I love barn swallows. I love to watch them gracefully swooping, dipping, diving as they catch their daily sustenance. I enjoy their company on our patio every summer; they are not in the least bit skittish.
My husband has always been less enthusiastic about them than I. They are messy. But I've always protested that they are beautiful and a blessing, a sign of summer, and he has generously tolerated them for my sake. This year, however, we have a new situation: a second set of swallows are trying to build a nest. Much as I love birds, even I don't think it's a great idea. This is our patio, after all, not a bridge or barn. The problem is neither the birds nor the nests. I will spare you the actual images, but I'm not sure if you can imagine the amount, the piles of droppings we are suddenly dealing with. We're giving the hatchlings a few days while we debate about allowing a second brood. In the meantime, my husband has declared war on the newcomers.
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So far, they've begun nests in three different corners. Every time he blocks them, they begin in a new place.
Does anyone have experience in dealing with this or a similar bird problem? We would appreciate suggestions, especially nature-friendly ones. Help! Our patio is going to the birds.
How about putting up a couple of those fake owls?
ReplyDeleteI didn't even know of that option! I will add it to the list. Thanks, Kate!
DeleteGood luck. We have them in several corners, too, and yes, I know exactly what piles you are talking about! I didn't mind the first nest, tolerated the second, but the third set decided to set up a nest right in front of our front door! Not very welcoming!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Holley! I'm so torn! If I had little else to do but scrub the patio, it wouldn't be an issue, but that's a lot of birds to keep up with. Three nests? Yikes! I keep visualizing swallow colonies under bridges. . . . Yet, they're so pretty. See? Torn!
DeleteI'm very envious! We have swallows over here though I have not seen them nesting close to our house ever. Also swifts - sickle shape wings, rather larger, hardly ever land and make a wonderful shrieking noise high up - do they get around Texas as well?
ReplyDeleteWe do have swifts in Texas. Unfortunately, we've never seen them around our property -- they sound grand!
ReplyDeleteSorry no advice as our patio is now occupied by a nest of sparrows and a nest of sterling :-).
ReplyDeleteHehe. Oh, golly. That's a lot of bird activity! Did you mean to cheer me up? Because you have. . . . :)
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