Atracting Ferals to your home

[jdjd]

What should I put out for the ferals to come live at my home? I have NEVER seen any ferals were I live now. I did at my old house but never at this one.

I would love for feral pigeons, those black and white birds that hiss, red birds, blue jays, blue birds, robins, doves, and wood pigeons to come live here and raise their young. (what is a wood pigeon?)

I am going tomarrow to get 3 bird feeders, 5 bird houses and 1 birdbath for my feral friends.

[warriec]

I am confused, are you calling blue Jay's ferals?. Also please note that if you did attract them your neighbors will be annoyed and do something about them. If you have pigeons as pets, then you run getting diseases from the ferals

[Florencevegan]

Oh John I wish I could send you some of mine! Share the worry! And the joy. Where do you live? You have made a god start. Can't you just go out in the street or garden and start throwing wild bird seed? They will surely come. The experts will describe a wood pigeon but I know one when I see one, bigger than a regular pigeon, kind of fat. FIVE bird houses! you must have a big garden! I hope your neighbours don't have cats! Good luck. Keep us posted on who turns up. Florence.

[Florencevegan]

Are you a vet, John?

[John_D]

Hi John,

If you do attract feral pigeons, you may eventually find you got more than you bargained for! Sure hope you either don't have neighbors or that they are friendly But seriously, too many pigeons can attract unwelcome attention from those who might harm them.

Depends what kind of location you're in really. If there are pigeons in the area at all, and you do put out something like mixed corn, there's always a chance that one or two may spot it and investigate, and if tempted to drop in regularly may then be seen by others. They do tend to stay pretty much in their own little patch, though.

If you want to put food out for pigeons, then I'd suggest a plain, flat topped bird table.

Whatever you put out, be careful of spillage which may attract rats.

If by wood pigeons, you mean those you may have seen mentioned on here, then you won't see them - they are found in Europe and the UK. The nearest N American equivalent is the Band-tailed Pigeon, which is likely to be further west than you, I believe.

As regards bird houses, what did you have in mind? Pigeons will generally try to roost on a sheltered part of a building (under eaves of house, possibly). I've seen a Mourning Dove nest on someone's window ledge years back.

Being in the UK I don't know a lot about your native birds, but I guess some of those you mention would live in a suitable box. I believe Bluebirds would take to a nestbox, for instance.

Good luck with your plans!

John

[KIPPY]

Food, water, shelter and patience.

It depends on where you live on what birds you get. I think pigeons would go anywhere they find a food source.

I had a bird feeder once and it was nuts. The pigeons were too big for the feeder. You had the pigeons who waited for the seeds to drop from the feeder, the other pijes were all over it, the little guys did not even have a chance. One of my neighbors has those thistle bags and I notice the little birds are enjoying that.

I just scatter the seeds on the ground. The feeder got too messy.

We have bird baths in the yard but don't use them. We use the big plant containers that catch the water. There easier to clean and you can provide more areas of water and save money.

We put perches on the outside of our patio underneath the patio cover. We had some rescues that I let go and they did not want to leave, they come and go. It's a safe area for the young ones till they move on.

We also have a couple nesting on my patio. I did deter them but they started trying to nest at my neighbors. Not good, so they are back on my patio but accesible so I can keep it clean. There like the long time regulars, they own the patio and I keep it clean.

Couple bird houses that the sparrows use. No problems.

Are you sure you want the birds to know where you live?

The area I live we don't have the real colorful birds. I wish we did but I'm better off we don't, so is our local rehabber. I'll just visit here and look at all the cool pictures members post.

Don't forget the humming bird feeders. Gotta love those little guys.

[Lady Tarheel]

John, we live in the "country" so rarely see any pigeons unless they are racers passing through. One did land in our vegetable garden but she was sick. Yet, less than 1/4 mile away there is a very large flock of feral pigeons - perhaps up to 200. They have barns to roost in, 2 lakes/ponds to bathe in and drink from and grains from planted fields. We have tried to release some of our rehabbed pigeons there but they would beat us home.

