This time it's the mynahs.
Pigeons (hoards of them) on our roof had been a problem that we'd been battling for quite a while. First, they were building nests under our solar panels and pooping on top of them, blocking the absorption of solar energy. We had to have the panels cleaned and bird netting placed around them.
The pigeons still kept coming so Art had to resort to shooting tiny ice pellets onto the roof to scare them away whenever they came back.
We had been getting a lot of very annoying, very itchy bird mite bites.
After a while the pigeons stopped coming quite as often. Now they just come to scout the roof area and fly off if they see us.
The doves still made nests under several of our eaves. This was in 2021. Sooo... Art drilled in these bird deterrent spikes. And the doves stopped coming.
Would you believe, now it's the mynahs?
Why? How?
There was a LOT of garbage packed in that small space.
Unfortunately, later that evening Art discovered he'd gotten three very itchy, annoying bird mite bites on his neck, shoulder and under his arm.
And so the battle of the birds continue. 😬
I do hope those itchy bites clear up soon. Art is so good at all this stuff, but the birds keep coming. What's next? Eagles?
ReplyDeletePerhaps you should consider putting a sofit material underneath the rafter edges and then they won't be able to access that ledge at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't see many houses in Hawaii with covered eaves. Don't know why. A friend mentioned covering it with a metal screen. Art is looking into finding stainless steel screening if it's even available.
DeleteHave you considered closing those eaves, nailing sheets of plywood or whatever over the space? Probably quite an expense to have a carpenter do it but looking out on the eaves I have they are covered. No birds nesting under them. Just remembered what that area is called - soffit.
ReplyDeleteJust read Ed's comment and he had suggested the same thing.
DeleteI used to think that living where you do would be a paradise without snow, ice and all that. Thinking again. Our grass gives us ticks, but as far as I know, none of the birds do. There is a thing called 'bird flu' and I hope we all escape knowing anything about it.
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating! I knew nothing of bird mites, so on top of the other issues the birds cause, you get itchy and uncomfortable. :(
ReplyDeleteA neverending battle
ReplyDeleteNew follower here. Your blog was recommended in a post by Ann Bennett so I came for a visit. All through this post I could hear my grandmother's words, "Pesky birds!" They were bothered by magpies in their garden.
ReplyDeleteHello Karen, I'm so pleased to meet you.
DeleteIt seems like wherever we live nature wants to have its way. It's a good thing Art can still climb ladders.
ReplyDeleteWe salute you valiant Art!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry! What a time. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a pest. I have hear you don’t have flies. Do you? They’re lots of pests here. I get discouraged by all of them. Ticks, chiggers, fire ants, mosquitoes, wasps, flies….list could go on and on.
ReplyDeleteIt never ends,
ReplyDeleteMynah birds are so smart and have a lot of personality - not like doves who are rather dumb, or like pigeons who go with the crowd. They seem to understand "Shooo!" so hopefully they make like a tree and leave.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! Thank you Aunty! Fingers crossed about the mynah catching on. Actually, after Art removed the nesting 2-3 times, I don't see them coming back. So maybe you're right. The mynahs might be a smart bird. And you're right about the doves. They keep coming back no matter how many times you remove the nesting. I think the pigeons are pretty smart... and yes, they do go with the crowd.
DeleteI too was thinking that covering those spaces with plywood under the eves would prevent the birds from nesting. Check with Tiffany's house in Illinois and see what's under their eves, unless you remember from living there? Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteConstruction here in Hawaii is a lot more expensive than in Illinois. As I recall, our roof in Illinois did not have a whole lot of eave to worry about. Then again... there was the problem we had with ice damming. Ouch!
DeleteI remember the battler with the pigeons. It's always something, eh?
ReplyDeleteSorry you are having this battle of the birds.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said perhaps you should consider closing those eaves.
Hope the itchy bites soon clear up.
All the best Jan
Sigh... We have so many open eaves around the house as many homes in Hawaii do. The problem is cost. Right now, a friend suggested putting up metal screening. Trouble is finding a metal screen that won't rust in Hawaii.
DeleteWhat about stretching that black heavy cloth that's used for weed prevention in gardens over the openings instead of plywood or screens. You'd only have to staple it to the wood. Linda in Kansas
Deletei feel your pain!! we have the same problem with sparrows, every year building nests in our retractable awning. we have replaced the fabric twice because of the holes they create. it is such a pain and so messy!!
ReplyDelete