Swallows - fighting a losing battle?

Ardent

For the past couple of months I have been locked in a battle with a bunch of tenacious birds. I anticipated their arrival back in spring and put up netting and plastic bags to deter them. This worked initially but we are dealing with some brave and stubborn birds here (see attached image).

Every couple of days I knock down their half built nest above our bedroom window - before they have a chance to lay eggs - and every time they attempt to rebuild the nest. In the exact same spot, always. This has been going on for 2 months now.

I would love nothing more than to accomodate these birds but last year we suffered the following:

* They built 4 nests above our window
* The dirt and poo on the windows, walls and ground was unbearable
* We couldn't put our laundry out all summer due to the mess
* The screeching and noise from birds outside our window at all hours was disruptive to put it mildly
* The window is on the second floor and the area cannot be reached by a power washer

I know some bird lovers will be dismayed by this post but I need these birds need to relocate. I'm just worried that they won't give up and, coming to the latter part of June, I'm not sure what that will mean for their attempts to reproduce?

What is the likelihood at this stage they will get the message that they are unwelcome and need to find another spot?

Capercaillie

Are you a wind up?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

First off they are House Martins. Secondly, do you realise what you are doing is illegal. Thirdly, poor you: my heart bleeds for you.

corks finest

Ardent wrote: »

For the past couple of months I have been locked in a battle with a bunch of tenacious birds. I anticipated their arrival back in spring and put up netting and plastic bags to deter them. This worked initially but we are dealing with some brave and stubborn birds here (see attached image).

Every couple of days I knock down their half built nest above our bedroom window - before they have a chance to lay eggs - and every time they attempt to rebuild the nest. In the exact same spot, always. This has been going on for 2 months now.

I would love nothing more than to accomodate these birds but last year we suffered the following:

* They built 4 nests above our window
* The dirt and poo on the windows, walls and ground was unbearable
* We couldn't put our laundry out all summer due to the mess
* The screeching and noise from birds outside our window at all hours was disruptive to put it mildly
* The window is on the second floor and the area cannot be reached by a power washer

I know some bird lovers will be dismayed by this post but I need these birds need to relocate. I'm just worried that they won't give up and, coming to the latter part of June, I'm not sure what that will mean for their attempts to reproduce?

What is the likelihood at this stage they will get the message that they are unwelcome and need to find another spot?

I'd welcome them

bb12

after years of spending thousands of euros with a supplier i abruptly stopped doing business with him when he told me of how he destroyed the swallows nests above his house windows.

i've had swallows nesting every year in my sheds but none turned up this year at all. the birds are definitely in crisis and i'd do anything to have the sheds full of their nests with young.

these 30 gram birds migrate thousands of miles and the ones who made it back overcame such hardships (including the maltese who do their best to wipe them out as they migrate over the islands) that you should be thrilled and honoured that they survived and chose your windows for a couple of weeks during the summer.

rockatansky

Ignore the above posters. It's not them that has to put up with them and their mess every day.

Throw a bit of chicken wire up there across the area for a few days. Should provide them with an incentive to build elsewhere.

Ardent

It's a genuine question. Tonight I've been thinking I may need to give up and wait until next year to try and deter them from this spot.

rockatansky

bb12 wrote: »

should be thrilled and honoured that they survived and chose your windows

Thrilled and honoured, Jesus Christ.

New Home

rockatansky wrote: »

Ignore the above posters. It's not them that has to put up with them and their mess every day.

Throw a bit of chicken wire up there across the area for a few days. Should provide them with an incentive to build elsewhere.

I'm sure lots of those posters had to deal with nests before and all that they bring - putting up with the mess for a few weeks a year is no big deal unless you decide to make it so. Just leave the birds be and ask again when they've migrated.

Ardent

bb12 wrote: »

after years of spending thousands of euros with a supplier i abruptly stopped doing business with him when he told me of how he destroyed the swallows nests above his house windows.

i've had swallows nesting every year in my sheds but none turned up this year at all. the birds are definitely in crisis and i'd do anything to have the sheds full of their nests with young.

these 30 gram birds migrate thousands of miles and the ones who made it back overcame such hardships (including the maltese who do their best to wipe them out as they migrate over the islands) that you should be thrilled and honoured that they survived and chose your windows for a couple of weeks during the summer.

I understand all of that, believe me I do. When we first encountered these birds we were thrilled. But the reality is different - it's 3-4 months of filth and disruption. If they nested in any other part of my house or on my sheds I'd be delighted - but they want the worst place possible.

rockatansky

Ardent wrote: »

I understand all of that, believe me I do. When we first encountered these birds we were thrilled. But the reality is different - it's 3-4 months of filth and disruption. If they nested in any other part of my house or on my sheds I'd be delighted - but they want the worst place possible.

By the sounds of it the general consensus on here is don't disturb the little mites. Not one bit of consideration will be given to your problem. You're just expected to put up and shut up. As one poster has already said, 'their heart bleeds for you'.

I'm sure your window cleaner will welcome the extra business.

Only you can decide what action is best for your situation, not anyone on here.

OpenYourEyes

Mod Note: This is suspiciously close to encouraging illegal behaviour. Warning issue, and any attempts at anything similar will result in a ban.

rockatansky wrote: »

By the sounds of it the general consensus on here is don't disturb the little mites. Not one bit of consideration will be given to your problem. You're just expected to put up and shut up. As one poster has already said, 'their heart bleeds for you'.

I'm sure your window cleaner will welcome the extra business.

Only you can decide what action is best for your situation, not anyone on here.

OpenYourEyes

Thread Closed.

Mod Note:
It's illegal to destroy an active nest. My understanding is that includes nests being constructed before they have eggs in them.

House Martins and Swallows are having a really tough year this year and their decline and loss has been reported from all over both Ireland and the UK this summer.

The worst thing that happens with a House Martin or Swallow nest is that you get some bird crap in a pile for a few months. That's it! Is it convenient? It can be. Is it quite easily to solve by just putting some plastic sheeting underneath it? Yes it is!

OP - you tried to discourage them with netting and plastic bags, and if you really didn't want them then that was the right course of action. Once they started building a nest you had lost the bottle. As New Home suggests, it's time to start thinking about what you'll do differently next year, and feel free to come back and start a thread from October onwards.