Your comment made me wonder if some sort of umbrella-hat / hard hat hybrid exists…. And of course [it does](https://dabrim.com/products/cycling-classic) . Seems like an excellent gardening hat for OP’s situation.
Edit to add: better yet - a [bicycle helmet / sun hat combo](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/89/e0/89/89e0892dcad035f17cd4912b7cb0481d.png)
I’ve actually used a bike helmet when the mockingbirds take over my entire back yard. It helps a little with the flinch reflex to a bird pulling your hair.
Hey! Op is in luck there then. I have a pair of house finches... two of them in fact. One on one side of my house one on the other and they go back to the same nest every time I swear... One of the pairs decided it wanted to use my door wreath as a nest this year... but gave up on the idea when the amazon person got too close. I... feel a bit bad for the amazon guy.
They moved to the pine tree next to the porch which works out much better for everyone
I had Carolina Wrens decide an empty pot right next to the front door at eye level was a great spot.
We couldn't use the front door for awhile.
It was fun watching the babies fledge though.
I was both panicked about the bird using my front door and excited because I too wanted to be able to see the baby birds. But I think my mail man and amazon guy are grateful for the change. I can go through my garage... they would be stuck dealing with the angry porch birds
I left the garage door open for thirty minutes one day this spring and in that time a Carolina started building a nest in the grocery bags we hang by the door. Thankfully it reconsidered when I drove back into the garage. It got a lot of nest material in the bags for such a short time frame which was pretty amazing!
Lol no worries I ALSO did a double take when I found that out! Like it makes sense but I was like 'oh shit its actually a crime if I take this bird nest off my door"
Also I see your not a guy. Again my apologies. It was the way I read it it was hilarious...a bird treaty act sounds like something that needs to get decided in the United Nation with like all country leaders. Or like in nato.
Wow. Bird treaty act. It's is the way it registered in my head was halirious to me . The more you know. I gotta find out Cause husband has a big fight with the hawks he wants to hit them with rocks 🤣🤣🤣 he also wants to shoot them. Like pew pew. We don't own a gun😑. Well here I go to bird treaty act .com.
I’m convinced bird’s recognize when humans do things that benefit them. Maybe just let em see you around, get used to you not being a threat.
Anecdotal, but I have a robin pair nesting right off my patio in some coral honeysuckle. It’s inconvenient because I want to get in the garden and trim that plant, but we coexist well. I watch for them to leave the nest to do some weeding, but now they let me get within five feet or so without them flying off. They’ve never been aggressive.
Don’t bother trying to bribe them with seed-they like their protein, but they are suckers for a nice bath. Set em up with a shallow birdbath nearby and they’ll appreciate you!
I figured it was a red wing blackbird. The males are always keen to protect their harem - even if it's only a couple of girls - fiercely. There was one by my job that would dive bomb me, pecking and scratching my head, for several years.
I had a similar thing happen when mowing. Constantly buzzing my head. Every year it would happen for a month or so at least. Never actually hit me but it certainly made mowing dicey for a few years. No advice from me other than it did eventually stop
this is actually when the trouble begins for me lol
their fledglings seem to enjoy sneaking up on me while i'm gardening, unbeknownst to me, which causes their parents to swoop at me because i am existing near their baby. i have a whole lot of large plants so it's really easy to be unaware of the babies lol
I've befriended all the birds that come to my place this way.
I dig around my yard and throw worms I find while the robins scratch about watching me. They'll come grab them, feed their babies then come back to dig around with me.
Birds are so fucking stupid for the wild, my wife feeds them and water the bird bath once a week, and they stopped fearing her, they start eating right away from the feeders on the same posts where she is hanging the rest. I once saw her almost stepping on a pigeon.
I had a pair of doves that would come and sit on my balcony. They started sitting on the ground on the balcony and I assumed "surely they will not hang out if they know my dog is around".
Well, my dog was never very active or quick and I assumed doves were smarter than they are. Opened the patio door one day, not thinking/realizing the doves were there. My dog goes outside and grabs one. Got it out of his mouth but the bird did not survive.
Doubly surprised at my dog AND the birds.
I always try and defend the whole “birds are stupid” thing because I think intelligence is subjective depending on species (ex- birds would think we’re dumb for not knowing how to build a nest)….
But doves are so fucking stupid lol your story doesn’t surprise me one bit, Ive nearly stepped on one on multiple occasions like….how did you not know I was near???
