Plan B Forum

. . . I'm not sure how.

This poor little bird (When I was at school there were two sorts of birds - big birds and little birds. This is definitely a little one.) has been trying to build a nest for three or four days. We have columns at the front of the house that hold the roof up (think Tara but less grand) and there is a platform maybe 12" x 6" at the top. Sheltered and the squirrels can't get up there, so if it's location location location I think he has made a good choice. I assume he's a he - IIRC the blokes do all the building but I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong.



So he has been flying up there for days carrying pieces of grass and twigs and trying to assemble them into some sort of nest. He's a bit clumsy, so often while he is trying to insert one blade of grass into his construction four other pieces fall off the platform to the ground. Also it's a featureless flat platform so there is nothing to anchor anything to. I am afraid he is wasting his time and he is not going to satisfy his hormonal urges this spring. I am thinking of borrowing my neighbor's ladder and going up there with a couple of fist sized rocks so that there is something stable there for him to use as an anchor.

Any thoughts?

It looks like he needs a little fence around that balcony area. I think y'all need some duct tape and furring strips. That'll look right nice and be plenty comfy up thar for the little critter....

This happened to me just last spring. When I noticed grass and string right above one of my porch columns I folded over some seat cushion foam and blocked the entire space off. There was no other bird activity.

Shortly after I removed the foam I noticed a wasp building a nest. I ended that bit of construction with a couple of squirts of Clorox.

Actually, in most species of birds it’s the lady who builds the nest - hence the colloquial referring to pregnant women as ‘nesting’.

I’ve had birds successfully build nests on small ledges such as that at the top of your column - I’d recommend against any interference as it’s likely to scare the bird away. If she’s not able to build a nest successfully, it might be she’s not yet really ready to brood. She might end up doing just fine; keep us posted!

I love birdies!


eta: I feel the need to add a plug for putting up birdhouses of various sizes on one’s property as a means to provide safe space for broody birdies. I always recommend Audobon approved houses that meet basic requirements for specific bird types (diameter of entrance, type of perch, etc.) and that have a means to clean out the house at the end of the season in order to make it attractive to new residents every spring.

https://www.perkypet.com/articles/types ... ypes-birds

(As according to this guide, you could build a little ledge to attach at the top and widen the area for nesting up there, if you wanted to enjoy the miracle of birdie babies every spring. So I guess I retract my prior statement, except that if a nest is already in progress you still might end up scaring off this particular momma.)

Personally, I think a little unobtrusive help might be the best.  A couple of toothpicks or matchsticks taped to the edges of the pillar might just be sufficient.

-"BB"-

hmmmmm.

it seems that I have been spelling "firring strip" wrongly for the past 32 yrs......

Bird nests on door columns are terrific if you want to gather bird shit all over your paintwork

It washes off with little effort. Far less than the joy it brings.


yrs,
rubato