House Martins
#1
House Martins
Ever since we bought our place we have been plagued with housemartins. We know they are protected and nests cannot be removed during the breeding season so we have taken great pains to try and stop it before the season - put up bird spikes but the little ...still keep coming back and start trying to build their nests. Unfortunately we are not out all of the time to stay on top of the situation and we really need a more full proof way. Does anyone know of a Portuguese company that deal with this (we cannot be the only ones we don't much like it?) - perhaps put up netting or something else? I appreciate it will probably now need to be the autumn. Is there an absolutely full proof deterrent? I like them but it is no fun sitting out under a deluge of sh.... There has to be an answer?
#2
Re: House Martins
Hi MiaCat.
What I do is hang something like a xmas bobble ( all that cheap stuff you can get at the chinese shops),on a length of cat gut or twine,
in the spots where they intend to roost. A old CD or DVD will do the same.
As it spins around the birds do not like it and head off to roost somewhere else.
Works for me. My neighbours are plagued by them during the breeding season.
regards
What I do is hang something like a xmas bobble ( all that cheap stuff you can get at the chinese shops),on a length of cat gut or twine,
in the spots where they intend to roost. A old CD or DVD will do the same.
As it spins around the birds do not like it and head off to roost somewhere else.
Works for me. My neighbours are plagued by them during the breeding season.
regards
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: UK & Tavira
Posts: 29
Re: House Martins
Hi MiaCat.
What I do is hang something like a xmas bobble ( all that cheap stuff you can get at the chinese shops),on a length of cat gut or twine,
in the spots where they intend to roost. A old CD or DVD will do the same.
As it spins around the birds do not like it and head off to roost somewhere else.
Works for me. My neighbours are plagued by them during the breeding season.
regards
What I do is hang something like a xmas bobble ( all that cheap stuff you can get at the chinese shops),on a length of cat gut or twine,
in the spots where they intend to roost. A old CD or DVD will do the same.
As it spins around the birds do not like it and head off to roost somewhere else.
Works for me. My neighbours are plagued by them during the breeding season.
regards
#4
Re: House Martins
We are planning to put an insect screen that folds back along the terraces at the front and back of our apartment to stop the birds coming in. Our neighbours have put some kind of netting up to block the corners of the terrace (bit like coving) to stop the birds nesting ... seems to have worked for them.
We have tied things up and dangled them but this year it does not seem to be working. I have put them up where they seem to go the most. It is a pain.
#5
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: UK & Tavira
Posts: 29
Re: House Martins
I would be interested in the screen although I have been told our condo does not allow mosquito screens across the balcony - tempted to ignore it as i have not seen it in writing. Let me know if you have a name of someone to do it.
We have tied things up and dangled them but this year it does not seem to be working. I have put them up where they seem to go the most. It is a pain.
We have tied things up and dangled them but this year it does not seem to be working. I have put them up where they seem to go the most. It is a pain.
#6
Re: House Martins
Since the screen folds back you could say it's not permenant!!?? We didn't think that we could put one up but since someone in another block has done the same, and another has actually put sliding windows in the back we can't see a problem. If you PM me I can let you know the company we are going to use.
#7
Re: House Martins
I have tiled all around the top of the wall where it meets the ceiling. Now they can't get any grip to build their nests.
#8
Re: House Martins
Now that is a smart piece of thinking and it does sound a cost effective and simple solution. It makes sense so I will run that by the OH. I am also going to try hairspray - they don't like sticky stuff. I have been busy reading up and there is some bird deterrent sticky stuff you can get from America but I think I will try the cheap hairspray first. I am not out for a while so if anyone gets a chance to try it out please let me know.
#9
Re: House Martins
Try a couple of runs of fishing line stretched along the top of the wall where they want to nest, I used corks as spacers so the line sits a little off the wall. Use drawing pins or nails to secure the line in the wall. They hate it as they can't get a perch!
Next door they have a fake Kestral and they don't like that either.
Next door they have a fake Kestral and they don't like that either.
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Poço Longo, Olhão
Posts: 836
Re: House Martins
Lizards or geckos.
