My daughter asked:

[elleng]

Any suggestions for how to deal with a little birdie that has decided to camp out behind my porch light and dive bomb me every time I open the door? I need that door to let the dog out-this bird is seriously on a reincarnation from something fierce 😩 We are being held captive 😩

She's in NJ, and thinks it may be female cardinal.

Thanks

[dutch777]

1. If there is no nest, wad up some newspaper and stuff it in the gap behind the lt to exclude the bird

[elleng]

2. Seems there's a nest, tho can't be seen from above.

[mbusby]

3. In that case...

...get yourself a football helmet.

[elleng]

4. She and 2 kids may have to do that!

[pansypoo53219]

5. go out another door for a week or so.

[elleng]

7. Have suggested that.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

6. Elleng, there's a number of ways to deter the bird.

Several sources suggest hanging shiny objects near where they're perching such as old compact disks or strips of aluminum foil from string that hopefully will move in the wind and scare them away.

Another source suggested tying some balloons near the area you want birds to avoid.

As others have noted, that bird may have a nest nearby, although it's likely to be a male that's doing guard duty with a female on the nest. Those preventative measures should not harm the bird's caring for their nest unless it's very close by.


Good luck!.........

[elleng]

8. Ends up, the cardinals have had 1+ clutches, everyone has got used to eachother, grandkids learning

about life process, and granddaughter wants to adopt one of the 10 'new' chicks!!!

WISH I were there; we're 200 miles apart.