Quiet Back Yard

[spatsycat]

After 2 visits from a Toronto Wildlife Officer, I've been forced to remove all my birdfeeders.... The neighbours have complained about the number of pigeons that visited my yard and their roofs, cadging any fallen food from the feeders, also the raccoons at night and the squirels by day etc.
They claimed there were dead birds in my yard (not true!) - perhaps in their yards? They should be looking at the free-roaming housecats for that problem...
I had all the available 'guards' in place to deter unwanted eaters and even 'locked' the feeders at night.
Boy, are things quiet now! I miss my fur and feathered friends and wish the neighbours would be more understanding.
On a happier note, I had a nuthatch and a veery over the past few days so all is not lost. I guess having plenty of trees means that some visitors will pass thro'. Also keeping the water provides some invitation.
Thanks for listening to my mini-rant. My little North Toronto oasis is no more....
Anne

[Craig McL]

try to find food with out "corn" this will ceep the  pigeons away ...

from a Whitby oasis  to youres !!

best of best

Craig

[spatsycat]

Thanks for the hint, Craig, but I tried all manner of foods and the pigeons just kept on coming...
I live directly behind Eglinton Ave. and many tall (10 - 15) storey apt. buildings - favourite pigeon hang-outs. Guess they just sat there and waited for me to come out :)
Unfortunately, there aren't enough raptors yet to make a significant dent in the numbers!
Quietly, Anne

[Dr. John]

We just put out black oil sunflower seeds in our main feeder and the pigeons keep coming nonetheless. We also placed nails along the rail so that only smaller birds can land and the pigeons will simply flap in mid-air while gulping down a few seeds. Nothing will stop them!

If you want to still have a feeder though, you can always try a finch feeder. You'll at least get house finches, goldfinches, pine siskins, etc.

-John

[spatsycat]

Yes John, they are a voracious lot, those pigeons and for all their apparent clumsiness, very acrobatic when it comes to getting around any eating deterrents!
I have a Niger feeder at the front of the house and the pigeons haven't discovered it yet! Had a wonderful summer of bright yellow Goldfinches which the wandering cats loved to catch...
The squirrels and an occasional raccoon knocked it down a few times but I don't think the neighbours know it's there....
Anne

[Axeman]

All I can say is I feel for you...

[spatsycat]

Thanks for the kind thoughts, Axeman! It's been so strange in our yard - when all that snow fell, no tracks to be seen for days... finally a raccoon visited the heated birdbath but no birds.
At least the niger feeder out the front has been busy... slate-coloured juncos, gold finches and sparrows. Had a large flock of mourning doves one day - nice to see them up close.
Had the joy of watching a young red-tail hawk out the upper back window devour a pigeon one afternoon - that was fun!