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Bird Invasion

#1

B

boostedwolfe

Pretty off topic but my mother just sent me some pics of a birds nest at the house. Not sure exactly how to take care of it but there really isn't a place to move the nest to a tree or something like that. But they are laying eggs and there is constant noise. I have a tall enough ladder to reach it but I am not looking forward to a bird attack.



#2

S

SeniorCitizen

If that's a window unit a/c the birds will have fledged before the unit is needed. Then clean it and screen the opening to deter more renters.


#3

B

boostedwolfe

SeniorCitizen said:
If that's a window unit a/c the birds will have fledged before the unit is needed. Then clean it and screen the opening to deter more renters.
Click to expand...

It is an in the wall unit.


#4

S

SeniorCitizen

Being there is noise they have already hatched and will be out within a couple of weeks or possibly 18 days at most. It is possibly a wren or eastern phoebe so just enjoy them for catching spiders and bugs.


#5

B

boostedwolfe

SeniorCitizen said:
Being there is noise they have already hatched and will be out within a couple of weeks or possibly 18 days at most. It is possibly a wren or eastern phoebe so just enjoy them for catching spiders and bugs.
Click to expand...

I am now thinking about bird houses now. Anyone have any experience? Want to give them a nice place to stay!


#6

S

SeniorCitizen

I have very limited experience compared to those who do birding but I enjoy it just the same. It can be done on any level and those that seem to be on nearly a professional level are usually very willing to help. But can be a little persnickety at the same time.

As you can already see birds tend to choose their nest site very erratically. Years ago my son, at about age 10 at the time, built a wooden bird feeder and attached it to a tree. As the years passed and the elements degraded the structure long after he was married and gone from home a wren built a nest in it. It finally got so bad the wren abandoned it as a nest site. I built a nest box to specifications of old western red cedar lumber from a recycled fence. That was about 10 years ago and to my knowledge no bird of any species has ever built a nest in it. It seems wrens would rather have a hollow limb to build in or always in the bottom of the radiator shroud of my old WD-45 Allis tractor.:laughing:

I do have a link to a very fine birding site if you would like it. It is a worldwide site I believe based in the UK possibly. They have answered any question I've ever ask, especially if one provides pictures.


#7

B

bertsmobile1

Once they have gone.
Put up a screen, quickly as if this is a good season in your local area that might have another brood.
The birds born there will come back next year to nest in the same or nearby place.
Save the old nesting material, pop up your new birdhouse near by & put the old nesting material in there.
Use plastic gloves when removing the old material and again when replacing it,
The nest box need to make the bird feel secure, not pretty and what most do is make the entry space too big or the roost in front of the nesting space too big.
Good luck


#8

B

boostedwolfe

SeniorCitizen said:
I have very limited experience compared to those who do birding but I enjoy it just the same. It can be done on any level and those that seem to be on nearly a professional level are usually very willing to help. But can be a little persnickety at the same time.

As you can already see birds tend to choose their nest site very erratically. Years ago my son, at about age 10 at the time, built a wooden bird feeder and attached it to a tree. As the years passed and the elements degraded the structure long after he was married and gone from home a wren built a nest in it. It finally got so bad the wren abandoned it as a nest site. I built a nest box to specifications of old western red cedar lumber from a recycled fence. That was about 10 years ago and to my knowledge no bird of any species has ever built a nest in it. It seems wrens would rather have a hollow limb to build in or always in the bottom of the radiator shroud of my old WD-45 Allis tractor.:laughing:

I do have a link to a very fine birding site if you would like it. It is a worldwide site I believe based in the UK possibly. They have answered any question I've ever ask, especially if one provides pictures.
Click to expand...

I used to have several bird feeders and houses when I was a kid and we had flocks of birds in the yard feeding and living there. We had doves, wrens, bluejays, robins etc.. It was great!

If you have that link I would appreciate it! Very interested in it!


#9

B

boostedwolfe

bertsmobile1 said:
Once they have gone.
Put up a screen, quickly as if this is a good season in your local area that might have another brood.
The birds born there will come back next year to nest in the same or nearby place.
Save the old nesting material, pop up your new birdhouse near by & put the old nesting material in there.
Use plastic gloves when removing the old material and again when replacing it,
The nest box need to make the bird feel secure, not pretty and what most do is make the entry space too big or the roost in front of the nesting space too big.
Good luck
Click to expand...

I think I have a nice spot to mount a bird house for them. I was thinking about putting one decently high in the air with a pole so hopefully they will leave the nest soon and I will take their nest and put it in the house I am going to make.
I love nature but having birds possibly climbing into the walls is never good. I got to get some time this weekend to do it!

Thanks for all the help everyone!


#10

M

motoman

Glad to hear there are bird lovers in the forum. I used to spend every winter building new bird houses and every spring cleaning them. But squirrels have chewed the 1" dia chickadee holes open and taken over. I tried to attract owls with bigger houses , but none. I do have a free rent green-violet swallow house which is in great demand, and even these birds are fussy about height placement. Buy 50 lb bags of mixed grain and also black sunflower seeds. Suet year round. Crows rule and do have some nasty habits ,but I do find them very smart and great family birds. I do not like startlings. Great hobby. Keep clean water source nearby. Put a circular horse fence shield around the "small bird" bath to deflect cats (which I also like when under control). Sometimes a runaway peacock appears for a while. Great decoration, but dumb!


#11

S

SeniorCitizen

boostedwolfe said:
I used to have several bird feeders and houses when I was a kid and we had flocks of birds in the yard feeding and living there. We had doves, wrens, bluejays, robins etc.. It was great!

If you have that link I would appreciate it! Very interested in it!
Click to expand...

Sorry to be so late with this reply. Without subscribed email notification I don't have a clue as I suspect many other members don't.

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