Easy anti-bird nest solutions

[CrouchingWayne]

Hi all,

I’ve got a recurring issue with swallows nesting in an eve of the house. Last year they nested and all flew away - I managed to knock it down once uninhabited. It looks like they are sizing it up again this year though.

Unfortunately the eve is above a door and I’d rather avoid the droppings there so I want an anti bird solution (they are welcome to nest on the eve in the side of the house)

It’s a full two story house so I’m struggling to get reasonable access - is there an easy DIY solution? I can access it from the upstairs window with a broom or similar

I did try a couple of anti pest companies but the usual story of having issues actually extracting a quote has led me back to the nesting season.

Thanks

[dmsims]

Are you from Shorpe ?

[Blib]

CrouchingWayne said:

Hi all,

I’ve got a recurring issue with swallows nesting in an eve of the house. Last year they nested and all flew away - I managed to knock it down once uninhabited. It looks like they are sizing it up again this year though.

Unfortunately the eve is above a door and I’d rather avoid the droppings there so I want an anti bird solution (they are welcome to nest on the eve in the side of the house)

It’s a full two story house so I’m struggling to get reasonable access - is there an easy DIY solution? I can access it from the upstairs window with a broom or similar

I did try a couple of anti pest companies but the usual story of having issues actually extracting a quote has led me back to the nesting season.

Thanks

[Mabbs9]

How about a metre below you put a small square shelf to stop droppings be a nuisance? Swallow try and return to the same nest site. Lots of people are trying to stop them. It would be nice to give them a little chance.

[LimmerickLad]

We have a couple of swift nests under our eaves...great to watch them come and go..why not enjoy them rather than smashing their nests?

[jagnet]

Hang a length of string with squares of foil dangling from it under where you don't want them nesting. They don't like the movement and light reflection; or at least not enough to risk nest building near it.

[Turn7]

Mabbs9 said:

How about a metre below you put a small square shelf to stop droppings be a nuisance? Swallow try and return to the same nest site. Lots of people are trying to stop them. It would be nice to give them a little chance.

This.

[bigpriest]

If you put up a swallow box to encourage them to nest away from the door then your conscience is a bit clearer. Maybe an extending window cleaning kit will reach? Someone may report you for disturbing nesting birds.

[Master Of Puppets]

Swallows usually don't nest under eaves, more likely to be House Martins. I would love to have them nesting anywhere on
my house, I would just put a cover up where the droppings might land, small price to pay for having these delightful birds
that need all the help they can get in this modern world where so much human activity is against them.

Be aware also tampering with any nest in use can land you in big trouble, the fines for wildlife crime are high, and rightly so.

Such a pity so many people just don't care about our wildlife.

[Chumley.mouse]

Master Of Puppets said:

Swallows usually don't nest under eaves, more likely to be House Martins. I would love to have them nesting anywhere on
my house, I would just put a cover up where the droppings might land, small price to pay for having these delightful birds
that need all the help they can get in this modern world where so much human activity is against them.

Be aware also tampering with any nest in use can land you in big trouble, the fines for wildlife crime are high, and rightly so.

Such a pity so many people just don't care about our wildlife.

If they didn’t build their nests on humans houses and then proceed to st all over it then i don’t suppose anyone would want to bother them ?

[The Gauge]

Actually makes me feel a bit sick that someone is trying to prevent swallows nesting. Nesting sites for birds like these are in decline. Truly saddened.

[FiF]

Now the nest is there you are stuffed it's an offence to remove it in use.

If the nest is up near the peak of a gable end, a favourite spot, you can put up some mesh which will be effective in future years. Or spikes or strips which hang downwards.

Also house martins don't build their nests if the eaves, soffit and fascias are uPVC it seems. Some installers have a design which includes such straps or spikes.

As for a shelf to catch droppings, part of the issue is poops as they are flying away from the nest. Need a hell of a shelf to catch that.

[LimmerickLad]

As stated earlier, we have swifts nesting in our eaves not swallows, but it has just occured to me when putting the pation cushions back into the box that is directly below the nests...NO poo on it whatsover

[trails]

We have Starlings nesting in our roof, they crap all over the cars and typically have two clutches each year. Hosing the cars down every other day is a small price to pay for supporting an endangered species, and getting to watch them out of the window growing up.

[bigpriest]

trails said:

We have Starlings nesting in our roof, they crap all over the cars and typically have two clutches each year. Hosing the cars down every other day is a small price to pay for supporting an endangered species, and getting to watch them out of the window growing up.

I have loads of goldfinches on the sunflower heart feeders, keeps me happy watching them as I work from home. They sit on the phone wires and crap on my neighbours' cars (who selfishly park partly on the pavement) so it's a win-win.

[trails]

bigpriest said:

I have loads of goldfinches on the sunflower heart feeders, keeps me happy watching them as I work from home. They sit on the phone wires and crap on my neighbours' cars (who selfishly park partly on the pavement) so it's a win-win.

Perfect

[LimmerickLad]

trails said:

bigpriest said:

I have loads of goldfinches on the sunflower heart feeders, keeps me happy watching them as I work from home. They sit on the phone wires and crap on my neighbours' cars (who selfishly park partly on the pavement) so it's a win-win.

Perfect

Plant teasle.

[and31]

trails said:

We have Starlings nesting in our roof, they crap all over the cars and typically have two clutches each year. Hosing the cars down every other day is a small price to pay for supporting an endangered species, and getting to watch them out of the window growing up.

We have starlings too-one of my cars is right under the flight path so always getting crapped on, but it’s got a cover now so no harm done-we’ve had them for at least ten years I’d say, my wife absolutely loves them

[trails]

LimmerickLad said:

trails said:

bigpriest said:

I have loads of goldfinches on the sunflower heart feeders, keeps me happy watching them as I work from home. They sit on the phone wires and crap on my neighbours' cars (who selfishly park partly on the pavement) so it's a win-win.

Perfect

Plant teasle.

The end of our garden is given over to a very modest wild area, so I'll plant some of this year. Thanks.

[trails]

and31 said:

trails said:

We have Starlings nesting in our roof, they crap all over the cars and typically have two clutches each year. Hosing the cars down every other day is a small price to pay for supporting an endangered species, and getting to watch them out of the window growing up.

We have starlings too-one of my cars is right under the flight path so always getting crapped on, but it’s got a cover now so no harm done-we’ve had them for at least ten years I’d say, my wife absolutely loves them

Ours have been in visiting for around that sort of time, I stick a cover on the soft top but just leave the others...noisy little buggers, but very happy sharing with them and like yours, my wife loves them