I live in suburban Perth, Western Australia and last year a pair of honeyeaters nested right next to our front door in a tall pot plant, less than a foot from the front doorbell button!. We think they are Singing honeyeaters. We made a large sign asking everyone to use the back door and the eggs all hatched, and the chicks left the nest successfully.
Well, they are now back and seem to be renovating the old nest! I am delighted but would like to know if I have to again ask everyone to use the back door! Is this unecessary and am I going too far?!!
They also seem to be taking their time with renovating their house. They don't seem in a hurry... bit like my husband!! Please advise. :) Thankyou.
Well it's great that you have this problem. It really depends on how the parents are and how scared they are of people. I live in China and it's common here for swallows and swifts to nest inside houses. The dorrs and windows are open all summer as it's hot and the birds just fly in and out - you can get buzzed by a swallow passing an inch from your head as you enter a door and they leave to find food for the chicks. I've also got within a few inches of a nesting humming bird before without her leaving the next.
Others are of course more cautious. I suggest what you do it simply see how close you can get to the door without bothering the parents. If you are quiet and move slowly they may not mind at all. If they do, see what happens. Can you at least get close to the door, or are they only worried if you stare at them etc.? Even if they do spook easily, you should be abel to trian them. If you have a bit of patience, just keep trying. be slow and quiet but move normally to the door - if they are disturbed back off and come back in an hour or two. But keep going. They should soon learn that you are jsut going into or out of the house and will not go near them and learn that you are no threat.
Good luck!
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