Warm weather and gentle breezes lure us outside in early summer and beg us to take advantage of our yards, porches, and outdoor spaces. But things take a frustrating turn when you see that your friendly local birds have left some not-so-friendly marks on your patio furniture.
Attract birds to your yard is a wonderful way to support wildlife and add beautiful birdsong to your environment, but finding bird doo on your patio or porch is less than ideal. Of course, you could cover your patio furniture (Amazon has a surprisingly good selection of covers!), but there are some easy steps you can take to protect your patio from bird droppings.
Let’s explore five ways to bird-proof your yard to keep things clean this summer.
1. Sparkle and Startle
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Birds are flighty little creatures (pun intended) and are easily startled by moving objects. Add some sparkle and they really take off. You can use DIY methods such as hanging old CDs or strips of aluminum foil around your patio that will spin in the breeze and flash amazing reflections. There are also reflective mylar ribbons, available from Amazonwhich will scare birds away from your terrace or any vulnerable parts of the garden.
2. Predator baits
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Bait predators is another bird deterrent. A hand painted fake owl with glass eyes, available from amazon, it will make birds think twice about coming near your patio. Owl decoys work best to deter birds and pests when they are moved every couple of days. If the bait is still, the birds will not be fooled and will continue as normal.
3. Trim the ends
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Another easy way to keep birds and their droppings off your patio and outdoor furniture is to cut back any overhanging tree limbs around the area. A stray branch provides a perfect perch for our feathered friends to perch and romp. Even a short visit to the branch can result in messy splashes on the lower deck. June is a great time to prune trees and shrubs that have already flowered, so it’s profitable! Editors love us Fiskars 28″ Eyeglasses. lower pruning operations and Fiskars Extendable Tree Pruners and Pole Saw for hard-to-reach ends (both available on Amazon).
4. Move feeders and baths
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In addition to finding the perfect perch, birds may congregate around your porch because of bird feeders or birdbaths nearby. Creation of a bird sanctuary in your yard with bird feeders and birdbaths are great, but you may want to consider relocating these items. Find a location in your yard for your bird bath and feeders that is away from where you and your family gather outdoors. A simple move can make a huge difference. However, you should carefully move them to avoid any mistakes when placing birdbaths such as taking them into the sun or too close to thick bushes.
5. Move the fruiting bushes
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If you’ve tried all the other ways to keep birds from roosting on your patio and they continue to do so, it may be time to make some landscaping changes. Planting berry-producing bushes it helps give the backyard birds a great feast, but it can also make your patio a mess. We’ve all seen it. The berry bird is not only gross, it stains everything it touches. Transplantation so wonderful serviceberry away from the patio will help reduce the amount of droppings you clean up. Just be sure to water your transplanted shrub or tree regularly and apply mulch to help retain moisture and reduce transplant shock.
A few simple changes such as trimming trees, relocating bird feeders, and placing reflective tape around your patio will help deter birds from pooping on your patio. I hope you have a bird-free summer!
