Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Other Local Resorts & Areas => Ovacik Discussion Forum => Topic started by: karenr on May 13, 2013, 19:30:35 PM
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Hi,
we are being overwhelmed by Housemartins nesting on our complex in Ovicik. Its at its worst this year and will look like a scene out of Alfred Hitchcock 's..The Birds next year. Ive googled them and they definately look and behave like housemartins. They are busy building nests and are making it almost impossible to use the balconies due to the mess.
Im talking 5 or 6 nests in each corner so about 20 nests if not slightly more.
I have put Cds dangled on string to try and discourage them on our balcony. They fly in when your sitting down trying to get to the corners and ceilling . Our balcony is only small so they are literally feet away from us.
Does anyone know how we can prevent them building.......obviously once the nest is built we will leave well alone until it is empty......but I want to discourage them from the balcony.
I have been told that Turkish people will not remove the nests due to superstiscion.
Any help would be appreciated..................I notice that there natural predator appears to be a larger bird that I have been told is called a Jay. Could anyone confirm that for me too please.
Many thanks
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Look on the bright side, they eat mozzies.
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When you see a nest being built you get a hose and wash it away, after a few attempts they will go elsewhere (probably your neighbours). We had trouble with them too and a local Farmer gave us this advice which does work as they take a while to build to it's easy to get the hose out and deter them.
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Jacqui..we have done that whilst we were out last week but its when we return t the UK. I need a solution for when we are not there. Im too high for anyone else to hose it down for us................thanks for replying though :)
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Hi Karenr,
There is a gel you can get and apply to the wall, birds feel uncomfortable landing on it and will fly away.
We got my daughter some a few years ago when she lived in a flat and was troubled with pigeons on the window sills. However, not sure if it will stick on a wall. I think we have some outside, will check if it's there and tell you the name on it and I will read the instructions. Perhaps they sell it in Turkey... Will post again tomorrow.
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We experienced this 'problem' last year when we stayed at the Mutlu. They had something like a hollow in the wall above the balcony which looked like it may have housed electrical things but was now empty. The birds had used that as a starting area for their nests.
To be honest, we really quite liked those little fellas sharing our balcony :)
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Not got this nesting problem here but do agree with Scunner, it is quite nice watching flocks of them flying around in Uzumlu, going from villa to villa and skimming the pool water.
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In the UK when the house martins arrive its like the summer arriving. We love to see them. Yes they do make a bit of a mess but we get a lot of enjoyment from watching them. They are yet to arrive this year but it cant be long. You can buy small devices that go into the alcoves to stop them nesting for between £10-£30 here in the UK but we dont bother.
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We had our house painted last week and we have a nest with chicks in, the painter agreed to keep away from the nest then come back in a few weeks when they have flown remove the nest and paint that bit. Looks like all the wall will neeed cleaning and painting, but they are great to watch.
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Poor wee house martins - they're lovely to watch they're protected in the UK & it's only for a short while. It's lovely to see the wee ones fly the nest for the first time! Maria
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The problem is when the chicks are born the adults throw all the bird poo out of the nests to the floor below which causes insect to be attracted to it and in Turkey cockroaches. I remember my parents getting these birds nesting right under there front door, what a mess they made and people had to run in and out for fear of being dive bombed. Next year, as soon as they started to build again, my Father went out with the hose.
The stuff we have outside is a transparent gel which is called Bird Proof. However, there are lots of these products under different brand names on the net.
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well for all you people that think its lovely to watch the sweet little birds nesting..............been back in June/july.......there are 11 nest in a 3 meter by 3 meter space !!!!! x 4 as there are 4 corners to out complex...........our friends that stopped in the apartment below the nests were cleaning 8 times a day on their terrace......you cannot eat on the terrace........I could smell the bird faeces and bi rdsacks in the hot air as I sat on the terrace...........its too unhygenic to eat out there.....the birds poo in the pool and you get sh@t on at least 4 times a day round the pool area........each person...........its beyond watching and thinking...wow, how lovely....one or 2 nests yes........but 44 nests....Im guessing equals 2 parents and at least 4 chicks each so......total..... 88 parents......plus 176 chicks .......and the chicks return to the same area each year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! honestly guys its a bloody nightmate.....the complex pillars and balconies are covered in excrement from the birds.......really visible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you have no idea how bad it is....and it can only get worse till we find a solution :(
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.................. ?
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we have had some larger birds this year
they are black with a white breast and make an hell of a noise
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Kenkay has asked me to post this photo he took, on his behalf
(http://www.calis-beach.co.uk/housemartins.JPG)
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Thanks Keith. Fortunately I managed to snap that in the porch of the Broughton Craggs Hotel in Great Broughton near Cockermouth where I was lucky enough to spend about 60% of the last 6 years of my working life ;D
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60% of 6 years of your working life in a hotel? How nice :D
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Thanks Keith. Fortunately I managed to snap that in the porch of the Broughton Craggs Hotel in Great Broughton near Cockermouth where I was lucky enough to spend about 60% of the last 6 years of my working life ;D
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they are lovely..........when just a few......I am an animal lover but would be the same if there were 50 plus cats on the complex............a few is ok but whe you become over run with anything its an absolute nightmare.................on a diffeent note we had a coach parking outside the complex a few years ago...............then it went to 12 coaches..............not dfunny when your trying to sleep and the generators and engines are running in the early hours.........were going to encourage them awy from the balconies and hopefully they will go round the side of the apartment blocks!!!!!!! we can only try. One owner has arranged to have windchimes put up at the end of this year.