If it's too late for this year then for next year: Could I suggest putting up a fake bird of prey very near to the vent. I put 2 fake owls on my deck to prevent nests. Birds will sit nearby and look at the owls but they will no longer sit/roost on my deck. If I were to assign human emotion to the multiple birds, they seem to be suspicious of the fake owls but not brave enough to test their suspicions.
As a demonstration of how complicated my thinking can be, I did consider this. And then I worried that the fake owls would drive away the real owls, whose presence I enjoy and encourage, even though I know the owls are predators. I know.
The owl world is complex and interesting. Apparently great horned owls, which we have, scare off every other kind of owl through predation. I had noticed I no longer heard other owl calls…
25+yrs ago, the town I was born in had a bunch of student activists released a bunch of brown rabbits. People went from rarely ever seeing a brown rabbit to seeing multiple brown rabbits at dusk and dawn in a rather short period of time. Seemingly, there are 2 things that rabbits REALLY like to do, one is to eat people's gardens.. The town got the idea to bring in 20 pairs of bald eagles, it worked well at the beginning for rabbit control.. and not so well for people's small pets and other bird watching. I literally watched a bald eagle snatch a small dog out of someone's yard, fortunately the dog was too heavy and the eagle couldn't get more than 5 or 6ft off of the ground, the eagle dropped the dog after about 50yrs. The owner was running after the eagle & dog, they got the dog who didn't seem much worse for wear. (We were fine with our dobermans.)
The only birds that seemingly cohabited well with bald eagles were the owls. Why? I don't know. The last time I was there, over 10yrs ago now, they were starting to have some significant coyote problems. I don't think the eagles were keeping up with the rabbits. I hope it's different town council than before or I am afraid what their idea was to get rid of the coyotes.. Maybe introduce some tigers? lol!
It doesn't take much to knock nature's balance off.
I've known this for a long time, but you and I have much in common. I'd do the same for the sweet finches and cede the field until the babes are fledged.
I’m smiling as I read your vivid essay! My imagination is running wild at the thought of an increasing number of finches that may call your place home. Hugs to Eli and Auggie. Hope the sun is shining soon.
Finches on my bird feeders, with Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, just the best way to start the day ... spring hasn't arrived for me until the finches start swarming. I found the tiniest nest ever, with tiny eggs, inside a pot of mixed plants one year. So I take great care in watering these potted gardens They are amazing little beings, these tiny birds! And they seem to have an understanding with my two dogs ... the dogs don't bother them at all, and will often snooze near the feeder while the little gold finches are visiting. Life as it should be. Loved your essay today!
I love this and have missed your writings and musings on Twitter. Happy to have found you again! I hope there will be shots of the little nestlings as the season goes on and the finch family grows.
It could have been worse. I used to have wood stove chimney pipe on the roof. I never bothered to enclose the pipe in a chimney box because it really wasn't necessary unless you didn't like the look of stainless steel pipe. I'm all about function. Anyway, it wasn't too many years after I installed the chimney that I was awakened one morning by some very loud tapping coming from the wood stove area. I went outside and observed a Hairy Woodpecker having a grand time pecking on the pipe. There was nothing I could do about it either. Hairy was just trying to attract a mate, and thank goodness he did. It was loud enough to wake me from a sound sleep and would continue intermittently throughout the day. Eventually I got rid of the stove and chimney. In the meantime we had a very tall antenna tower erected in the yard and sure enough Hairy came back and had at it with the tower. Luckily it was far enough away from the house and was not a bother. I haven't heard Hairy yet this year, but I hope he'll be back soon. Happy Spring to you JFR!!
Love this. I have birds making nests all over and love to watch them..all except the blue birds who we built a lovely house for. It is the proper height and turned East etc but al we keep getting is sparrows who we try moving along. There is some grass in there instead of sticks...I live in hope!
True pioneers.
Affirmation of life, and joy. When I'm down, birdsong brings me around.
The perfect story for a children's book. And I imagine there is a spot in it for Eli and Auggie.
