Sandhills Pecking Screens
 

I live on a small lake in the northern part of TV. Love watching the wildlife — especially the Sandhill Cranes. However, recently the Sandhills have taken to pecking holes in my birdcage screens — quite a few. Have no idea why or what to do about it. Any thoughts?

I have heard people who feed them and then stop or run out of food, then the sandhills attack the screens trying to get more foodat that residence. DO Not Feed The Birds. I know this happened over on Hacienda Golf Course at a private residence a while back.

Thanks. No, I do not feed any wildlife although I do have a couple bird feeders. Have never seen the Sandhills using them.

Well perhaps you should try removing your bird feeders and find out if that's the issue...

Do you have a Summer kitchen?

No summer kitchen, but a large grill — except that is not where they are pecking. Could it be they are looking at swimming pool???

I've never seen them in the water, so I doubt if that's it. Do you have plants on your side of the cage?

They will often do this if they see their reflection in windows or sliding glass doors. Strangely, about 5 years ago there was one street in The Villages, (I forget the name) where we were doing a lot of warranty inspections on that street that almost every house had multiple ruined screens because the birds would see their reflections and attack. The birds would actually injure themselves on the window. It was sad and gross as it involved a lot of blood.
The homeowners tried everything, even buying security bars over the windows to stop it. Quite strange.....being all on one street...

Frank D.

They also "peck" lizards off of the screens for unintentional damage.

I'm on a golf course and have no problem with the birds. I have bushes bordering my lanai. My neighbor has only grass up to his lanai and has had problems in the past with screen damage from the sand hill cranes. Their food source is grubs beneath the turf, so they usually stay on the grass. Their attraction to screens is unique behavior.

Its most likely because someone near you is feeding them if youre not. This usually is a major issue when food is no longer provided. Thry still flock to the same area looking. People think, oh how cute they are. Wrong! Quit feeding them! Any animal or bird being fed will constantly return

Bird feeders are the problem. They attract the Sand Cranes.

Crane’s
 

If there is bird seed in the cage they are trying to get to it. It is against the law to feed the wildlife in Florida. Good luck 👍

Shotgun!

Do you have bird feed stored on your lanai? I don't care if the feed is triple wrapped, critters will try to get to it.

We have small birds pecking our birdcage screens. Eating tiny bugs I suspect. Could the Cranes be doing the same?

.22

I had a bird feeder and the cranes loved the bird seed. My neighbors advised me to remove it because they would eventually tear my lanai screens if the feeder was ever empty. I now have a lovely solar light on the feeder hook. It's a chance you take but was not worth it for me.

When I was at Sweetgum Golf Course last year, I watched a lady(who lives adjacent to the 9th hole), feeding them by hand. She would get them to jump and flap their wings, then throw food(not sure what?). I was just waiting to hear or read about her getting pecked?!

Like the Hitchcock movie," The Birds". Maybe it was true? Or maybe Hitchcock had his own problem with sandhill cranes?

When birds use a bird feeder they often drop some bird seed on the ground. This attracts other critters like rats. I love watching the wildlife in the Villages but I would never put a bird feeder in my yard.

At our first retirement venue, I had a next door neighbor who would feed the Sand Cranes and first they pecked out my screens on my expanded lanai. He quit feeding them when they pecked out his screens. Patience is a virtue. We remained friends.

Discouraging Sandhill Crane attacks
 

Try discouraging the birds by using a spray bottle with 2/3 water, about 2-Tbsp of dishwashing detergent, and 1-Tbsp of hot sauce. Stir, then spray your screens. Repeat after rain as needed.

The back of my home is on one of the Churchill Greens fairways. Several years ago, I had one of my golf balls lying on my liana next to the screen. I noticed a Sandhill crane trying to reach the golf ball by pecking on the screen. Needless to say, there is no longer anything the looks like a golf ball lying on my liana and I have not had a Sandhill crane problem.

Thanks all!
 

Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions— lots of good info.

Taking all comments into account and eliminating all that do not fit my situation, I am focused on the grass running up to my Cage right where they are pecking — I think I need a new flower bed with rocks along the cage.

Special thanks to the gun advice: shotgun or .22. I was a pretty good shot at one time, but not as good lately. Perhaps I can find an AK-47. 🤪

Geckos is my guess too

Ammonia in the spray bottle should help too. Same concept, repeat after rain.

sand hills pecking windows
 

this is mating season for wildlife i had the same problem . thy think there reflection is a male bird trying to get his mate so he pecks to defend his lady ,.. put up a small voltage fence. this will stop that and does not hurt them see thy can not pick up there feet only inches when walking a simple garden hose laid on the ground scares them becouse thy think it a snake hope this helps you .... DAVE

Buy some inexpensive American flags etc. Place them a couple feet apart all around your screened lanai. The waving flags disturb the birds. And patriotic!

Ron, I'll have my brother and nephew stop by with their AR-15s. That'll take care of them. :) Ted Q

Sandhill Cranes pecking screens
 

If the screen is on a window (as opposed to a lanai screen) - it is most likely a male defending his territory from another male as he doesn't recognize himself. A piece of cardboard inserted between the screen and the window solves the problem as he can no longer see his reflection.

Wrong. Unless you're a good ole boy

If you keep food for them inside that screen or any bird food they will do that.

It also pretty much defeats the purpose of having a window there in the first place since you can't see through the cardboard. Also, the cardboard would look much worse than having a few holes in your screen.

Gv
Gbb

Sand Hill Cranes are protected.

The killing or "taking" of a Sandhill Crane is a violaiton of both state and federal law. If the taking was done intentionall, there are fine of up to $50,000 and potential jail of up to one year in prison.

To avoid seeing their reflection have no reflecting coating on windows or bushes close to lanai except at the doors. I haven’t tried this on sand cranes but motion sprinklers work well on most animals. The sound and the water should startle them.

Had the same here. Find out who's feeding the cranes....When they come to house turn on irrigation which scares em somewhere else to break their habit.

Unlike cormorants, however, the flesh of sandhill cranes is edible and is reported by hunters to taste much like pork chops, so the birds are not merely killed and composted, but are also consumed.

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