Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/23/2009

Question
Please, I need to know what will keep birds from making their nests in my flowerpots on my little and I do mean little back porch, the second floor of an apartment complex?  One set looks like sparrows and the other bigger ones look like doves or something, more like quails, but all I really know is how aggravating it is not to be able to go out and water my flowers nor enjoy being out in fresh air once in a while without being offensive to birds. The one sitting in the flowerpot now keeps looking in the window at me like come mess with me if you dare.  He needs to go before he lays.  I moved the other pot, but he, they just chose another pot.  Help is needed.  Thank you in advance.

Answer
The only way to keep them from nesting in your flower pots is to make them less accessible or less attractive to the birds. I suspect these are fairly complex pots with lots of vegetation in them. You need to bring them inside until nesting season is over or cover them with a mesh or wire cage of some sort.