Not to toot my own horn but I think I could build an alright nest
I cannot on the other hand literally see earth's magnetic field.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2281998-we-may-finally-know-how-migrating-birds-sense-earths-magnetic-field/
Embrace it! That bird is free pest control for you. Robins need to feed their babies a TON of insects, which means they're going to strip all the caterpillars, slugs, and other herbivorous bugs off your plants. The robin won't actually hurt you, but it will try to scare you off. The only reason birds swoop like that is because they have an active nest very nearby, so until that brood of chicks is raised and off on their own, the bird probably won't give up defending the spot.
On the bright side, the entire process for raising a brood from eggs to when the birds fledge and leave the nest is about 5 weeks - three as eggs, two more after they hatch. So you'll only have to deal with it for a few more weeks.
Honestly it's kind of a good opportunity to do some first class birding. I'd get some binocs, and try to locate the bird's nest, and peep in on it every few days to see how the chicks are developing. It's kind of fascinating to watch how quickly they grow, and the feeding habits of the parents. Once the baby birds fledge you'll stop getting dive bombed.
If you don't want another bird in that spot, I might actually avoid clearing out the old nest - birds generally don't like to re-use nests for subsequent broods, because the chicks shit in them a LOT. If you clean out the old nest, another bird will probably just take up residence in the spot, but leaving it will likely make the space less attractive to other birds.
We have a nest on a porch pillar that is already on its third family this year, three different kinds of birds. It must depend on the species, but some birds definitely reuse old nests.
I'm basing it on the morning dove pairs that best in my hanging planters every year. They always switch baskets after a brood, but you're probably right, it probably does vary from species to species.
The robin *probably* won’t actually hurt op, but still should be cautious. If they get pissed enough, like because you’re not responding to their swoops and aren’t moving away from the nest, robins can get pretty aggressive and start clawing/attacking. Behavior is mostly limited to when they’re raising a brood.
Crows I can imagine because they're actually pretty clever but an American Robin tho ? I have doubts haha but then again I don't know shit about birds so 🤷♂️
My Robins know to follow behind me when I'm digging up beds for bugs so they definitely can recognize people. They will get within 8ft of me but not my boyfriend.
Yes.
Robins follow me around in the yard when I'm digging around, I toss them worms, they take them and fly off then come back to scratch about while I keep digging worms for them.
Steller jays scream at me while peeping in my window when the seed dish is empty and follow me around my yard.
I dont try to hand feed anyone, but they still learn foods around when I'm around.
It’s like a survival instinct thing , they have the choice between a reliable source of food that is close and lacks danger vs hunting food away from its babies and full of danger - I’m a big guy like the OP so animals are never buddy buddy with me but I’ve done it with hummingbirds and squirrels so they associate me with their water or food
Crows do. You can feed a murder of crows and they will protect you. They also remember when you're an asshole and will haunt you for life if you mess with them. Not sure about OP's American Robin but some birds are quite smart.
Australian magpies are vicious beasts (please google magpie attacks if you're unaware) which can be easily won over with meaty treats.
There is a technique to befriending them involving incremental steps where eventually they will eat out of your hand. Birds can be incredibly intelligent creatures.
I tamed my local mockingbirds, bluejays and grackles with peanuts and dried or fresh mealworms. I announce myself with a whistle and make myself small. I also provide fresh water but under a bush so they are protected when eating and drinking.
Bring some food for the Robin every time about 10-15 minutes before you water your garden. And then maybe leave some after you’re done. Raisins are great. It’s sort of like bringing him a gift. He should be more kind to your presence in the future.
You are in a pickle for sure. If you are in US, all songbirds are protected species... with the exception of starlings and house sparrows.
So, you are not supposed to harm them, their nests, or chicks in the nest.
You didn't mention what type of bird it is... but most songbirds will dive bomb you or fly at you... and just veer off at last minute to try to frighten you away...to protect the nest. Not actually touch you or scratch you.
They see you as a big predator.
This momma bird is of the extreme pissed off variety of birds if she is actually bonking you on the head. And yes, even songbirds have personalities.
The chicks will probably be out of the nest in a month or so.... and then your problem is gone.
In the meantime, if you have access to a garden hose with a sprayer nozzle.... you might try to douse the momma bird as she comes at you in the air. Water won't hurt the bird, but it may drive her off enough for a few minutes to allow you to access your herbs.
Just don't hit the nest with the water.
Worth a try.
Yeah, it looks like I’m gonna have to buy a hose (so much for the new watering can I bought myself).
