Backyard under seige

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
6,105
A bird has nested in a tree in our backyard. In defense of its new home, it frequently does fly-by's (some with contact) towards me or my dog. Normally I'd just get the air rifle and whack the bird, but my wife expressed some objection. So I'm wondering, anyone have a good way to non-lethally deter a bird? If I figure out a way to move the nest myself without getting pecked will it just go to the new locale, or abandon it?

Either way it's not a huge leap to get an air rifle and not tell the misses. Just curious about other means though!
 
I don't think a territorial bird will stop attacking you and your dog, or anything else that gets too close, until it has been forcibly relocated (simply destroying the nest might do the trick) or "taken care of".

Does anybody have Joe Pesci's number? :D
 
Go out armed with a broom.
 
Knock down the nest and the bird and its mate will probably relocate. It's early enough in the season for them to start over. If it's a migratory songbird this is probably against the law, so don't invite your local newspaper.
 
Gotta go with knarfeng on this one. Brooms are wonderful for deterring small animals. However, I want to see some doggy armor, so 65535 gets my vote as well.
 
Cougar Allen said:
http://www.pitbullarmory.com/dog-armor.html

(The squirrel armor is pretty cool, too....)
Click to expand...

Okay, now that's cool. However, I'm partial to cat armor.
cat-armor.jpg
 
You might try a few rubber snakes in the tree. I bought a few from a toy shop and put them on my balcony to keep the pigeons away. It worked fairly well.
 
Alfaholic said:
You might try a few rubber snakes in the tree. I bought a few from a toy shop and put them on my balcony to keep the pigeons away. It worked fairly well.
Click to expand...

My dad did that. Kept having a few birds "not like his truck" so he placed a
few toy snakes around and they left.
Although my niece is still not happy with the snakes as they look "too" real. :)

mike
 
Plus I'll look totally cool and manly with a strainer on my head and a broom in my hand, swinging wildly at the air as birds claw at my face. :thumbup: Maybe I'll wrap the mutt in tin foil...
 
SpookyPistolero said:
A bird has nested in a tree in our backyard. In defense of its new home, it frequently does fly-by's (some with contact) towards me or my dog. Normally I'd just get the air rifle and whack the bird, but my wife expressed some objection. So I'm wondering, anyone have a good way to non-lethally deter a bird? If I figure out a way to move the nest myself without getting pecked will it just go to the new locale, or abandon it?

Either way it's not a huge leap to get an air rifle and not tell the misses. Just curious about other means though!
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a mockingbird dive bombing you & the dog. I've seen them do battle with a neighbor's cat and win. Give it a week or two... it will get to know who's a threat and eventually leave you and the dog alone. :D
 
Straight out of a cartoon, I tried to relocate the nest and was attacked and shat upon. Very fun way to round out a workday. That limits our options a bit in terms of a solution...
 
What are you - afraid of the thing? :D Well, obviously not! :D Let the damn bird go about its business and you go about your own. Ignore its territorial displays and they will diminish and, finally, cease once it gets the idea that you are not a threat - don't keep looking at the nest, because that's the "predator" behavior that sets them off.

What kind of a bird is it anyway? If it's a mockingbird forget the previous advice - it will kill you and crap on your corpse. :eek:;)
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Plus I'll look totally cool and manly with a strainer on my head and a broom in my hand, swinging wildly at the air as birds claw at my face. :thumbup: Maybe I'll wrap the mutt in tin foil...
Click to expand...

2784895997_95ba8d122f.jpg


437038351_3bebc05617.jpg


If Alfaholic's snakes don't work, you might try a plastic owl. The who's who of bird control experts are all using them.

/self-facepalm
 
Most birds swoop from behind, so one ploy used in Australia is to wear a pair of sunglasses on the back of your head thus stopping the strike.

Have to agree with the folks who say wait it out otherwise it will be a question of "To Kill a Mockingbird " ;) :D
 
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Probably a Mockingbird depending upon your locale there Spooky. Just let it be for a few weeks and it'll be gone with it's nestlings. My father who lives in MN has one right outside his front door and has resigned himself to using the garage door until it's gone. He joked, "at least it keeps the J'witnesses away:D" and all the other 'door to door sales folk!

SpookyPistolero said:
A bird has nested in a tree in our backyard. In defense of its new home, it frequently does fly-by's (some with contact) towards me or my dog. Normally I'd just get the air rifle and whack the bird, but my wife expressed some objection. So I'm wondering, anyone have a good way to non-lethally deter a bird? If I figure out a way to move the nest myself without getting pecked will it just go to the new locale, or abandon it?

Either way it's not a huge leap to get an air rifle and not tell the misses. Just curious about other means though!
Click to expand...
 
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