Monday, March 24, 2008

Bully Bird!!!

Does anyone know how to get rid of a bully bird? We have a mockingbird that is keeping ALL other birds away from the suet and seed feeders on our deck. I have seen him (or her) slam into a mourning dove, coming away with a mouth full of feathers. He (or she) goes after anything that comes near, even sitting in the tree closest to the feeders and watching. This bully bird has even chased off our red-bellied woodpeckers who always visit - and they raise their young nearby.


Any advice would be helpful.

3 comments:

Dawn said...

Hi Rhonda,

I would have two different feeders or more, use feeders the mocker cannot get into, like the cage inside a cage feeders. Doves like to eat off the ground so you can feed them in a different area too. and I would make a point to scare the mocker away when you see it. you can use a missile of some sort to throw at it. a pop can of pennys, or a rolled up old sock.
I dont let black birds. cowbirds or crows hang around here. Once they know you will actually do something to scare them away they will keep their visits shorter or when you are not home. hope this helps.

Deb Léger said...

Hi Rhonda, I sent a group email with some addresses of sites that talk about getting rid of bully birds. Those nasty things!! lol. Hope you can get rid of them.

Deb

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much, Dawn and Deb! I will see what we can come up with in the meantime so we can see our favorite birds again. I really hate him picking on the doves - they are such docile things and I love their mournful coo coo coos.