How to protect pigeon nest from crows? (3 Viewers)

[MikeTT]

I have a pigeon couple nesting on my balcony since spring. They had two clutches with two chicks this year, but unfortunately both times a crow killed the chicks when they were 8 days old. The exact timing is probably an accident, it's just at that time the adults start to leave the chicks alone for extended periods of time.

After the first time, I thought it was just an accident, but put a cardboard box above the nest, so it cannot be easily seen from above. Alas, it didn't help.

The pair just had their third clutch hatch a few days ago, and I'm looking for some way to prevent this from happening again. I've put up a net over the whole balcony, with two relatively small openings on the sides. A crow can definitely get in there, I'm just hoping that it will be scared enough by the net to not try…

Question: is this enough, will it hold back the crows? Any other simple measures I can try?

 

[KC Foggin]

So sorry to hear this Mike. Unfortunately nature can be raw at times but it is nature nonetheless.
I would hope that the Pigeons would move on to a safer place. Please keep us updated.

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

 

[MikeTT]

So sorry to hear this Mike. Unfortunately nature can be raw at times but it is nature nonetheless.
I would hope that the Pigeons would move on to a safer place. Please keep us updated.

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

Thank you very much for your kind reply!

That was my hope too, that they would move on after two failed attempts. Unfortunately, they didn't. I wanted to net off the balcony completely to force them to move, but didn't do it in time before they laid eggs. So, now I hope that it goes better this time. That the net is weird enough to repel a curious crow…

 

[delia todd]

Hi Mike and a warm welcome to you.

It's really so hard to say what is likely to deter the Crows, let's hope you have done enough. Please let us know how you (or rather the pigeons LOL) get on.