Preferably in a nice, non-harmful to the birds way.
For the past couple weeks, I’ve come home to a new bird’s nest in my mailbox every few days. I always clean it out, and it always comes back. I’m afraid that one day I won’t get home in time, and there will be eggs.
My mail carrier drops off my mail in the early afternoon, and for some reason, s/he leaves the door to the mailbox open afterward. I get home from work 3-4 hours later, and there’s a fairly well-developed nest in there. I clean it out; they build it again.
Keeping in mind that I’m basically broke, what can I do?
or weigh it down with a weight. Springs like to rust. Come to think about it, I don’t remember a mailbox lid that didn’t naturally close so oiling it should do the trick.
Until nesting season is over, drape some cheesecloth or other light netting over the mouth of the mailbox. Weight the bottom of the cloth so that the wind won’t blow it off.
Failing that, get a couple of neodymium magnets and glue them to the lid of the mailbox and mailbox proper so that you’ll get a very positive locking effect, proof against even the most slothful mail delivery person.
Honestly I think I’d start with calling the post office to register a polite complaint. Your mail carrier should be shutting the door – by not doing so, aside from nesting birds, you run the risk that your mail could be stolen, or fall out and get blown away and lost by a decent puff of wind, or soaked by a rainstorm. Your mail carrier isn’t doing his/her job properly, leaving it open.
I wouldn’t throw a huge fit on the phone or anything, just politely ask the postmaster to speak to whoever handles your route and remind him/her to close the mailbox door.
Magiver and appleciders, it’s a plastic mailbox with a plastic hinge on the bottom. There aren’t any springs or anything to oil.
Finagle, the cheesecloth and the magnets are both really good ideas. I already have cheesecloth, so I’ll try that first.
Kaio, my mail has gotten soaked a couple times. I’d probably try Johnny L.A.’s note idea before registering a complaint, even a polite one.
What if I put a birdhouse near the mailbox? Is it possible to redirect them? I don’t mind having the birds around, I just don’t want them in my mailbox.
I almost mentioned adding springs in my first reply, but reckoned I’d see where the leaving-a-note suggestion went first. I also thought of something else:
Get a stick and screw it onto the bottom of the hatch, such that most of the stick is pointing to the ground. Put a weight at the end of the stick. When the door is opened, the weight is raised. Release the door, and the weight drops closing it. It would look a little funky, and the mail carrier might be annoyed at having to hold the door opened while putting the mail in; but it would probably work.
But yeah, leave a polite note first. ‘Dear Mail Carrier, I wonder if you wouldn’t mind closing the mailbox after you put my mail in. I’m having problems with birds building nests in it when it’s left open. Thank you, Inter Alia’
I think the mail carrier would have a problem with this solution. I vote for the note, too…or just leave one nest for the mail carrier to find the next day.
Funny timing on this OP. I am having a problem with birds trying to build a nest on my porch lamp. It’s too smooth for them to get it going so instead I get a massive clump of twigs right below it in an awkward spot where I can’t get a broom. It’s pretty amazing, the quantity of debris that gets left there each day. After a month of this you’d think the bird would have learned a nest isn’t going to work there.
I just ordered a similar owl sculpture off Amazon with rotating head that twists in the wind to make it more realistic. I’ll let you know if it works for me.
put a rubber snake around the mail box? Move it around everyday, like the owl. leave a note for the mail-carrier, “caution rubber snake to scare birds”, so he or she doesn’t freak out.