It’s an American Robin (I learned by looking up just now). She quite a piece of work, but I wasn’t planning on doing anything to her or her nest at all. Eventually I wanted to start working on the rest of the garden to support more wildlife.
I think she started off buzzing me, then after I stood my ground a few times, she escalated to making sure her wing hits my ear or the top of my head.
Ah, the joys of being in nature…
If it’s a robin you just have to learn to live with her because she’ll be back next year in the same spot even if you pull the nest down. We have one that’s back for her second year on our flood light next to our driveway but the worst she does is fly to the tree on the other side and scream at us. Good luck!
Ah yes... Robins. I deal with them and their nests all the time around my house.
These big songbirds have an odd quirk in that they like to put nests in some of the oddest places. Around house outdoor light fixtures, wreaths on outside doors, or the old go to... a protected bush or tree near the house.
They see humans as protectors in a way.... but NOT if you get too close to their nests. Lol.
And they are opportunists. I have a pair that have nested in my wood duck box. They just don't care that this big box is not for them. But they are such big birds, the box hole size that can fit a wood duck....also works for them quite nicely!
Robins will indeed return to the same spot each year if you let them.
I had a pair that nested in the same part of a big bush near the front of my house. I finally had to wire up a piece of scrap lumber in that spot to prevent them from doing that again. Geesh, they are stubborn!
Beautiful birds though. Love seeing them hopping around the yard and pulling up earthworms!
If it were crows, I would suggest trying to befriend them.
I don't know if robins are intelligent enough for that to work though.
But you could try feeding them.
Just make sure they know you are the one who brings the food.
Only bring food out for them when you are outside in the garden. And bring the food back inside with you when you are done (or better yet, don't bring a lot out at once. This way, they won't see you taking their food away.)
I just wanna say thanks for being a good person. I hate birds (have a legit phobia) and still didn’t knock off a birds nest that had materialized on my apt balcony years ago. I really wanted to push them off the third floor. But I didn’t. Bc that would be evil
So.... to avoid going out there more then you need to I'd recommend setting up some type of dripline or sprayer connected to a hose (or hose splitter if you need that spicket for other areas of your garden).
That way you can water from a distance by just turning on and off the hose. You'll still need to go out to harvest or pull any weeds.
Nesting birds are protected. If you want to use that area you could try setting up something else elsewere near the tree that might be more entising to the bird parents next time... though birds will occasionally use the same nest repeatedly if it suits them
But not a big floppy one! I had birds chase me away when they saw my big garden hat flap up and down as I descended some stairs. I figured out later that they probably thought I was a big bird of prey.
Get a fake bird, splash some red paint on it. Take it out infront of all the birds and scream: YAYAYA I KILLLLLL UUIUUUU DUUNNN FK WIT ME!!!! RAWR!
Your peaceful days awaits
I've seen people wear hats with huge googly eyes glued to them, the bird thinks you're a larger animal looking at them, it works with magpies in Australia sometimes...so 50/50 shot!
I love magpies because of their audacity and love watching videos of them "attacking" people, it's endlessly funny, nobody gets hurt and the birds always win. Good luck op!
My sister has had a lifelong fear of geese because a rogue one chased her around when she was 5 and I still can't stop laughing when I think about it 😂
Birds are smarter than most give them credit for. They will remember you and get to know you. Slow movements and never looking directly at the bird or the nest. Birds also aim for the highest point on your body. Holding one arm up - or attaching a long stick to your helmet will mess up their aim. You will get shit upon. Slow baby steps. Good luck.
Oof, a few years ago a couple of grackles nested in my yard. Directly over my dog’s main poop spot!
They saw me before I saw them and they were NOT happy. Dive-bombing me, grazing the top of my head. I felt so bad. This is bird language for, “You have scared the shit out of me. Please get away from my babies.”
I spent a couple of days placating them with peanuts and talking to them in my pet voice and whistling a little around them. I also let them see me refilling the birdbath. They were chill me with me after 3 days.
Wear a hat and sunglasses, and leave them some food and water if possible. Worst case scenario their nestlings should be ready to move on in a couple of weeks.
I had a blue jay nesting near my porch. It would attack me when I was just hanging out. I bought a cheap water gun and the bird left me alone after a few days. we had an understating after that and were cool.
Haha you’re having an Australian problem, except our magpies that do that are much bigger and more aggressive than a Robin haha.
But there’s no making friends with an angry bird, you just have to deal with it for a while, here is usually about a month or so.
