Newbie Help - Birds Nesting in Awning

[R.A. McGowan]

I need some help from some bird experts. Let me preface this by saying
that I'm not a bird-hater or bird-lover -- I'm bird-neutral. I'm willing
to live and let live, but I've got a problem now.

A few years back I had a retractable awning installed on the back of my
house. For the last three years some birds have nested there. I'm not an
ornithologist by any means, so I don't even know what species they are,
but we live in a densely populated suburban area, so they're probably
something very common. They're quite small -- they have to be in order
to build nests in the small space behind the awning housing.

The problem is the awning is right above my patio. I have, for the past
three years, waged a constant and losing battle with bird droppings on
my patio, where my twin three-year-olds now play, and on the house below
the awning, and all over the patio furniture. I used to squirt the hose
to clean the house, but it knocked a nest down once and an egg inside
was destroyed. I'd rather not cause that much destruction. I'd prefer if
they moved.

Is there any way to keep the birds from nesting there? I tried a feeder
on the other side of the yard, but they just fed there and zipped right
back to the nest in the awning (it's a small yard). I can't remove the
nest -- the space is so small that the nest is destroyed if I try to
extract it.

Thanks for any assistance.

Bob Mc. (remove NOSPAM from my email address to reply directly.)

[Lori]

Did you happen to see what color the bird(s) are? Sound like House finches
though I could be wrong...LOL. I've had problems with Finches building nests
before in my hanging flower baskets and under the over hang of my front
porch. I just keep pulling the nests down.....Typically I beat them to the
egg laying stage otherwise I would be a bad birder or is it murderer?! Take
a look and see what they are. Color is always a good start....

Good luck!

Lori

"R.A. McGowan" <mcgo...@NOSPAMramsoftsolutions.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1737a778f...@news.earthlink.net...

[suecham]

I once saw Tufted Titmice nesting in a folded awning, and I understand
Carolina Chickadees do it too. I'm in Georgia. Sue

R.A. McGowan <mcgo...@NOSPAMramsoftsolutions.com> wrote in message
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