Deterring Mourning Doves

[Anonymous Poster]

My problem is this: neighbor has a gazillion bird feeders which attract mourning doves. These doves lunch at her place then come perch and deficate on my privacy fence. I am cleaning this fence on a weekly basis now, and getting sick of it. I have tried foil strips and a fake snake as deterrants, to no avail. HELP! Thanks!

 

[TonyC]

I've heard that owl decoys work well but I have never had the need to try it myself.

 

[wasabi]

12 guage. even if you don't hit 'em, they won't feel very settled around the noise. (may also apply to neighbors)

 

[chim]

When we got a new car last Fall, it took over a slot in the garage, and Wifey's wagon began to spend some time outside. This Spring, the wagon began to get plastered with birdcrap bigtime. The attached photo shows deposits made in ONE DAY. Wifey saw a robin sit on the sideview mirror and let loose. Then another, and another at various times of the day. #3 Son began to have the same problems with his car. For whatever reason, my truck escaped the bombing runs. Wifey and #3 Son tied plastic bags on the mirrors, went out and shooed the bird away - all to no avail.

Now the last critter that Wifey killed was a pheasant back when we were dating in '68, but she asked me to leave a loaded gun handy when I left for work. She wanted a real gun, but settled for a red dot sight temporarily mounted on the pellet r****. A couple days later when I came home from work, Wifey told me #3 Son managed to pick off a robin earlier that day. That was it - end of problem. No more mess. I can't imagine one bird could do what was happening to our cars, but we've had no more problems since that one robin went away...........................chim

 

[MDNY]

Txsgrl,

I know what you mean about mourning doves, but grackles are allot worse. You could consider us the neighbor next door, only that the birds do their bidding on our balcony and my wife works hard to keep it clean. Morning doves are very easily scared off, but will return shortly there after. I would try the mechanical owls that are motion activated, they will scare them off.

I doubt a shot gun (depending on your community rules) will help much. Once we move to the country this fall when our house is complete I will enjoy have the feeders farther out so they don't do their biz on our deck.

You could also try the motion activated sprinklers that will keep them away as well. Try the mail order catalog Plow & Hearth.

 

[beenthere]

I can relate to that. Had a similar problem with a robin, wanting to fly onto a bay window, fluttering up and down as it white-washed the window. A real mess, as yours was. Scared it away, hung tinsel, cans, flagging, etc. and could not discourage it. Finally the shotgun approach. No more problem that year, but one came back the next. Must have been the next of kin. One more shell, and no problem for the last 3-4 years. Hopefully that bad gene is gone forever.

 

[MossRoad]

Sometimes a thin wire stretched about 2 inches along the top of the fence makes it too hard for them to land, so they go elswhere. Two wires about an inch apart, one positive and one negative, hooked to an electric fencer works well too, if you don't mind pulling bird legs off of the wires.

 

[mbsil]

Go to Tractor Supply or your local hardware store and get a LARGE plastic owl. Keeps away everything but hawks and eagles. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thx for the suggestions--going to TSC and get one of those owls--hope it does the trick!

 

[BB_TX]

Saw an owl just last weekend with a head that moves (rotates). Battery operated I guess, didn't pay much attention. I was in several stores and forgot where I saw it. (CRS /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif) Home Depot I think.