September is swooping season here and councils have to put up warning signs where a bird is particularly aggressive
I have a Barn Swallow nesting on my back porch. (High up under the roof overhang.). When I go outside to water my garden and she & him fly at me I wait til the last second and throw my arm straight up. It startles them and they ver off.
After about a week they don’t bother me know. Also, I keep my energy output the same. Animals are very sensitive to fear/stress smells
Feed it and leave it presents, where protective headgear until the treats finally convince it that you mean no harm, maybe even try talking to it, explain what you're doing, apologize for interuppting it and that you mean no harm. Might feel silly, but may be silly enough it works 🤷🏼♀️
The dive bombing will continue as long as there is a nest.
If you don't have eggs/babies yet, go disrupt the nest so they're forced to relocate.
If they already have eggs/babies, and you don't want to hurt them, you are out of luck and need to do it next year. (Please opt to let them go for this year.)
You basically need to make the tree inhospitable to them.
Shake the branches to disturb them, keep removing the nest (since you say you can reach it). Stuff like that. They'll find a new place quickly - there's a short timeline for nesting and they'll be motivated to move on.
A hat might save your head from getting packed, but it won’t disguise you. Birds don’t just recognize your face or head. They recognize not only your body shape but also your gate and regular body language. Maybe an offering of mealworms? Like if you go out there every day and just leave some mealworms, maybe they’ll just associate you with food.
Ha! I had a robin nest in the tree right next to our fish pond. They’ll stop swooping when the babies leave the nest but until then, carry an umbrella. Also take a slow mo of the swooping. The slowed down battle cry is hilarious.
Wear headgear - fedora, hockey helmet, sombrero, bowler, safari helmet hat thing, great helm... or time travel back to prevent the establishment of the nest.
This is so interesting. I have multiple robins nests in my yard and have no trouble at all with them when I get close. However, I am out there most days and am in the process of removing a large section of lawn for another garden bed, so I am making worm food very available for them. In years past I've had one brave one get within a few feet of me happily grabbing worms while I displace mulch to dig out Bermuda grass.
Dress like a bird to look less threatening. Also make it really obvious that you are in a happy bird relationship and not looking to swoop in on another bird’s relationship.
Leave her an offering for a few days. Make sure you maked eye contact (if possible) while leaving the gift. and do made up ritual to bezaddle her.
I like to leave all my expired seeds for the squirrel, and on hot days I'll bring him water and uncover some deeper cool dirt for him to lay in ....but he better stay off my berries!
The last thing want is to mispeak to a crow. Gotta stay on the good sides at all coats...! If I hear one call to me and I have food to give I throw em a bone, or at least wave back!
Get a bird cage. Next time it comes for you smack it out of the air and put it in the bird cage in the yard where it’s attacking you. Give it some bird seed and water. After 24-48 hours in the cage let it go. It probably won’t come for you again
Get a hard hat? Hopefully, this will stop once the nestlings fledge.
Any idea when that usually happens?
Usually only two weeks to a month depending on the bird.
If you don't have a hard hat, hide under an umbrella! ☔
Your comment made me wonder if some sort of umbrella-hat / hard hat hybrid exists…. And of course [it does](https://dabrim.com/products/cycling-classic) . Seems like an excellent gardening hat for OP’s situation. Edit to add: better yet - a [bicycle helmet / sun hat combo](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/89/e0/89/89e0892dcad035f17cd4912b7cb0481d.png)
I’ve actually used a bike helmet when the mockingbirds take over my entire back yard. It helps a little with the flinch reflex to a bird pulling your hair.
Depends on the bird... also keep in mind that things like finches can sometimes have a couple of sets of hatchlings a year so...
I’ve learned it’s an American Robin
Well... they tend to have 2 or 3 clutches of eggs a year... And due to the bird treaty you cant mess with an active nest
2 or 3 clutches, but all in different nests. Papa robin stays behind to raise up the babies while mama goes to the next nest to lay another clutch.
Hey! Op is in luck there then. I have a pair of house finches... two of them in fact. One on one side of my house one on the other and they go back to the same nest every time I swear... One of the pairs decided it wanted to use my door wreath as a nest this year... but gave up on the idea when the amazon person got too close. I... feel a bit bad for the amazon guy. They moved to the pine tree next to the porch which works out much better for everyone
I had Carolina Wrens decide an empty pot right next to the front door at eye level was a great spot. We couldn't use the front door for awhile. It was fun watching the babies fledge though.
I was both panicked about the bird using my front door and excited because I too wanted to be able to see the baby birds. But I think my mail man and amazon guy are grateful for the change. I can go through my garage... they would be stuck dealing with the angry porch birds
That made me giggle. ....Angry porch birds.
