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To warn unsuspecting birds, put multiple bells on your cat’s collar. Keeping your cat indoors will benefit wildlife greatly and protect your cat as well.
Although some types of birds eat unwanted insects they can also destroy fruit and vegetable crops. Placing plastic owls, snakes, aluminum foil flags, wind chimes, or streamers in the problem area will scare them away. Remember to move the owl or snake often or the birds may become accustomed to them.
To discourage water birds from landing in your pool, keep the cover on or keep a large beach ball and other toys floating in the pool. Solar powered boats will also scare off unwanted ducks.
Place wire over the top of the chimney in the wintertime to deter nesting in springtime. For birds that are in the process of nest building you can disrupt the nest before eggs have been laid. It is, however, against federal law to disturb most bird nests that have eggs or babies.
The sun's glare on a window creates a mirror effect, so birds may see themselves and think it is an intruder. Birds are trying to protect their territory by attacking their image. Try closing your curtains, placing bird silhouettes or static-cling decals randomly on your windows.
Birds will typically fly toward light. Close all the curtains and turn off the lights. Leave the doors open and let the bird find its own way out. Don't try to catch or chase it out. This will stress the bird and may cause it to injure itself.
Life-like statues of owls are available through garden supply stores and catalogs. They should be mounted on a stick so that they move slightly in the breeze. The owls should be moved periodically so the pigeons won't become accustomed to them. Balloons, shiny strips of foil or plastic tied on posts or a line can be an effective scaring device. These may be removed after the pigeons have settled somewhere else.
Screen the entry point so the birds do not have access. You can use a clear plastic bird netting that is available at most garden supply stores. Galvanized hardware cloth or aviary wire may also be used. Caution: be sure all birds are out before screening the area.
Altering the angle of the flat surface will keep them off. This can be done with sheeting, concrete, or wood installed at a 45-60 degree angle. A mono-filament line attached with eyelet screws can be installed above the surface where the pigeons land. The line should be taut, so it will not collapse under the weight of the bird when it attempts to land. Slinky toys purchased at the toy store will also work well for altering ledges. Attach the Slinky at one end and stretch it along the ledge, being careful not to open it all the way. The objective is to make it uncomfortable for the pigeons to land. Hang wind chimes that move and make noise.
When woodpeckers are drumming, they are usually looking for something to peck on that will make a lot to noise. Therefore, if you muffle the resonating quality of the object they have chosen chances are they will stop using it. To do this, you can cover the object with a blanket or foam rubber padding.
This could be the most difficult behavior to try to control but it is also the least common. Be sure to keep in mind that this is another seasonal behavior and it will only be temporary. If the cavity building can be discouraged before the cavity is fully built, the woodpecker may try to relocate and excavate elsewhere. However, they may return the following year and try again. Usually a combination of scare tactics and prompt repair to the excavation areas are effective in trying to discourage cavity-building activities. You should fill shallow holes with caulk or wood filler as soon as they are created. Larger holes and loose knots can be filled with wooden plugs or window screen and then caulked. You may also try to offer ready-built nesting boxes, which they might choose to use rather than making their own.
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