In Alabama you should have a lot of bluebirds. Try putting up one and you'll be rewarded with some great little guys. Also, purple martins are a joy to have around. They nest in "apartments" atop a really high pole and they're excellent for keeping mosquitoes down.

We have pedestal bird baths but the one birds seem to enjoy most is a concrete top that fits atop a well cover. It is roomy and they love to splash in it.

[Florencevegan]

Isn't it a pity that wild pigeons don't live in the countryside? You would think they could find whole fields of corn and wheat and other growing food. They come to the cities where not everybody likes them and where not everybody is allowed or has the means to build them shelters or even to feed them. I wish I could talk to them and explain that the countryside is best for birdie-doos! But maybe they know best. I didn't realise there were no wood pigeons in America! I take them for granted. Big chickens I used to call them!Florence.

[Trees Gray]

We have what is called the band tailed pigeon, which is our version of the wood pigeon.

I cannot stress enough, that if you have neighbors close by it is not a good idea to feed the pigeons, eventually their numbers increase and unfortunately when neighbors take notice, it becomes a "death warrant" sometimes, for our noble ferals.

If you live out in the open with lots of land, by all means feed them to your hearts content, but feeding them, is just dangerous within city limits, unless it is in parks or other areas where it is allowed.

[jdjd]

Ha, thanks everyone for the commetns-I TOTALLY FORGOT about this post!

Yes, we live where there are never any pigeons, but I have great news. Once we set up everything we had a family of sparows move in, and a pair of blue birds feed. They are fighting a little over territory of the favorite nest but I have 4 placed around the garden and one along the egde of the woods.

Will try to get some pics. OH! and we had A TON of Robins after I put seed on the "garden lawn". I mean at least 10 males (darkj headed) and I saw about 3 females. Spaced out like a little herd.

Thanks everyone. So sorry I forgot. Yes ya'll are right my neighbors would do mean things to them...

[Trees Gray]

Sounds like some wonderful activity going on in your yard, please DO share some pics.

[flitsnowzoom]

Well, you do get plain ol' pigeons in the country too. A couple of months ago, while driving on I-70 through the mountains, what should I see but a small flock of rock doves nesting and living in the cliff rock faces that are on either side of the highway. Altitude, about 9000 feet, weather typical Colorado spring. Blowing snow, rain and snow mix. So, they are very happy out in the cliffs where they get enough moisture and food to survive. Their real estate choice made great sense as only the big horn sheep and perhaps a very careful marten or ferret could get in there (land based). Hawks might as well, but I don't see many in that area.

[warriec]

I remember about 10 years ago sparows used to visit my garden to eat left over bird seed but I hardly see them now so I started a small project myself. Only common sparrows i found were in the pet shop so I purchased about 20 pairs and started breeding. I have 100 plus breeding pairs now and I release a good deal back to the wild every 2 months or so to repopulate.

[Lady Tarheel]

Florence, the area I mentioned that has a huge flock of about 200 wild pigeons is actually a rural or "country" area but the pigeons just don't come to our house except for the occasional racer passing through. There is another very large flock of ferals about 2 miles from us that have a similar set up plus a family who feeds them. They brought us a lovely racer once that was sick and had walked up to their back door.

Warriec, that is a generous, kind thing you are doing. A lot of people put sparrows in the same category as pigeons but I love them.

[jdjd]

Yes, Treesa i will try to get pictures soon. I now have a pair of red birds visiting in the late mornings to feed and take a bath.

Flitsnowzoom, I wish I could have seen a feral family flock. That seems to be a beautiful sight (ignoring the poop caked onto the side of the cliffs below...lol) Yes I agree very good spot to raise young.


Warriec, wow all our pet store carries are cockatiels, canarys, and parakeets. You really saved that population on sparrows in your part of the region! Who knows maybe those wild ones you saw have new gene pools to breed with!