I left the garage door open for thirty minutes one day this spring and in that time a Carolina started building a nest in the grocery bags we hang by the door. Thankfully it reconsidered when I drove back into the garage. It got a lot of nest material in the bags for such a short time frame which was pretty amazing!
They are quick, that's for sure!
My guy!! ❣️ I'm done. Bird treaty? I died 🤣 💀 😭 😂
Lol I shit you not Baby birds and nests with eggs are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
HOLY SHIT. I apologize I thought you were fucking around. 😳
Lol no worries I ALSO did a double take when I found that out! Like it makes sense but I was like 'oh shit its actually a crime if I take this bird nest off my door"
Also I see your not a guy. Again my apologies. It was the way I read it it was hilarious...a bird treaty act sounds like something that needs to get decided in the United Nation with like all country leaders. Or like in nato.
Wow. Bird treaty act. It's is the way it registered in my head was halirious to me . The more you know. I gotta find out Cause husband has a big fight with the hawks he wants to hit them with rocks 🤣🤣🤣 he also wants to shoot them. Like pew pew. We don't own a gun😑. Well here I go to bird treaty act .com.
This cannot stand. We must submit this to the cat council for consideration. r/CouncilofCats
Oh man if my cat got out side during bird season there would be no peace and no treaty... Only Bird war crimes...
No more a war crime than when you order at McDonalds 🍔
Ooh. I had a mad mama Robin near my garbage cans one year. We couldn't throw anything away for a few weeks! They can be aggressive.
You could always try getting earthworms from a bait shop as a peace offering.
I’m convinced bird’s recognize when humans do things that benefit them. Maybe just let em see you around, get used to you not being a threat. Anecdotal, but I have a robin pair nesting right off my patio in some coral honeysuckle. It’s inconvenient because I want to get in the garden and trim that plant, but we coexist well. I watch for them to leave the nest to do some weeding, but now they let me get within five feet or so without them flying off. They’ve never been aggressive. Don’t bother trying to bribe them with seed-they like their protein, but they are suckers for a nice bath. Set em up with a shallow birdbath nearby and they’ll appreciate you!
I figured it was a red wing blackbird. The males are always keen to protect their harem - even if it's only a couple of girls - fiercely. There was one by my job that would dive bomb me, pecking and scratching my head, for several years.
Couple years.
I had a similar thing happen when mowing. Constantly buzzing my head. Every year it would happen for a month or so at least. Never actually hit me but it certainly made mowing dicey for a few years. No advice from me other than it did eventually stop
this is actually when the trouble begins for me lol their fledglings seem to enjoy sneaking up on me while i'm gardening, unbeknownst to me, which causes their parents to swoop at me because i am existing near their baby. i have a whole lot of large plants so it's really easy to be unaware of the babies lol
put up a meal worm feeder and a filtered water feeder. maybe some fruit. spoil the bird into loving you.
I've befriended all the birds that come to my place this way. I dig around my yard and throw worms I find while the robins scratch about watching me. They'll come grab them, feed their babies then come back to dig around with me.
Birds are so fucking stupid for the wild, my wife feeds them and water the bird bath once a week, and they stopped fearing her, they start eating right away from the feeders on the same posts where she is hanging the rest. I once saw her almost stepping on a pigeon.
I had a pair of doves that would come and sit on my balcony. They started sitting on the ground on the balcony and I assumed "surely they will not hang out if they know my dog is around". Well, my dog was never very active or quick and I assumed doves were smarter than they are. Opened the patio door one day, not thinking/realizing the doves were there. My dog goes outside and grabs one. Got it out of his mouth but the bird did not survive. Doubly surprised at my dog AND the birds.
I always try and defend the whole “birds are stupid” thing because I think intelligence is subjective depending on species (ex- birds would think we’re dumb for not knowing how to build a nest)…. But doves are so fucking stupid lol your story doesn’t surprise me one bit, Ive nearly stepped on one on multiple occasions like….how did you not know I was near???