#11
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11
Re: House Martins
we have enclosed a few balconies and terraces with the retractable screens pm me for more details if you are interested. Regards Denny
#12
Re: House Martins
These little guy's are now taken for food because of the ongoing drought where they winter in Sub Sahara Africa,There population is in decline because of this.
The birds that survive then travel over 3.000 km's to Europe to breed , mortality on this journey is estimated at 15%,due to Storms - Starvation
& Natural Causes.
The birds that survive return to the same area they used to nest the year before as do the yearling's that where raised there
And what do they find when the survivers finally arrive at there breeding areas, a bunch of NIMBY's
You lot should be helping !
Embrace Nature - don't deny it
Man is the most dangerous Animal on this planet
The birds that survive then travel over 3.000 km's to Europe to breed , mortality on this journey is estimated at 15%,due to Storms - Starvation
& Natural Causes.
The birds that survive return to the same area they used to nest the year before as do the yearling's that where raised there
And what do they find when the survivers finally arrive at there breeding areas, a bunch of NIMBY's
You lot should be helping !
Embrace Nature - don't deny it
Man is the most dangerous Animal on this planet
#13
Re: House Martins
These little guy's are now taken for food because of the ongoing drought where they winter in Sub Sahara Africa,There population is in decline because of this.
The birds that survive then travel over 3.000 km's to Europe to breed , mortality on this journey is estimated at 15%,due to Storms - Starvation
& Natural Causes.
The birds that survive return to the same area they used to nest the year before as do the yearling's that where raised there
And what do they find when the survivers finally arrive at there breeding areas, a bunch of NIMBY's
You lot should be helping !
Embrace Nature - don't deny it
Man is the most dangerous Animal on this planet
The birds that survive then travel over 3.000 km's to Europe to breed , mortality on this journey is estimated at 15%,due to Storms - Starvation
& Natural Causes.
The birds that survive return to the same area they used to nest the year before as do the yearling's that where raised there
And what do they find when the survivers finally arrive at there breeding areas, a bunch of NIMBY's
You lot should be helping !
Embrace Nature - don't deny it
Man is the most dangerous Animal on this planet
If our house is brand new then the housemartins have never lived in my porch before. So stopping them from starting to live there is hardly preventing their 'circle of life'.
These 'let people/animals/etc. do whatever they want' 'Man is the aggressor' types really annoy me.
I take it you never use fly spray, ant powder, bleach, soap, washing powder or anything just in case it affects somethings environment?
Give me a break.
#14
Re: House Martins
Oh for goodness sake!
If our house is brand new then the housemartins have never lived in my porch before. So stopping them from starting to live there is hardly preventing their 'circle of life'.
These 'let people/animals/etc. do whatever they want' 'Man is the aggressor' types really annoy me.
I take it you never use fly spray, ant powder, bleach, soap, washing powder or anything just in case it affects somethings environment?
Give me a break.
If our house is brand new then the housemartins have never lived in my porch before. So stopping them from starting to live there is hardly preventing their 'circle of life'.
These 'let people/animals/etc. do whatever they want' 'Man is the aggressor' types really annoy me.
I take it you never use fly spray, ant powder, bleach, soap, washing powder or anything just in case it affects somethings environment?
Give me a break.
#15
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: UK & Tavira
Posts: 29
Re: House Martins
Oh for goodness sake!
If our house is brand new then the housemartins have never lived in my porch before. So stopping them from starting to live there is hardly preventing their 'circle of life'.
These 'let people/animals/etc. do whatever they want' 'Man is the aggressor' types really annoy me.
I take it you never use fly spray, ant powder, bleach, soap, washing powder or anything just in case it affects somethings environment?
Give me a break.
If our house is brand new then the housemartins have never lived in my porch before. So stopping them from starting to live there is hardly preventing their 'circle of life'.
These 'let people/animals/etc. do whatever they want' 'Man is the aggressor' types really annoy me.
I take it you never use fly spray, ant powder, bleach, soap, washing powder or anything just in case it affects somethings environment?
Give me a break.