topic Re: Birds in Community Chat

Birds - UPDATE

CelticCrafter — Tue, 04 May 2021 15:42:10 GMT

Honking the horn, starting the car and moving it back and forth didn't scare her! Somehow they were able to shoo her away long enough to clean the nest out. There were no eggs in it.

He went out and overnight they re-built it! His car now has a tarp over the wiper well, window and hood.

Guess where they moved.....MY CAR! I had to shoo her off like 4 times. It's cleaned out and covered with an old area rug for now. We will tarp it later on.

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This is not my car, it's a neighbors. I was watching the male go back and forth with pieces of straw for her and after about his third trip, it dawned on me this what they were doing.

I did go tell them but don't know what they will do. It's not like they can leave it there.

Re: Birds

Kachina624 — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:20:41 GMT

I have a friend with a degree in forestry, who claims doves are the dumbest birds that exist. They get two crossed sticks and call it a nest, or in this case a car.

Re: Birds

spiderw — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:28:38 GMT

I hope your neighbors will be able to move the nest to a safe place and resolve the problem. It does appear the bird isn't too smart but than I know so many humans who would make that dove look like a genius!!!!!!! LOL

Re: Birds

fthunt — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:32:33 GMT

She looks like she already has eggs - to sit on.

If not - or if so - if the owner wants use of car - they better move now to remove everything.............

I would make that decision NOW

Re: Birds

just bee — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:15:43 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I have a friend with a degree in forestry, who claims doves are the dumbest birds that exist. They get two crossed sticks and call it a nest, or in this case a car.

@Kachina624

I hate to besmirch this fine bird, but I must agree with you.

For years, mourning doves have nested in the very narrow circle over our garage door and on the ladder on our patio.

Forgive me if this sounds cruel, but are they mourning the loss of a brain?

Re: Birds

Porcelain — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:58:00 GMT

I would go and scare away the bird and remove some of the sticks. It's not like the neighbor is going to get terribly mad at you for that.

Then the birds would know that's not a safe place to be nesting and could get working on a new location. lol probably on another car, but what can you do?

But that's just me. I would start spinning scenerios in my mind where the neighbors came back and they ruined the nest later on and there were aleready eggs or babies in there.

I get super co-dependent about birds and nature's creatures in my yard. And for that matter, any I can see out my window. I'm glad I don't have deer like MamaWick. I would get way too involved.

Re: Birds

Silver Lining — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:00:43 GMT

That car must not be driven very often.

Re: Birds

goldensrbest — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:06:00 GMT

I don't think that is a good place for a nest, but i do love hearing the doves coo.

Re: Birds

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:32:33 GMT

I keep a supply of realistic rubber snakes for just this kind of situation.

Right now I have bees in my car mirrors, but that had an easy solution.

Re: Birds

Porcelain — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:42:54 GMT

@PickyPicky3 wrote:
I keep a supply of realistic rubber snakes for just this kind of situation.

Right now I have bees in my car mirrors, but that had an easy solution.

Really? What do you do with the realistic rubber snakes? What I'm imagining is probably not what you do. Maybe drape them?

Also, how/where do you store them? It would make my week if I could justify labeling a cubby on my shelves with "Danger: Realistic Rubber Snakes." Imagining myself saying to DH, "I don't care, Honey. I need these here to save birds."

I am not mocking this and I have no mean intentions here. I am enjoying the concept and am very interested.

Re: Birds

mousiegirl — Mon, 03 May 2021 23:53:18 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
This is not my car, it's a neighbors. I was watching the male go back and forth with pieces of straw for her and after about his third trip, it dawned on me this what they were doing.
I did go tell them but don't know what they will do. It's not like they can leave it there.

@CelticCrafter The Mourning Dove is my favorite bird, but where they build their nests at times is ridiculous, in places where predators can easily see them and steal the eggs or babies, have rescued quite a few through the years.