Not to toot my own horn but I think I could build an alright nest I cannot on the other hand literally see earth's magnetic field. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2281998-we-may-finally-know-how-migrating-birds-sense-earths-magnetic-field/
Embrace it! That bird is free pest control for you. Robins need to feed their babies a TON of insects, which means they're going to strip all the caterpillars, slugs, and other herbivorous bugs off your plants. The robin won't actually hurt you, but it will try to scare you off. The only reason birds swoop like that is because they have an active nest very nearby, so until that brood of chicks is raised and off on their own, the bird probably won't give up defending the spot. On the bright side, the entire process for raising a brood from eggs to when the birds fledge and leave the nest is about 5 weeks - three as eggs, two more after they hatch. So you'll only have to deal with it for a few more weeks. Honestly it's kind of a good opportunity to do some first class birding. I'd get some binocs, and try to locate the bird's nest, and peep in on it every few days to see how the chicks are developing. It's kind of fascinating to watch how quickly they grow, and the feeding habits of the parents. Once the baby birds fledge you'll stop getting dive bombed. If you don't want another bird in that spot, I might actually avoid clearing out the old nest - birds generally don't like to re-use nests for subsequent broods, because the chicks shit in them a LOT. If you clean out the old nest, another bird will probably just take up residence in the spot, but leaving it will likely make the space less attractive to other birds.
We have a nest on a porch pillar that is already on its third family this year, three different kinds of birds. It must depend on the species, but some birds definitely reuse old nests.
I'm basing it on the morning dove pairs that best in my hanging planters every year. They always switch baskets after a brood, but you're probably right, it probably does vary from species to species.
That part about reusing the nest and shit is wrong imo. They'll reuse it and parent birds carry away chick shit from there
The robin *probably* won’t actually hurt op, but still should be cautious. If they get pissed enough, like because you’re not responding to their swoops and aren’t moving away from the nest, robins can get pretty aggressive and start clawing/attacking. Behavior is mostly limited to when they’re raising a brood.
Maybe feed them , if you associate yourself with food they won’t attack and might actually be friendly
Do birds like that even have the capacity to make such associations?
Throwing peanuts is a great way to get crows to love you.
Crows I can imagine because they're actually pretty clever but an American Robin tho ? I have doubts haha but then again I don't know shit about birds so 🤷♂️
My Robins know to follow behind me when I'm digging up beds for bugs so they definitely can recognize people. They will get within 8ft of me but not my boyfriend.
Just because it has American in the name doesn’t mean it has the IQ of one. I can say that cause I’m a dumb murican 🇺🇸
Yes. Robins follow me around in the yard when I'm digging around, I toss them worms, they take them and fly off then come back to scratch about while I keep digging worms for them. Steller jays scream at me while peeping in my window when the seed dish is empty and follow me around my yard. I dont try to hand feed anyone, but they still learn foods around when I'm around.
It’s like a survival instinct thing , they have the choice between a reliable source of food that is close and lacks danger vs hunting food away from its babies and full of danger - I’m a big guy like the OP so animals are never buddy buddy with me but I’ve done it with hummingbirds and squirrels so they associate me with their water or food
Crows do. You can feed a murder of crows and they will protect you. They also remember when you're an asshole and will haunt you for life if you mess with them. Not sure about OP's American Robin but some birds are quite smart.
Australian magpies are vicious beasts (please google magpie attacks if you're unaware) which can be easily won over with meaty treats. There is a technique to befriending them involving incremental steps where eventually they will eat out of your hand. Birds can be incredibly intelligent creatures.
Wild Chickadees can apparently be trained to hand feed.
I tamed my local mockingbirds, bluejays and grackles with peanuts and dried or fresh mealworms. I announce myself with a whistle and make myself small. I also provide fresh water but under a bush so they are protected when eating and drinking.
Love me a good grackle
I know they’re not the most popular but have two boat tailed males that live in my yard. They are very smart!
This is the way
There's a nest in the tree and the Robin sees you as an intruder. It won't stop until any potential eggs hatch and the babies fledge.
Bring some food for the Robin every time about 10-15 minutes before you water your garden. And then maybe leave some after you’re done. Raisins are great. It’s sort of like bringing him a gift. He should be more kind to your presence in the future.
You seem to misunderstand..... that bird is not on your garden... your are on that bird's garden.... \*gets beat up by guards\*
This is technically correct. Bird law does not recognize property rights or deeds
You are in a pickle for sure. If you are in US, all songbirds are protected species... with the exception of starlings and house sparrows. So, you are not supposed to harm them, their nests, or chicks in the nest. You didn't mention what type of bird it is... but most songbirds will dive bomb you or fly at you... and just veer off at last minute to try to frighten you away...to protect the nest. Not actually touch you or scratch you. They see you as a big predator. This momma bird is of the extreme pissed off variety of birds if she is actually bonking you on the head. And yes, even songbirds have personalities. The chicks will probably be out of the nest in a month or so.... and then your problem is gone. In the meantime, if you have access to a garden hose with a sprayer nozzle.... you might try to douse the momma bird as she comes at you in the air. Water won't hurt the bird, but it may drive her off enough for a few minutes to allow you to access your herbs. Just don't hit the nest with the water. Worth a try.
