As much as we love their songs during spring, birds can be annoying when they leave a pile of white mess on your mailbox, fence posts, and pretty much anywhere else they can.
From washing off the excrement to preventing birds from perching on your mailbox, this article will help you save time off cleaning and stressing by following these five easy steps on how to keep birds off your mailbox.
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Ways to Keep Birds Off Your Mailbox
Birds love mailboxes, as these are an ideal vantage point that can make the birds feel safe while resting. And since they tend to poop where they perch to mark their territory, they can become a hassle for homeowners, especially when bird droppings can damage the mailbox’s paint or soil packages.
Now, the next and more important question is how to keep birds from pooping on the mailbox. Read on to find out some approaches to keep birds permanently away that have worked for me.
1. Wash Your Mailbox
What to prepare:
- Soap and water
- Scrubbing brush
- Toothbrush
- Towel
Before you can start applying any bird deterrents to your mailbox, you have to clean it first.
- Start by using a scrubbing brush and soap to remove the solid clumps.
- Then, move on to cleaning small nooks and crannies with a toothbrush.
- Rinse the mailbox with water and wipe it dry with a towel.
Speaking from experience, only cleaning your mailbox will not keep the birds away for long. Therefore, you’ll have to combine this method with other approaches below for the best result.
2. Spray Bird Repellent on Your Mailbox
Although birds can’t taste spices, they dislike the smell. Hence, I’ve had great success with my DIY bird-repellent spray using peppermint oil or cayenne peppers:
- For peppermint oil spray, combine 14 drops of peppermint oil, ½ cup of vinegar, 14 drops of lemon oil, and ½ cup of water.
- For cayenne pepper spray, combine 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper, 6 drops of liquid dishwashing soap, and a gallon of water.
- Mix thoroughly and put the mixtures in spray bottles.
- Apply the repellent to your mailbox.
Here’s a short video that will show you how to make a sample of cayenne pepper spray
3. Attach Bird Deterrent Accessories
Birds are incredibly perceptive, so they can easily discern if a moving object is a food or danger. Taking advantage of their instincts, you can use objects like mailbox spinners and flats to dissuade birds from getting close.
And although statues are immobile, birds can’t tell if they’re real or not. So I’ve found adding a statue of an owl or eagle can work too. I’ve even tried putting up a scarecrow, which has never failed to scare birds away for me.
4. Apply Holographic Tape on Your Mailbox
Reflective surfaces and sudden flashes of light can also deter birds from getting too close, as they are naturally wary of such things. Therefore, sticking holographic tape for birds on your mailbox can help ward off these pesky fliers.
However, I’ve noticed that some birds are attracted to shiny objects, like magpies and crows. So, although this method worked for most birds, I had to admit defeat when a magpie was bold enough to attempt “stealing” the shiny tape from me.
5. Put Bird Spikes on Your Mailbox
Mailbox bird spikes ensure that birds don’t perch or rest on your mailbox. These are low-maintenance and harmless for the birds. In addition, they’re easy to install and can be used for many years.
Bird-deter finial spikes are commonly used on round-top mailboxes and are mostly made of plastic or stainless steel. I combine this method with the previous tips, as it makes the strategy more effective in keeping birds away.
Conclusion
Birds are beautiful creatures with amusing sounds, but it’s best to keep them off your mailbox, lawn decorations, and car, as their droppings can often cause stains and paint degradation that become difficult to deal with over time.
By following our five easy tips on how to keep birds off your mailbox, you can comfortably dissuade birds from perching and pooping on your mailbox without harming them and cleaning after them all the time.
George and I became friends after a birdwatching trip with our new group. And we have been enjoying every adventure together. When he told me the idea of establishing a site that shares our experiences and fun, I immediately agreed. After trials and errors, here we have Thayerbirding.