At one time, I had eleven hanging fuchsias and the doves built nests in every one. From the basket in front of my kitchen sink, I was able to watch the nest building, and hear one call to the other to come to the nest to sit on the eggs so it could get food. I watched the babies fledge, and also found remains of some the next morning, so sad.

I rescued one from a hanging basket one evening when I saw the scrub jays going to them, It got away with one baby, and I got on a ladder and removed the other, kept it in a picnic basket next to my grow lights all night, and the next morning, I took it to the Wildlife Rescue.

Re: Birds

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 03 May 2021 21:15:18 GMT

@Porcelain I frequently get nests in the wrong places. Years ago someone told me about the rubber snake ploy, and I was amazed that it works. Just put the snake or snakes right by the nest and bye-bye birds. They're small -- no more than 12". And reusable: the birds don't take them when they leave. Sometimes I can find them at a dollar store, but sometimes not. That's why I buy a few if I see them. Don't buy the ones in psychedelic colors.

Re: Birds

Citrine1 — Tue, 04 May 2021 01:21:45 GMT

Aww, sweet little birdie! Mourning doves continually build nests in my window boxes. I love watching them and seeing that they have a safe place for their babies.

Re: Birds

sabatini — Tue, 04 May 2021 01:27:35 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I have a friend with a degree in forestry, who claims doves are the dumbest birds that exist. They get two crossed sticks and call it a nest, or in this case a car.

@Kachina624 , I love birds, but do agree with your forestry friend!

Re: Birds

jannabelle1 — Tue, 04 May 2021 01:30:04 GMT

Doves are such sweet birds, but they really aren't very smart when it comes to choices for a nest! I used to struggle every year with a couple of them that built their nests in the fern baskets I had on my front (covered) porch. Watering those ferns around the nests was always a big challenge! In this case, I think the car owner needs to move that nest!

Re: Birds

LdyBugz — Tue, 04 May 2021 01:43:16 GMT

If there's an Uber or Lyft sticker on the car then clearly mama was looking for a ride. 😁

Re: Birds

MalteseMomma — Tue, 04 May 2021 16:02:35 GMT

Doves are my fav bird. I have learned how to communicate with them.......lol We talk back and forth.

50 yrs ago my DH brought home a pair of Doves he caught for me in our trucking business parking lot.I couldn't stand them caged and let them free but they stayed to this day!

I now have 86 (I counted) doves that visit me daily.

They all line up on my fence and during a rain shower they do a lovely ballet. They stand in a row and lift one wing,stand on one foot and balance for a while before changing to theother side.

It is a beautiful thing to watch . I wish I knew how to post pictures here cause I have some beauties for bird lovers.

They actually come to my side door and wait for me to come out to say hello. <3

Re: Birds

Spurt — Tue, 04 May 2021 13:44:37 GMT

ITA---based on my own experience as well as family/friends Mourning Doves arent the smartest and they can be the "pigs" of the bird world, they can eat a whole feeder full of seed in a couple hours and leave nothing for the Cardinals and other birds ....

Re: Birds

goldensrbest — Tue, 04 May 2021 14:00:56 GMT

@Spurt wrote:
ITA---based on my own experience as well as family/friends Mourning Doves arent the smartest and they can be the "pigs" of the bird world, they can eat a whole feeder full of seed in a couple hours and leave nothing for the Cardinals and other birds ....

Never had a problem with doves, but those black birds can empty a feeder in a very short time.And there are others also.

Re: Birds

wagirl — Tue, 04 May 2021 15:05:40 GMT

I once had a mated pairs of doves ---they courted and sparked often and I let them hatch the eggs out a few times--naked, pink baby birds are so ugly-cute--gave the babies to a friend when they were "of age" but then they were right back to making babies--i then took those tiny eggs, usually 2 , and hard boiled them for them to sit on--that worked great. As long as there was something to sit on they were fine----birds are so messy and did find a good home for them . had no kids then but when i did--good grief--had no time to clean the cage.