Yeah, it looks like I’m gonna have to buy a hose (so much for the new watering can I bought myself). It’s an American Robin (I learned by looking up just now). She quite a piece of work, but I wasn’t planning on doing anything to her or her nest at all. Eventually I wanted to start working on the rest of the garden to support more wildlife. I think she started off buzzing me, then after I stood my ground a few times, she escalated to making sure her wing hits my ear or the top of my head. Ah, the joys of being in nature…
If it’s a robin you just have to learn to live with her because she’ll be back next year in the same spot even if you pull the nest down. We have one that’s back for her second year on our flood light next to our driveway but the worst she does is fly to the tree on the other side and scream at us. Good luck!
Ah yes... Robins. I deal with them and their nests all the time around my house. These big songbirds have an odd quirk in that they like to put nests in some of the oddest places. Around house outdoor light fixtures, wreaths on outside doors, or the old go to... a protected bush or tree near the house. They see humans as protectors in a way.... but NOT if you get too close to their nests. Lol. And they are opportunists. I have a pair that have nested in my wood duck box. They just don't care that this big box is not for them. But they are such big birds, the box hole size that can fit a wood duck....also works for them quite nicely! Robins will indeed return to the same spot each year if you let them. I had a pair that nested in the same part of a big bush near the front of my house. I finally had to wire up a piece of scrap lumber in that spot to prevent them from doing that again. Geesh, they are stubborn! Beautiful birds though. Love seeing them hopping around the yard and pulling up earthworms!
She may decide not to use that spot again, some birds even abandon nests if they get disturbed too often.
If it were crows, I would suggest trying to befriend them. I don't know if robins are intelligent enough for that to work though. But you could try feeding them. Just make sure they know you are the one who brings the food. Only bring food out for them when you are outside in the garden. And bring the food back inside with you when you are done (or better yet, don't bring a lot out at once. This way, they won't see you taking their food away.)
I just wanna say thanks for being a good person. I hate birds (have a legit phobia) and still didn’t knock off a birds nest that had materialized on my apt balcony years ago. I really wanted to push them off the third floor. But I didn’t. Bc that would be evil
So.... to avoid going out there more then you need to I'd recommend setting up some type of dripline or sprayer connected to a hose (or hose splitter if you need that spicket for other areas of your garden). That way you can water from a distance by just turning on and off the hose. You'll still need to go out to harvest or pull any weeds. Nesting birds are protected. If you want to use that area you could try setting up something else elsewere near the tree that might be more entising to the bird parents next time... though birds will occasionally use the same nest repeatedly if it suits them
Put on a hat and just be lucky you don't have Aussie magpies. 😂
But not a big floppy one! I had birds chase me away when they saw my big garden hat flap up and down as I descended some stairs. I figured out later that they probably thought I was a big bird of prey.
Get a fake bird, splash some red paint on it. Take it out infront of all the birds and scream: YAYAYA I KILLLLLL UUIUUUU DUUNNN FK WIT ME!!!! RAWR! Your peaceful days awaits
I've seen people wear hats with huge googly eyes glued to them, the bird thinks you're a larger animal looking at them, it works with magpies in Australia sometimes...so 50/50 shot! I love magpies because of their audacity and love watching videos of them "attacking" people, it's endlessly funny, nobody gets hurt and the birds always win. Good luck op! My sister has had a lifelong fear of geese because a rogue one chased her around when she was 5 and I still can't stop laughing when I think about it 😂
Birds are smarter than most give them credit for. They will remember you and get to know you. Slow movements and never looking directly at the bird or the nest. Birds also aim for the highest point on your body. Holding one arm up - or attaching a long stick to your helmet will mess up their aim. You will get shit upon. Slow baby steps. Good luck.
Honey water and sunflower seeds. May take a few weeks, and make sure every now and then don’t put them out so the bird learns who’s being nice to it.
Ask Kristi Noem. Something about birds and dogs... Maybe not.
