How To Stop Birds From Nesting In Flower Pots?
Potted plants add beauty and character to any garden, but they also attract birds to come feed on them or nest within them.
Birds are beautiful creatures to look at, and they aid in insect control within a garden by consuming them.
However, too much bird activity will damage plants.
They will peck away at flower blossoms, fruits, and seeds in addition to digging up soil in search of worms, roots, and other food.
Their droppings can spread diseases to pets and people, while their eggs and hatchlings attract snakes and other predators.
7 Ways To Stop Birds From Nesting In Flower Pots
If birds nest in your flower pots, they will only leave after 2 or 3 months when their fledglings fly off. Therefore, it’s key to chase away birds before they build nests. Also, parent birds often return to the same nest to lay their eggs again in the future.
Several deterrents can be used to discourage and stop birds from creating nests in and around flower pots.
The best of which are harmless, simple, and long-lasting.
1. Clear Out The Area Around Flower Pots
Birds use almost any material they can get to make their nests. This includes twigs, grass, mud, feathers, string, and pieces of cloth. Leaving debris around flower pots will encourage birds to create nests within the pots.
If the area is clean, birds will likely build their nests elsewhere, in an area where materials are easily accessible. Additionally, it takes three days to two weeks for birds to build their nests, depending on the species.
By monitoring bird activity around your potted plants, nests can be removed before they are completed.
What We Love About This Idea
It is free and does not harm the birds. Also, it is easy to do as part of the daily maintenance of your potted plants.
Parental birds will be discouraged from nesting in flower pots due to a lack of resources and the constant disruption to nest building.
2. Scarecrows and Predator Decoys
Scarecrows or replicas of bird predators like snakes and owls can be placed around flower pots to prevent birds from landing around the area.
They must, therefore, be moved around frequently to remain effective. Birds are intelligent and will eventually realize that objects that are always in the same position will not do anything to them.
What We Love About This Idea
It is simple and easy to execute. Additionally, the method can be useful for a long time as long as decoys are repainted when they become dull or weathered, and scarecrows have their attire changed regularly.
3. Make Use Of Moving Objects That Are Reflective Or Bright.
Reflective and brightly colored objects scare away birds, especially if they move. Aluminum foil or reflective tape can be wrapped around the rims of flower pots to produce a glare.
Alternatively, pinwheels, flashing lights, flags, and balloons can be placed in the flower pots to keep the birds away.
What We Love About This Idea
It is inexpensive and safe to use. Different props can be tried out to find the most effective ones or to find designs that look appealing in your garden.
Reflective and colorful devices require minimal maintenance or human assistance. They work even in your absence, and they only need to be replaced after a few years when they become dull.
4. Physical Barriers
To keep birds from making their nests in flower pots, physical barriers can be put up in or around them. Bird spikes made of metal and plastic can be attached to flower pots.
Alternatively, toothpicks can be inserted throughout the soil, and wire mesh, like chicken-wire, can be used to cover the tops of flower pots.
What We Love About This Idea
The physical barriers are easy to put up and last a long time before they need to be replaced. Additionally, they do not affect the growth of flowers.
The plants will still get access to sunlight and water, and grow through spaces within the barriers.
5. Bird Repellant
Store-bought or home-made bird repellants can be added to the flower beds of potted plants to keep birds away. There are a number of commercial repellents available, such as sprays that make your plants and soil taste bad.
This includes sticky gels that can be put on surfaces, including the rims of flower pots, to stop birds from landing on them. A DIY repellant can be easily made by mixing cayenne pepper with water and spraying it onto the plants.
What We Love About This Solution
It is easy to do, and objects that may distract from the beauty of your flowers are not used. Additionally, various products and DIY recipes can be tried out to find the best one.
6. Distracting Sounds
Birds like peaceful nesting areas and are easily scared off by loud noises. Wind chimes can thus be hung in garden areas close to potted plants, or pinwheels can be inserted into the soil in the pots.
Alternatively, portable weatherproof radios can be placed close to the plants, and music or bird distress sounds can be played.
What We Love About This Solution
Noise-making devices can be easily moved around to different areas in a garden with bird nesting problems.
7. Create Additional Nesting Sites
Birds can have safe places to nest away from potted plants by putting up birdhouses or nesting boxes. This is best done in conjunction with another deterrent method to move birds away from flower pots.
What We Love About This Idea
It is an excellent way to protect your plants and also help birds find suitable nesting places where they will not cause damage.
Safety Is Most Important
Birds can be pests in gardens, especially around flower pots. The shapes of the pots make them ideal for building nests, and the birds will also have easy access to food.
Bird activity can be easily managed using the methods we have described. They are all safe to use and do not cause harm to birds. It is also important to keep people safe while building or using any of the methods described.
People must wear protective clothing and get rid of trash, debris, and bird droppings in the right way.
What Kind Of Birds Nest In Hanging Baskets?
Some wild bird species like to nest in hanging baskets. The foliage contained within the baskets provides protection from predators and harsh weather conditions.
Birds can also get food right away from the baskets, especially if they contain plants that produce seeds or fruit.
What Kinds of Birds Nest in Hanging Baskets?
Small Birds
There are three types of birds that are commonly found nesting in hanging baskets. These are house finches, mourning doves, and robins. They are all small birds.
House finches grow up to 6 inches in height and 0.8 oz in weight.
Mourning doves get up to 14 inches tall while weighing up to 4 oz, and robins grow up to 11 inches in height and weigh up to 2.7 oz.
They build nests in naturally sheltered places for safety. Their small frames make them vulnerable to large predators and extreme weather changes.
In addition to hanging baskets, places small birds have been found nesting include wreaths, evergreen trees, porch lights, and nest boxes.
Birds With Multiple Broods Per Mating Season
Birds that have more than one brood per season often want to return to the same nests so that they don’t keep making new ones. Hanging baskets are often ideal nesting spots as they offer concealment.
Nests built in them are usually hidden away so that they are not damaged easily, used by other birds, or removed by people.
What Should You Do If Birds Nest in Your Hanging Baskets?
If birds nest in your hanging basket, it presents an opportunity to experience how they care for their young. However, most hanging baskets are located in areas that have a lot of human traffic.
This creates hazardous situations for both humans and birds. Birds create a lot of mess and droplets as they grow, which poses health threats to people. Additionally, the sounds that come with human activity may also scare and chase away birds, leading them to abandon their nests.
The best thing to do when birds nest in your hanging plants is to move them to a better location gradually. A duplicate basket can be placed next to the original one, and the nest can be moved into it. The second basket can then be moved to a new area a few feet at a time.
The nests cannot be moved too quickly, as this will confuse the parents and cause them to abandon their nests.
Once the fledglings leave the nest, it can then be discarded to prevent the parents from returning to care for another brood.
Be Wary Of Moving Endangered Species
Before attempting to move a nest, it is essential to check with governing bodies if the nesting birds are on the endangered species list.
Often it is illegal to interfere with the nests and eggs of threatened breeds in any way.