Last year, the birds stayed on the neighbors farm. This year it looks like they will be taking up residence on mine. Normally I dont mind these birds but one couple is scoping out where my xc course is a going and the other is surveying where I am putting a paddock. Luckily, my barn cat is an excellent hunter and has been threatening them but we all know that killdeer will set up shop where they please. At one farm we had a ring around their nest and during shows we had to warn riders the birds were there.
Since they have not made a neat yet, is there anyway to successfully make them change their minds?
Other than the fact that they hatch dozens of little scurrying “killies” and squeak like crazy what is your objection to them?
Horses around here ignore them.
I just dont want to run them over with the tractor or have my stallion stomp them as he hates other animals. The paddock I am building is his and they are scoping right in that area. I actually like them but wish I could convince them not to nest in certain areas.
You are probably fighting a losing battle.
Birds will nest where they think best.
The flipside to this is I have lost my much-desired barn swallows to an invasion of noisy, ugly, starlings.
Not only do they eat tons of mosquitos, but I loved watching Flight School when the babies leave the nest.
Swallows built their usual nest inside my barn last year, then abandoned it when the trashy starlings showed up.
Your killdeer will nest wherever & if the stallion stomps a few maybe they will move on?
Survival of the fittest…
