This Way To My Blog

This Way To My Blog

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Pesky & Persistant



I guess I'm sending a mixed message to the barn swallow. My sign in my front window says "Country Welcome" and the little bird houses may look inviting to a bird. You may say why don't you just let the little birds make their clay nest and raise their babies? I have to walk directly under the nest and I don't want mites in my hair. When someone comes on my front porch I don't want them to see the poop. Every afternoon late I climb the ladder and scrape the new nest down and wash the remains away. Everyday they start all over. Who will win this war? They are persistant but so am I. The snake didn't work. It is still up there but they mock me by building right over it. Sooo yesterday in Wal*Mart I ask a clerk in the garden shop if they happen to have a plastic owl. Wow! They had a bunch of them and two different kinds. I didn't need to be embarresed to ask. Someone must be buying plastic owls for some reason. The one with the moving head was around $ 20.00 and the stationery head one was about $10.00 so I opted for the cheaper one. What am I going to do with a plastic owl if it doesn't work? I hung it up and it seemed it might work butttt today I noticed the birds had lit on the rain gutter very near the owl and their choice spot and was just waiting there like vultures. I'm thinking they are waiting to see if the owl will leave or trying to figure out if it is real. Birds may be more educated then they used to be, you know like kids? Tonight when it got good and dark I shined my cow keychain light that is supposed to make a sound like a cow but it sounds more like a pig. Leah my daughter gave it to me. The same daughter who gave me a cow that poops chocolate jelly beans. There was one bird up there and a little nest started. I squirted the soapy water that I use to squirt plants up that direction as the light and funny sound came on. The bird left so I turned on the porch light so it can clearly see Mr. Owl. I'll see what happens tomorrow.

16 comments:

Marty said...

That owl sounds like it's for the birds. Maybe Wal-Mart can give you your money back!
Best,
Marty

Wendy said...

Yikes!! Looks like you are just going to continue to be persistant...good luck!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

This is the third time I've tried to comment, maybe I'll get it right this time! Sounds like quite a war you have going on. I wish I could make a helpful suggestion but I guess all I can do is wish you luck...I'd like to see a cow that poops jelly beans!

Jon said...

Years ago my father got one of those same plastic owls (from WalMart, of course!), and it never seemed to intimidate the birds at all.
I think I'll gather up some of the feral cats from my yard and send them to you. I'm sure they'll get the job done better than the owl.....

Toon said...

Yep. Sounds like the birds caught on to the trick.

Lucy said...

Paula you crack me up. But I agree I would try to get rid of them to. Yes, it is quiet without Jack. I will be glad to see him and Sherry back from their house, remodeling.

BlueRidge Boomer said...

Please let us know if the owl works....we have a problem with birds nesting on the metal support beams here at the park's visitor center.....we talked about plastic owls last week as a possible solution....

Enjoy

DD said...

Paula, I still say those birds don't know who they are up against!!!!!!!

moni said...

I repeat, the birds loved my plastic owl! Didn't do anything except decorate my yard, lol

Kath said...

Seems birds don't like the smell of bleach Paula.Try it that worked for us with the gulls nesting on our overhead verandah at the coast.I poured some bleach on every day after clearing thier twigs etc to build a nest and they stopped coming LOL!!Take Care God Bless Kath .xx

Donna. W said...

We have had the same problem with swallows over at our old house on the front porch. They eventually do give up, but you have to do a lot of destroying to convince them.

Lori said...

Poor little swallows! You'd think they'd get the hint and find another likely spot, wouldn't you? I see those owls in all the stores out here, so they must be popular. I don't know if they work though. I just noticed that my mailbox is covered in bird poo! I guess they sit on a branch of the maple tree that hangs out over the mailbox. There's no nest up there that I can see. I wish they'd pick another spot. I may have to have Thomas do a little pruning on that tree if they continue to splatter my mailbox.

Amelia said...

LOL I hope you get rid of the pests Ms. Paula.

Anonymous said...

and the battle of the "nests" goes on....ladies and gentlemen...stay tuned for the next chapter in...Only the lady of the house knows" LOLOL...!!!! we had this problem on our front porch where the colums stand...there is just a ledge...about four inches wide...we finally put a large 4 by 4 piece of wood there...one tried to put it on top of the wood...plenty of space...but then the wood fell...awwww sowwy...LOL...none so far this year...good luck in the never ending sage....to nest or not to nest....that is the question LOLOLOLOL...love ya from KY

Jean said...

We have the same problem with birds trying to build nest under the carport my husband put a small piece of screen wire up where they were building it they still try because I clean up poop all the time. I guess I need to put Sam (cat)outside maybe he would keep them away, lol. Take care, Jean