If it's too late for this year then for next year: Could I suggest putting up a fake bird of prey very near to the vent. I put 2 fake owls on my deck to prevent nests. Birds will sit nearby and look at the owls but they will no longer sit/roost on my deck. If I were to assign human emotion to the multiple birds, they seem to be suspicious of the fake owls but not brave enough to test their suspicions.
As a demonstration of how complicated my thinking can be, I did consider this. And then I worried that the fake owls would drive away the real owls, whose presence I enjoy and encourage, even though I know the owls are predators. I know.
Beyond my expertise but perhaps there are birds species that the owls don't consider to be predators but the finches do.
The owl world is complex and interesting. Apparently great horned owls, which we have, scare off every other kind of owl through predation. I had noticed I no longer heard other owl calls…
25+yrs ago, the town I was born in had a bunch of student activists released a bunch of brown rabbits. People went from rarely ever seeing a brown rabbit to seeing multiple brown rabbits at dusk and dawn in a rather short period of time. Seemingly, there are 2 things that rabbits REALLY like to do, one is to eat people's gardens.. The town got the idea to bring in 20 pairs of bald eagles, it worked well at the beginning for rabbit control.. and not so well for people's small pets and other bird watching. I literally watched a bald eagle snatch a small dog out of someone's yard, fortunately the dog was too heavy and the eagle couldn't get more than 5 or 6ft off of the ground, the eagle dropped the dog after about 50yrs. The owner was running after the eagle & dog, they got the dog who didn't seem much worse for wear. (We were fine with our dobermans.)
The only birds that seemingly cohabited well with bald eagles were the owls. Why? I don't know. The last time I was there, over 10yrs ago now, they were starting to have some significant coyote problems. I don't think the eagles were keeping up with the rabbits. I hope it's different town council than before or I am afraid what their idea was to get rid of the coyotes.. Maybe introduce some tigers? lol!
It doesn't take much to knock nature's balance off.
Overall best to stand back and let the natural world select its own balance. This is story is a cautionary tale.
You are the kind person I thought you were. Thank you.
I've known this for a long time, but you and I have much in common. I'd do the same for the sweet finches and cede the field until the babes are fledged.
I’m smiling as I read your vivid essay! My imagination is running wild at the thought of an increasing number of finches that may call your place home. Hugs to Eli and Auggie. Hope the sun is shining soon.
I’d love a picture when they are moved in and roosting
Finches on my bird feeders, with Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, just the best way to start the day ... spring hasn't arrived for me until the finches start swarming. I found the tiniest nest ever, with tiny eggs, inside a pot of mixed plants one year. So I take great care in watering these potted gardens They are amazing little beings, these tiny birds! And they seem to have an understanding with my two dogs ... the dogs don't bother them at all, and will often snooze near the feeder while the little gold finches are visiting. Life as it should be. Loved your essay today!
Lovely little tale.
💗 🐤🐤
How funny and delightful! Ya gotta love ‘em. 😁🥰
I love this and have missed your writings and musings on Twitter. Happy to have found you again! I hope there will be shots of the little nestlings as the season goes on and the finch family grows.
I’ll try.
Nevertheless, they persisted.
It could have been worse. I used to have wood stove chimney pipe on the roof. I never bothered to enclose the pipe in a chimney box because it really wasn't necessary unless you didn't like the look of stainless steel pipe. I'm all about function. Anyway, it wasn't too many years after I installed the chimney that I was awakened one morning by some very loud tapping coming from the wood stove area. I went outside and observed a Hairy Woodpecker having a grand time pecking on the pipe. There was nothing I could do about it either. Hairy was just trying to attract a mate, and thank goodness he did. It was loud enough to wake me from a sound sleep and would continue intermittently throughout the day. Eventually I got rid of the stove and chimney. In the meantime we had a very tall antenna tower erected in the yard and sure enough Hairy came back and had at it with the tower. Luckily it was far enough away from the house and was not a bother. I haven't heard Hairy yet this year, but I hope he'll be back soon. Happy Spring to you JFR!!
Happy Spring!
Love this. I have birds making nests all over and love to watch them..all except the blue birds who we built a lovely house for. It is the proper height and turned East etc but al we keep getting is sparrows who we try moving along. There is some grass in there instead of sticks...I live in hope!