looking for help with birds nesting

[muddyrode]

We had slide toppers installed last fall and then put in storage for the winter.
now that it is out of storage sitting at home, the birds keep trying to build nest between the slide out topper and the alummumin cover for the slide out topper. Has anyone else had this problem and if so, any solutions to keep them out

[Teamfour]

Can you put plastic scouring pads in the hole or some SS wool?

[clr]

When they are actively building the nest place your cat up there for an hour or so. They will give up the nesting site REAL quick. Will not harm the cat great fun for a cat.
The chance of the cat actually catching the bird is also low but they will go build the nest in another location in a heart beat.

[5picker]

I have this problem every spring.
Just have to keep chasing them out until they finally figure out it's not safe.
It's a PIA as they are diligent but not much else I've tried works.

[ManlyMan]

You might try cutting a cheap piece of Styrofoam to the correct size and wedge it between the awning and the slideout.

[grumpy0374]

Get a couple of flexible rubber snakes and put one in each end of the topper where the birds are getting in. Place em where the birds will see them. Birds hate snakes as they will eat the eggs. That should cure the problem.
Grumpy

[mdstudey]

Originally Posted by clr

When they are actively building the nest place your cat up there for an hour or so. They will give up the nesting site REAL quick. Will not harm the cat great fun for a cat.
The chance of the cat actually catching the bird is also low but they will go build the nest in another location in a heart beat.

Not very funny and cruel. I am sure there are different ways to stop birds from nesting without possible injury and death to the bird. I like the rubber snakes idea.

[tragusa3]

I had t put styrophome in the gaps of my metal carport. Has worked.

[ddbck]

Owl decoy or two. That's what we use at the silos at work, they work great.

[clr]

Originally Posted by mdstudey

Not very funny and cruel. I am sure there are different ways to stop birds from nesting without possible injury and death to the bird. I like the rubber snakes idea.

Its Natures way cats and birds are natural enemies. In nature feral cats kill more birds and other small animals than any thing else.

[howie70]

Originally Posted by mdstudey

Not very funny and cruel. I am sure there are different ways to stop birds from nesting without possible injury and death to the bird. I like the rubber snakes idea.

I've used rubber snakes and fake owls to try to keep them form nesting in the shed rafters I keep my camper under. Once they get used to seeing them though they ignore them. I then try giving them a hug, but they don't like that. I usually resort to my 20 gauge then.

[mike.t]

Originally Posted by howie70

I've used rubber snakes and fake owls to try to keep them form nesting in the shed rafters I keep my camper under. Once they get used to seeing them though they ignore them. I then try giving them a hug, but they don't like that. I usually resort to my 20 gauge then.

Oh you scoundrel. I was thinking pellet rifle with a laser sight.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by howie70

I've used rubber snakes and fake owls to try to keep them form nesting in the shed rafters I keep my camper under. Once they get used to seeing them though they ignore them. I then try giving them a hug, but they don't like that. I usually resort to my 20 gauge then.

Yep, the problem with rubber snakes and fake owls is they don't move.
The birds will ignore them in 3-4 days.
Hanging the owls on a string to blow in the wind is worthless too.

[Sierra360PDEK]

I had a major issue with birds building nests under my awning rafters at work. Tried everything to get rid of them. Finally started pulling the nests down as they were building them and after a year more birds.

[Stormrider151]

I have problems with birds too. Some try to beat the crap out of themselves on my truck mirrors, and it works. It's all down the sides of the truck. And, The tear drop I'm building in my shop is a nesting spot pretty much every spring. The truck I just wrap the mirrors in towels and the tear drop I just let them be. Sooner or later they vacate and I can start working on it again. Kind of fun to watch them. I put a security camera on the nest so I can watch them without disturbing the nest.

[Rivnut]

Originally Posted by tragusa3

I had t put styrophome in the gaps of my metal carport. Has worked.

Keep an eye on those Towmax, mine lasted 11K miles and cracked

[keith_h]

I had problems with wrens that wanted to nest behind the grill of my old B3000. I would shove deer netting into the openings when it was sitting in the drive. For the woodpeckers that seem to think wood siding makes for a nice nesting site the only way to deter them is to use more permanent methods of removal.

[Big Red and 30WR]

Use glue boards that are for mice and snakes.

[Ford Idaho]

Mylar strips on a stick.

Some orchards here tie the strips to tree branches to keep the birds out.

[mdstudey]

Originally Posted by clr

Its Natures way cats and birds are natural enemies. In nature feral cats kill more birds and other small animals than any thing else.

Then let nature take care of instead of man interfering.