Though I would join in the unwanted animals in my house/garden theme...
At the moment we are being plagued by birds (starlings I think) living in the loft of our house - at least three different places in the loft and in the chimney. Of course I don't want to disturb them just now whilst they have chicks, but as soon as they have gone I want to do something to stop it happening again as the noise from sunrise onwards is driving us mad.
So - what can I do? I did try expanding foam (from inside the house) on one nest during the winter but that didn't work.
Ideas please!
Pick up all the moss and loose twigs from your garden so that they have nothing to build their nests with in future.
Pick up all the moss and loose twigs from your garden so that they have nothing to build their nests with in future.
I *am* in the process of scarifying the lawn so next year things should be better but we are in a semi-rural location on the edge of town so there are ample other places they could find materials (ie in the farmer's field over the road that is full of fluffy sheep).
youll be wanting to block their access points then.
mesh/vents fitted in the holes and a propper bird wire cage or cap on top of the chimney......
Our tiles are like [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0084TLAAI/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=479289247&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0047UEC0S&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1TW2KC0KKPMJR9XDF5PV ]these[/url] so I actually think they are getting into the space between the tile and the membrane.
Block the entry - had similar in old properties in the past and can sympathise with the noise! Watch where they are entering / leaving (should be easy to see as they'll be in and out loads if feeding young) and block it up once they move out.
I can understand the nuisance, but this is the reason their numbers have dropped by 95% in the last few years, and sparrows too, sadly.
Pity there isn't a way to accommodate them without the noise.
Throw a party for some Cypriots?
we have a family of sparrows nesting in box that the previous occupants had thoughtfully put up just below our bedroom window. Babies are v.loud! I think they might have had issues with nesting in the loft as there are frightening amounts of wire and netting under the eaves.
it could be worse; there's a rookery on the walk down to the station. It's just next to a house and the road cuts through it. The amount of bird sh*t, flapping and screeching, even at 5:30am is pretty horrendous and large lorries / farm tractors sends all the adults into a flap.
Must be a nightmare to live there. It's loud enough just walking through it!
I can understand the nuisance, but this is the reason their numbers have dropped by 95% in the last few years, and sparrows too, sadly.
Pity there isn't a way to accommodate them without the noise.
I am not talking about killing them (note OP), I am asking for solutions to stop it happening again next year.
If these birds need a house to live in then they are pretty crap birds.
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Introduce rats to your attic.
They eat the new eggs and the starlings don't come back.
Then you just have to work out how to get rid of the rats.
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was going to try the owl trick this yr, but the swifts beat me to it.
now they're noisy ****ers. might be cool birds they way they live an entire year on the wing, but they don't half screech, in the rafters by the bedroom.
it's either something to dissuade them next year, or set up a webcam.
Then you just have to work out how to get rid of the rats.
Simple, introduce Chinese Needle snakes.
If these birds need a house to live in then they are pretty crap birds.
Well if the most destructive species the world has ever seen didn't chop down trees and bulldoze the landscape, resulting in the removal of naturally occurring holes and cavities, they wouldn't need houses.
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Well if the most destructive species the world has ever seen didn't chop down trees and bulldoze the landscape, resulting in the removal of naturally occurring holes and cavities, they wouldn't need houses.
Plenty of trees around where we live and ours is not an open house I'm afraid. You can have them if you want?
To the Op, you're not coming across well in this topic I'm afraid.
You sound all too much like a townie who has moved to the country and is complaining about the noises that you get in the countryside.
It's only for a few weeks, live with it.
You sound all too much like a townie who has moved to the country and is complaining about the noises that you get in the countryside.
No, not at all. Lived in this area for my entire life, this specific location for the last 12 years. For the last few years (probably 4 or 5 years) we have had one nest that we have put up with but we are just not keen on having birds roosting all over the house - I don't see why that is a problem.
#guessfail
I said you sounded like a townie, not that you were one.
[pedant mode on]
They are not roosting, they are nesting. Starlings roost in huge flocks- if they were roosting in your loft you'd really know about it.
[pedant mode off]
I am very sorry that I can't take them off your hands. By dint of regular feeding, I've got our local sparrow population up to the point that we also have a sparrow-hawk. This feels like an achievement, but we have almost no starlings.
Does anyone have any bats they aren't using? Noctules for preference, but any considered.
🙂
I said you sounded like a townie, not that you were one.
So does that mean you give me permission to continue to be unhappy with birds *nesting* in my loft?
Move into the trees. The house is lost now.
[chortles at HoratioHufnagel]
😀
Move into the trees. The house is lost now.
😀