We've lived in Arizona for 30 years. In 2012 our friend and neighbor Lou passed. He would put rocks up on the top columns of his patio for doves to nest. Doves are horrible nest builders and often their eggs roll out of their flimsy built nest.
The neighbor who bought his home had no interest in continuing the tradition so we picked it up.
We have eight nesting areas. We love to watch the "hatchlings" grow up. We always thought Arizona only had one type of Dove the Mourning Dove but turns out they have eight. Personally we have attracted the Mourning, White Wing, Collared (intrusive) & Inca (tiny little doves).
At first we had no issues with predators then a beautiful Arizona Screech Owl (See Photo) came into the picture. He began raiding the nest at 2am in the mornings. Eats the hen and kills the chicks.
Because of this bizarre behavior of killing and eating the hen in front of their "hatchlings" then killing them for no cause we have named this devil "Diablo".
We tried a multiplicity of techniques. To make a long story short the most effective was a combination of the following:
Mirrors. Put up mirrors at entrances to the hatching/brooding areas. Owls are territorial and their reflections will usually deter.
Lights: Leaving porch lights on at night. Owls eyes are sensitive to light and this deters them.
Sound: We pipe out 80's Rock & Roll music at night. Low enough of a level as not to upset our neighbors.
Singly they were not 100% effective but in combination they are so far.
After the incubation/brooding perod is over we turn off the lights & music. The owls come in and tear up the empty nests knocking over the rocks.
Found all of these techniques online. The fake owl and bird silhouettes worked too good. They scare off the doves as well.
Caution about netting. Our horney toad lizards would get caught up in them and die. I got concerned small birds might as well.
Hope this helps if you're having an owl problem.
The owl still feast on the other birds and rabbits which we have a plethora that munch on our grass. We like to think they are helping us mow. We also have hawks and bobcats that occasionally visit for a snack.
That's the problem with establishing bird sanctuaries. The predators consider them as hunting grounds but at least we stopped them from feasting on the young before they even have a chance at life.
The neighbor who bought his home had no interest in continuing the tradition so we picked it up.
We have eight nesting areas. We love to watch the "hatchlings" grow up. We always thought Arizona only had one type of Dove the Mourning Dove but turns out they have eight. Personally we have attracted the Mourning, White Wing, Collared (intrusive) & Inca (tiny little doves).
At first we had no issues with predators then a beautiful Arizona Screech Owl (See Photo) came into the picture. He began raiding the nest at 2am in the mornings. Eats the hen and kills the chicks.
Because of this bizarre behavior of killing and eating the hen in front of their "hatchlings" then killing them for no cause we have named this devil "Diablo".
We tried a multiplicity of techniques. To make a long story short the most effective was a combination of the following:
Mirrors. Put up mirrors at entrances to the hatching/brooding areas. Owls are territorial and their reflections will usually deter.
Lights: Leaving porch lights on at night. Owls eyes are sensitive to light and this deters them.
Sound: We pipe out 80's Rock & Roll music at night. Low enough of a level as not to upset our neighbors.
Singly they were not 100% effective but in combination they are so far.
After the incubation/brooding perod is over we turn off the lights & music. The owls come in and tear up the empty nests knocking over the rocks.
Found all of these techniques online. The fake owl and bird silhouettes worked too good. They scare off the doves as well.
Caution about netting. Our horney toad lizards would get caught up in them and die. I got concerned small birds might as well.
Hope this helps if you're having an owl problem.
The owl still feast on the other birds and rabbits which we have a plethora that munch on our grass. We like to think they are helping us mow. We also have hawks and bobcats that occasionally visit for a snack.
That's the problem with establishing bird sanctuaries. The predators consider them as hunting grounds but at least we stopped them from feasting on the young before they even have a chance at life.
- Next page: Update on this year's boarders...
