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Wild Bird Facts and Information
PESTS AND PREDATORS
So you have labored over putting up your beautiful nest boxes, carefully selecting the location and making sure the box is at the correct height. You watch with delight as your first tenants move in and build their nest to start a family. After a few weeks you check to see that indeed there are eggs in the nest and you hope to see chicks in a few weeks. But they never appear! Upon inspection of the nest box you discover that the eggs have been broken open and the parent birds have abandoned the nest. Unfortunately, this is the fate of many birds caused by various predators who rely on bird eggs for a meal.
Among the many predators and nuisances that harm birds are hawks and shrikes, other large birds, cats, snakes, and parasites or insects.
Fortunately, there are solutions that can deter and even prevent these predators from getting at the nests.
An exceptional cat repellant is available that will keep the cats away from the birds but is not harmful to the cat. Catstop Cat Repellent
You cannot keep hawks and other birds from eating your birds as this is part of the natural food chain. The best protection you can provide is ample cover for the birds while they feed. Be sure to place your feeders close to the protective cover of bushes, shrubs, trees or buildings. Birdhouses and nest boxes can be protected by placing metal bands or cones around the supporting posts or trees if possible. Baffles may be especially beneficial for keeping snakes out of nest boxes. They also deter squirrels, and while squirrels will not kill the birds, they do eat a lot of bird food and are a nuisance.
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