Community Chat

[millieshops]

@geegerbeelol  No idea whether your birds are less intelligent than those that might build their nests in the houses you provided.  

I do know that if a bird decided to build a nest atop the light fixture outside my door -  she'd get at least 2 advantages:  warmth of course but also a space where the squirrels have no place to land, nothing to cling to.  Her babies might be safer than in a house hanging from a tree branch.

Now I'd have to decide whose safety I care about -  mine or those dirty birds.

[LindaSal]

Most birds will nest where they feel safe.  Unfortunately it's not always what we humans consider acceptable.  The good news is as others have stated they won't be in the nest too long.  We've had it happen and just let nature run it's course.  We never really had a  bird "mess" problem either.   I would not even consider disrupting a mother bird and her babies.

[Spurt]

@geegerbee 

I would recommend you call an Audubon Society or Bird Watching Club, or Park and Wildlife experts in your area and get recommendations on how to handle the situation .....They can offer the best advice to deal with your dilemma and what action to take which is the best for you and the birds!.... 🐦

Be happy its a bird...better than hornets, wasps, spiders, or scorpions making a home near your porch light and front door....

[Mary Bailey]

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@geegerbee wrote:

I have 2 bird houses in a little courtyard area, but the stupid birds decided to make a nest by my front door. Every time I open the door the birds fly away. Anyway, I don't look forward to having bird droppings on my front steps, but I am really concerned that the nest might catch fire since the light is on all night. What do you think? Maybe the light gives the birds warmth, but it isn't hot enough to pose a problem. I hate to move the nest since they worked so hard to make it. Thoughts?

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@geegerbee  I crumbled up a big piece of foil and placed it on top of my back door light (like a hat) it's kept the birds off for 2 years. People have asked "why?" lol

[CherryHugs]

We had a bird build on porch light fixture too once and also in a hanging flower plant on patio, plus in the rafter area of outside patio. This was at my parents home years ago!!

[kitcat51]

I simply remove the materials as they're making it or move the completed  nest...they understand it isn't a good spot & move on.

[Imaoldhippie]

If there are babies or eggs in it dont move it.  Moving the nest will stress out the mom and she will abandon the nest and the babies will die.

After they leave the nest then you can take it down.

We have a nest under the hood of hubbies car, so we cant drive it until the babies leave the nest.  Good thing we have a 2nd car.

Just for piece of mind you could turn the light off while its a nursery.

[MoJoV]

I've had robins nest in my porch light twice. I was thrilled.  Just to watch those little chicks grow was wonderful.  I didn't turn the porch light on while they were there,no biggie. My only concern sometimes the Mama would be out til almost dark looking for food for them and I worried about " our "babies if something had happened to her. If I were you I would be happy they picked my house! But that's me. 

[PA Mom-mom]

@geegerbee   If it is going to be a problem, I agree with those who said to disrupt the nest before it is complete or has eggs. You probably can't move it, because the birds will distrust it. We just removed our door wreath, because a pair of finches had just started building. A few years ago, we had robins set up house in my new VPH door decoration. Well, by the end, the decoration was ruined, and we also had to repaint the door. See below:

[RedTop]

We deal with birds trying to nest on our porch almost every year.   Robins want to build on the porch lights and wrens want to build on top of our sunshade rollers.   My husband tears their nests down multiple times a day until they finally get the message and find a tree.   

One year we had a very determined robin who was convinced our porch light was The Spot where she was going to nest.  We fought that stubborn bird for about 8 days, tearing her nest down, putting plastic bags over the lights, using moth balls and strong sprays, swatting at the robin with a broom, waiting at the door for her to fly in and throw the door open to scare her off, and she kept coming back.  She worked night and day on constructing a nest.   I finally put my boom box out there and turned the volume as high as it would go, and after 2 days of sitting in the tree cussing at us, she finally relocated!