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a kennedy

(36,207 posts)
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 09:02 AM Apr 11

Ack......the robin is back again this year trying to build a nest on my front porch light next to my front door.

I know, I know, let nature win, and no I just can’t, I have to use that door to feed all my other birds. I can’t believe ALL the stuff she finds for her nest building. It’ll be about a week with me every day pulling down all her material for her to get the hint she can’t build there. I know I’m a meany. Not sorry.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Ack......the robin is back again this year trying to build a nest on my front porch light next to my front door. (Original Post) a kennedy Apr 11 OP
Hey, you gotta protect your own habitat Walleye Apr 11 #1
Can you stuff a box or egg carton up there until she gives up? Hope22 Apr 11 #2
I tried putting a heavy metalish can up there she just put the material on top of the can!!! a kennedy Apr 11 #3
I wedged a board into that space and it solved the problem. Don't know if that will work for you but it did for me. efhmc Apr 11 #11
You got a robin EYESORE 9001 Apr 11 #4
Have you tried placing an owl figurine in the area,... magicarpet Apr 11 #5
Hmmmmmm, owl figurine......that is possible......but those spike things??? Yikes, a big fat no to those. a kennedy Apr 11 #6
Well with the spike thing,... the bird does not get stabbed by them. magicarpet Apr 11 #7
Install a birdhouse made for Robins Bluestocking Apr 11 #8
Point well taken. Within the curtilage I will abide neither WheelWalker Apr 11 #9
Our loving crows get rid of them silently. They raid the unguarded eggs. GreenWave Apr 11 #10
Birds nest NJ2NC Apr 11 #12
Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Apr 12 #17
For years and years, I had robins who built a nest on top of my outdoor garage lights, but the lights never SWBTATTReg Apr 11 #13
For the last 2 years morning doves have used a robins nest under our soffit. a kennedy Apr 12 #18
We put a softball on top of our light Luciferous Apr 12 #14
My husband is tormented by swallows that get into the garage and nest in the rafters. He lets them be, though, Vinca Apr 12 #15
A rubber snake would solve the problem. JustKay Apr 12 #16

Hope22

(4,831 posts)
2. Can you stuff a box or egg carton up there until she gives up?
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 09:10 AM
Apr 11

It might save both of you some frustration!🤣😁

a kennedy

(36,207 posts)
3. I tried putting a heavy metalish can up there she just put the material on top of the can!!!
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 09:34 AM
Apr 11
Gotta hand it to her, she’s a determined little bitch. I think it would have to be something with a pointed top so she can’t use the flat surface.

efhmc

(16,888 posts)
11. I wedged a board into that space and it solved the problem. Don't know if that will work for you but it did for me.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 12:25 PM
Apr 11

magicarpet

(19,099 posts)
5. Have you tried placing an owl figurine in the area,...
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 10:13 AM
Apr 11

... where she wants to construct her nest ?

How about bird/pigeon spikes. Available at Home Depot.

a kennedy

(36,207 posts)
6. Hmmmmmm, owl figurine......that is possible......but those spike things??? Yikes, a big fat no to those.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 10:16 AM
Apr 11

magicarpet

(19,099 posts)
7. Well with the spike thing,... the bird does not get stabbed by them.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 10:24 AM
Apr 11

It is just that they have no place to land without getting poked - so they move on to a less uninviting place.

WheelWalker

(9,411 posts)
9. Point well taken. Within the curtilage I will abide neither
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 10:48 AM
Apr 11

rattlesnakes nor poison oak residing.

GreenWave

(12,725 posts)
10. Our loving crows get rid of them silently. They raid the unguarded eggs.
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 11:13 AM
Apr 11

Victory in the end game tactic.

SWBTATTReg

(26,355 posts)
13. For years and years, I had robins who built a nest on top of my outdoor garage lights, but the lights never
Sat Apr 11, 2026, 03:05 PM
Apr 11

seemed to bother them. It's a tradition to us now, so the coming of Spring means that the robins will soon be returning.

a kennedy

(36,207 posts)
18. For the last 2 years morning doves have used a robins nest under our soffit.
Sun Apr 12, 2026, 05:10 PM
Apr 12

Last edited Mon Apr 13, 2026, 08:13 AM - Edit history (1)

My husband, when he was alive, put up a 5 x 5 platform for the robins. 2 years ago the doves took it over and for the last 2 years have used it for their babies. We’d laugh as the doves are larger then the robins and would be larger then the nest, but they’d have at least 3 batches every year. Saw them there again this year, but it was a couple of days ago, haven’t seen them since, hope they’re gonna use it this year.

Vinca

(54,214 posts)
15. My husband is tormented by swallows that get into the garage and nest in the rafters. He lets them be, though,
Sun Apr 12, 2026, 10:37 AM
Apr 12

and hoses out the garage when they exit the building. It's been a pattern for years and years. The swallows don't come back to Capistrano, they come back to our garage.

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