Perhaps it is a war that cannot be won, but I am in a battle with the birds! Finches want to build nests in my ferns which I have just put out on the front porch for the season.
I love the welcoming beacon of baskets of Boston ferns hanging from the front porch. They are the calling card of southern homes, beckoning friends and neighbors to stop by for a visit and a glass of lemonade. (And while I might not live in the south anymore, this is a southern home in spirit).
Apparently, the ferns are a little too welcoming when it comes to finches. These sweet little birds want to claim my ferns as their own and I just won’t let that happen. Don’t get me wrong, I love finches . . . just not in my ferns. I learned that lesson the August we bought our Cottage In The Woods.
Immediately after closing on the house I went and bought baskets of Boston ferns to hang. We were busy moving in and unpacking so I didn’t notice others were busy doing the same. Then one day as I approached the front porch, I was startled by the exit of a bird from my fern. I felt like I was being attacked and it continued for days. Well, I said to myself, if they cannot be good neighbors, the finches will have to go. So I went outside and once they made their exit, I carefully unhooked the pot from the eyebolt . . . it was too late! There were already beautiful pale eggs in a perfectly prepared nest tucked right into the center of the fern (the photo above left is the one I snapped when I discovered their eggs). I certainly could not evict expecting parents!
So up went that basket and for the next few weeks the finches sat and then hatched their babies. They made a mess all over the porch and routinely startled guests who had no choice but to walk by the ferns as they entered the house.
The finches are back but this time I was waiting. As soon as they started darting into my ferns I went out to the porch and told them, “No, no, no. You are not welcomed in my ferns.” They were sitting along the roof of the garage chitty chatting back to me but it was not up for negotiation.
I stood guard inside the house and as soon as I would see Mr. or Mrs flying in with bits of this and that to make their nests, I would tap on the window or go outside. I would take down the fern and remove whatever bits of nesting they had brought into the fern. But of course, this was time consuming – I have a job and can’t watch them 24/7.
So, I have come up with what I hope will be a finch-friendly solution (we’ll see if it works). I have nestled a mason jar into the middle of the ferns. This is the area where they like to build their nests. I figure if they can’t access the center, they can’t build their nests, right? We’ll see. I think that a bocci ball or the like would be perfect but we don’t have those. A mason jar seemed to work nicely, and you know my southern home has plenty of those! I just hope they won’t get knocked out somehow or I’ll have shattered glass (and not poop) all over my porch!
Not long after hatching & executing my plan (sorry about the pun!) I saw Mr. Finch with a beek of nesting stuff hop into a fern. . . yes, there he went, flying out and away. He poked and hopped but could not find a place to put his stuff! Round 1: Me . . . we’ll see how the rest of the day goes.
This battle is ”not personal, it’s business” (to borrow a phrase from a favorite chick flick, You’ve Got Mail). I really do love these little birds BUT I can’t have visitors feeling like they are being dive bombed every time they approach the house and this will go on ALL spring and summer as the finches have several broods in a season. My porch will get all poopy and, for the record, I do not like a poopy porch ;o)
I’m just wondering if any of you out there have these seasonal battles? We all like to dress our nests and have them look great for the warm months but it can be a challenge, huh? What are yours???
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{4 Comments }
{ 4 comments }
I have birds building nests too. Mine don’t fret when we come and go though.
Holy cow! I didn’t know this was a common occurence! I blogged about this a couple weeks ago. Dirty birds. Hmphhhh.
We have finches in our ferns and they are more than welcome.
What a happy and lively energy they bring to our home. Surprisingly
the cat respects this household of feathers as well. I would never stop them from nesting, what a lovely gift from mother nature. I hear their singing all day long and it is beautiful.
I do not like the birds in my ferns. They are always flying away and startling visitors. If the ferns were not at my front door, it might be different. Plus, they can really make a mess. Lastly, now that I have lost the battle and I have three little birdies in the nest I don’t know how to water the fern because the little ones are afraid and want to leave the nest early. . .
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