Talking about birds...

[LewisM]

We have an issue with a magpie lark. Every morning it pulls the insulation from under the gutters of our roof (gets up under into the spaces between corrugations with its head and beak). Obviously taking it for nesting material, but it takes a LOT. It's managed to take any it can get at for about 8 metres of roof!!!

Cat of course is useless (and the lark just chirps at her, pi$$ing the cat off :) ), and the lark has removed gutterguards before! I shoo it all the time, but it comes back.

Any non-harmful suggestions?

[acropolite]

Better gutter guard, the metal mesh type that screw to the iron are best.

[AstralTraveller]

Leave a supply of building material in a more accessible spot?

[LewisM]

Good idea!

[multiweb]

Mouse trap.

[LewisM]

Bad idea! :)

[multiweb]

Slug gun then? :question:

[LewisM]

Quick, but...

[Kunama]

The bloody thing must be building a motel not a nest !

[Astro_Bot]

Scarecrow? The bird could probably do with a laugh! :D Better gutter guards are probably the order of the day - ones that can keep rats out, too.

On the subject of brazen birds, there are some butcher birds that fly to my door (and land about 2 feet away) when I open it - I figure someone local has been feeding them and they now associate a door opening with food, though it looks like they're trying to fly in through the door sometimes.

Then there are the magpies that walk right past me when I'm out gardening - seriously, they're within arms reach - but they just glance at me casually for a couple of seconds then keep going, picking at the ground for grubs.

[LewisM]

Every morning from 6am to 8am RELIGIOUSLY for the past 4 months.

It could be more than 1 family I guess too. Bird networking :)

Bloody things drop the wet crap out of the gutters all over the patio too.

AND they are very brazen - I shoo them, they sit on the fence and squak at me. Little buggers.

[multiweb]

Time for a little target practice.

[LewisM]

Not sure the neighbour would like a 6.5x55 Swedish hole in her masonary ;)

[LewisM]

I have resorted to waving a long dowel at him/her. I am not the mean type ;)

[AstralTraveller]

And it would probably like the straw.




There used to be a willie wagtail about the area that responded to the sound of a lawnmower. It would follow me about the yard picking off insects I scared up. When I left the mower it would sit on the handle. It was within reach plenty of times but you know how quick they are.

My uncle used to have a magpie come down and sit on his spade or fork when he was digging his vege garden and wait for him to unearth worms. My uncle would be putting his foot on one side of the blade and the bird would sit on the other.

At the moment there are frogmouths nesting in the paperbark outside the neighbours place. I discovered it on Friday when I saw the pile of poo on the neighbour's car's bonnet. Later that night I confirmed one nestling and two concerned parents (certainly concerned about me shining a torch at them). The neighbour hosed his car yesterday but didn't move it. :screwy: I'm making it obvious that I know about the birds so as to head off any idea that they should remove the 'problem' - I don't fully trust them.