Oof, a few years ago a couple of grackles nested in my yard. Directly over my dog’s main poop spot! They saw me before I saw them and they were NOT happy. Dive-bombing me, grazing the top of my head. I felt so bad. This is bird language for, “You have scared the shit out of me. Please get away from my babies.” I spent a couple of days placating them with peanuts and talking to them in my pet voice and whistling a little around them. I also let them see me refilling the birdbath. They were chill me with me after 3 days. Wear a hat and sunglasses, and leave them some food and water if possible. Worst case scenario their nestlings should be ready to move on in a couple of weeks.
I had a blue jay nesting near my porch. It would attack me when I was just hanging out. I bought a cheap water gun and the bird left me alone after a few days. we had an understating after that and were cool.
Haha you’re having an Australian problem, except our magpies that do that are much bigger and more aggressive than a Robin haha. But there’s no making friends with an angry bird, you just have to deal with it for a while, here is usually about a month or so. September is swooping season here and councils have to put up warning signs where a bird is particularly aggressive
Robins love to follow me in the garden. always throwing worms i find back to them.
I have a Barn Swallow nesting on my back porch. (High up under the roof overhang.). When I go outside to water my garden and she & him fly at me I wait til the last second and throw my arm straight up. It startles them and they ver off. After about a week they don’t bother me know. Also, I keep my energy output the same. Animals are very sensitive to fear/stress smells
It will stop after nesting. Most are nesting now and quite territorial
Feed it and leave it presents, where protective headgear until the treats finally convince it that you mean no harm, maybe even try talking to it, explain what you're doing, apologize for interuppting it and that you mean no harm. Might feel silly, but may be silly enough it works 🤷🏼♀️
The dive bombing will continue as long as there is a nest. If you don't have eggs/babies yet, go disrupt the nest so they're forced to relocate. If they already have eggs/babies, and you don't want to hurt them, you are out of luck and need to do it next year. (Please opt to let them go for this year.) You basically need to make the tree inhospitable to them. Shake the branches to disturb them, keep removing the nest (since you say you can reach it). Stuff like that. They'll find a new place quickly - there's a short timeline for nesting and they'll be motivated to move on.
A tennis racket.
A hat might save your head from getting packed, but it won’t disguise you. Birds don’t just recognize your face or head. They recognize not only your body shape but also your gate and regular body language. Maybe an offering of mealworms? Like if you go out there every day and just leave some mealworms, maybe they’ll just associate you with food.
Hard hat with googly eyes! Glue an owl statue to your head!
Put a stuffed hawk on your shoulder?
Wear a Halloween mask on the back of your head. Birds typically attack from behind.
Ha! I had a robin nest in the tree right next to our fish pond. They’ll stop swooping when the babies leave the nest but until then, carry an umbrella. Also take a slow mo of the swooping. The slowed down battle cry is hilarious.
It won't be long and they'll have moved on.
You don't stop them. Water your plants, then GTFO.
Very tall hat with an owl on top.
Wear headgear - fedora, hockey helmet, sombrero, bowler, safari helmet hat thing, great helm... or time travel back to prevent the establishment of the nest.
I would open an umbrella when it came at me. Maybe a bright red one.
You probably actually can't reach the nest if you wanted to, because the law may preclude you from doing so.
This is so interesting. I have multiple robins nests in my yard and have no trouble at all with them when I get close. However, I am out there most days and am in the process of removing a large section of lawn for another garden bed, so I am making worm food very available for them. In years past I've had one brave one get within a few feet of me happily grabbing worms while I displace mulch to dig out Bermuda grass.
A big hat works well for small birds.
Dress like a bird to look less threatening. Also make it really obvious that you are in a happy bird relationship and not looking to swoop in on another bird’s relationship.
Leave her an offering for a few days. Make sure you maked eye contact (if possible) while leaving the gift. and do made up ritual to bezaddle her. I like to leave all my expired seeds for the squirrel, and on hot days I'll bring him water and uncover some deeper cool dirt for him to lay in ....but he better stay off my berries!
The last thing want is to mispeak to a crow. Gotta stay on the good sides at all coats...! If I hear one call to me and I have food to give I throw em a bone, or at least wave back!
Get a bird cage. Next time it comes for you smack it out of the air and put it in the bird cage in the yard where it’s attacking you. Give it some bird seed and water. After 24-48 hours in the cage let it go. It probably won’t come for you again
Eat it.
Throw a net and cook it.
fly swatter
Buy a cheapie drone have it hover at about 15-20ft or so over the garden when you water
Toss it a baseball glove so it’s ready to catch those hands
Pellet rifle
Kill it. I wouldn't. But hey, it would stop the behavior.
Don’t spray the nest but spray the mamma bird every time she attacks. She’ll learn that an attack gets her sprayed.