Birds

[terrywogan]

For the last three weeks I have had a bird trying to get in through my bedroom window. It just keeps flying at the window until I show myself and then it flies off. I thought it was just doing it in the early morning but I took a morning off work and it tried three times to get in. According to my book of the British Countryside, it's a chaffinch. Does anyone have any ideas why it's doing this?

[spudqueen]

Is it a male chaffinch? It can probably see it's own reflection, thinks it's a rival and is trying to 'see' it off.

[rojash]

If a bird kept trying to get in my window, my wife would have a fit

[terrywogan]

That's what I thought, Spudqueen, but why several times a day for three weeks that I know of. I don't know when it started. (How can you tell if it's a male?)

[terrywogan]

Rojash, I don't think the bird is actually trying to get in. My window is open, so if it really wanted to get to the other side it could. It just keeps scrabbling at the glass, backing off a bit and trying again. It sometimes manages to get a foothold on the window frame to catch its breath then starts bashing itself against the glass again. Having said that, I think Spudqueen is right, it must be a male - a female would have got the message by now! Sorry to sound sexist but I DO have two sons!

[gazzawazza]

I may be able to help here.

A couple of years ago, my wife and I were woken up by a banging noise from downstairs. I must say this was incredibly loud and I had no idea what was making it. (It actually sounded like someone was hitting metal with a hammer).

When I opened the kitchen door I was amazed to see two large black birds (like crows, sorry, not an expert) sat on our trailer tent and taking it in turns to launch themselves at the window slamming into it beakfirst. I scared them away and couldn't believe they hadn't actually broken the window considering how hard they attacked it (they really did make an incredible noise).

This went on for a week or so (not only in the morning) and eventually I realised what they were after. On the windowsill we had some large ornamental orchids in a vase. They must have thought that the seed-looking things on the plant resembled some sort of food that they fancied (as I said, I'm no bird expert!) I chucked the orchids out and they never came again, so I would look around your room and see what might be attracting this bird.

[VINNY100_2]

Years ago Terry....A seagull..would be pecking me window night and day...One evening going to bed....I shut the door and the window pane fell out...!!The blighter had been eating the putty and pulled all the pins out..It must have liked the linseed oil in the putty..I like seagulls,but they can be a pane in the bum...(:-)

[terrywogan]

Thanks, Vinny - very funny. Fortunately my windows are the unit kind - no putty, no nails, no individuality!

[Cetti]

spudqueen is right - the bird can see it's own reflection and thinks its a rival. Now is the time for defining territories in readiness for mating and nesting, but first the poor chap has to see off all opponents. Sadly for him it will be a losing battle and he will end up a nervous wreck.

If you feel like giving him some help buy a silhouette of a bird and stick on your window. This link shows Swallows but Hawks are a very good derrent and can be bought from RSPB shops.

http://tinyurl.co.uk/gb23

[terrywogan]

Thanks, Cetti. I'll get on to that straightaway. The little bird can then waste its energy looking for a girl-friend instead of chasing off rivals.

[Thunderbird+]

Another way to stop birds from tapping on the windows instantly is hang a picture of terry wogan in the window, this will send them twittering with fear!!