Thrower"

PKBoo · #10 05/19/08, 10:24 PM

They are the vile nasty House (English) Sparrows! I love the swallows in the barn and the robin's nest perched above the shutter, but the sparrows have to go. The snake is a great idea, so I'll try that first. We are in the process of moving in, so once we get settled I'll have to get rid of the varmits.

Quint - how did you build the sparrow traps? Definitely something I'd be interested in doing!

Quint · #11 05/20/08, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmwannabe

Quint - how did you build the sparrow traps? Definitely something I'd be interested in doing!

Mine was just wire with a V shaped opening across the top. They flew in and couldn't easliy fly out. Worked really well.

Google "sparrow traps" and you'll get all sorts of different types you can either buy or get an idea of their construction and build them yourself.

You are generally left with the task of killing them so be prepared for that. It is simple enough to wring their necks or simply pull their heads off but isn't the most pleasant of tasks. I've been told they're actually not bad eating but I've never tried one myself.