Expert: Roger Lederer - 7/1/2007

Question
Hello,

I've checked previous questions and I don't think that my question has been asked before. I have two pet dogs and one of them has injured and killed two birds this year, a  sparrow which I took to our local vets and one baby blackbird which died very quickly, from shock I think. We have a blackbirds nesting in the garden and have quite a few bird visitors. I have been trying to protect the remaining fledgling blackbird chick by scouring the garden and the undergrowth before I let the dogs out, as I know it takes several days before they can fly. Is there anything else I can be doing to protect the birds in my garden from the dogs?

My youngest dog is the culprit and each incident happens so fast that it is difficult to see how we can train him not to do it. Should I try to discourage the birds from nesting in the garden?

Answer
This is really a dog question, not a bird one. Birds are natural and native. You should not be discouraging them from nesting in your yard - that would be just as bad for them as being harassed or eatn by your dogs. You really should seriously consider the need to train/restrain your dogs.