Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

What are they afraid of? Owls, cats, anything that I can put a fake one on my stoop to scare them away?

I posted yesterday that a pair of morning doves built a nest in the late morning on a light fixture on my porch. Had an exterminator come in the late afternoon and remove the nest and put up spikes, which I hate but the birds were really aggressive and I am really worried about my kids getting attacked.

Between when my DH left at 6:10am and I went to put trash out at 6:30am they came back, sitting on our front walk. The second I opened the front door the aggressive one attacked the storm door. So I'm stuck in the house again today since even if I go out through the back door my car is near where they are hanging out and I'm afraid.

My DH and I have doctor's appointments tomorrow and my son has a VERY IMPORTANT doctor's appointment Monday morning. We're getting back results from bloodwork for him and we have to be there. Please help me scare them away. I don't want to hurt them, I just want them to leave.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

I am not sure about birds, but what about shaking a can of pennies loudly everytime they land on the stoop to share them off.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

Mourning doves are generally not aggressive. If anything, they are one of the least aggressive of the bird world. They would only be agressive if they fear their baby's lives are in danger - so as long as you don't go too close to wherever they rebuild their nest, you will be fine (this is the same for most bird/animal species).

I don't think there is anything you can put out to scare them. Mourning doves are probably the dumbest of all the bird species. Maybe put out some thistle at the side of your yard (this is what they like to eat). Maybe it will lure them away from your porch.

Good luck

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

Posted by TheLorax

Mourning doves are generally not aggressive. If anything, they are one of the least aggressive of the bird world. They would only be agressive if they fear their baby's lives are in danger - so as long as you don't go too close to wherever they rebuild their nest, you will be fine (this is the same for most bird/animal species).

I don't think there is anything you can put out to scare them. Mourning doves are probably the dumbest of all the bird species. Maybe put out some thistle at the side of your yard (this is what they like to eat). Maybe it will lure them away from your porch.

Good luck

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

Don't they have those things that you can hang. They are long, colorful and spin and they deter birds. Of course the name of it is escaping me and I can't find it on the internet....I'll look some more.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

Posted by MsMBV

Posted by TheLorax

Mourning doves are generally not aggressive. If anything, they are one of the least aggressive of the bird world. They would only be agressive if they fear their baby's lives are in danger - so as long as you don't go too close to wherever they rebuild their nest, you will be fine (this is the same for most bird/animal species).

I don't think there is anything you can put out to scare them. Mourning doves are probably the dumbest of all the bird species. Maybe put out some thistle at the side of your yard (this is what they like to eat). Maybe it will lure them away from your porch.

Good luck

ITA on all points. Not only are they not generally aggressive, but usually the sight of people will make them leave.
The thistle is a great idea.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

I'm with Lorax too; I would be thrilled to have them nesting at my house though so I'm afraid I'm not much help. There are certainly worse things and worse birds - like a very aggressive Blue Jay or Mockingbird we had in our front tree as kids.

I have an idea. Can you put some kind of small basket or flower pot where they are trying to build? Where you can put their nesting material in there for a day or so?

Then you can slowly move it away from the door, and maybe they'll follow. So they get their nest and you get some peace.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

Posted by greenfreak

I'm with Lorax too; I would be thrilled to have them nesting at my house though so I'm afraid I'm not much help. There are certainly worse things and worse birds - like a very aggressive Blue Jay or Mockingbird we had in our front tree as kids.

I have an idea. Can you put some kind of small basket or flower pot where they are trying to build? Where you can put their nesting material in there for a day or so?

Then you can slowly move it away from the door, and maybe they'll follow. So they get their nest and you get some peace.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

That is so strange. I've never heard of an aggressive mourning dove.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

Awww, I feel so bad for you. Since they are attacking you and preventing you from leaving your home, I think it's okay to do something.

Maybe a toy that moves and makes noise.

I had a toy talking parrot...Pete the Talking Parrot, I think. Used batteries.

When it heard speech, it would repeat what it heard twice, and flap its wings and move its beak.

(We had a lot of fun with this one... all kinds of curses, lol!)

Often, instead of speech, whenever it picked up a big noise, it would speak and move anyway.

Meanwhile, a big umbrella..?

Hope it works out.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

What about this:

Scare birds away with CD's

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

Message edited 5/11/2007 9:17:41 PM.

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

You must have another door out of your house, no?? I mean ifit becomes that desperate -- by Monday morning!!

Re: Bird experts - Long, but I desperately need morning dove help

How about putting an umbrella over your head while you go to the car.