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Birds and nails - WHAT?

11 years ago

A few days ago I heard noise in the gutters over my front porch and driveway. Because we have gutter guards and because the sound of something up there was moving around, I was concerned that a bird or small animal was trapped under the guard. Unable to do anything about it, I sadly decided to let nature takes its course.

The next day I heard the rummaging around again and saw small birds appearing to be eating something from the gutter. I could only see occasional head-bobbing, so was unable to ID them, but think they may have been sparrows and they appeared to be freely coming and going - not trapped.

That's when I first noticed roofing nails on the ground. One or two on the porch and then 6 in the driveway - all directly under the gutters ! While picking them up, another dropped a few feet from me the same time I was hearing birds in the gutters again.

Several more nails fell over a few more days, stopped and then yesterday a couple more fell as I was watering underneath the gutter area.

The obvious questions here is "Why so many extra roofing nails and why were they just left in the gutters?", but what I really want to know is what's up with the birds 'housecleaning' my gutters??? :)

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Comments (2)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
My theory would be based solely upon my observation of pet budgies and a cockatiel, lol. Birds have an insatiable curiosity and a discerning eye. When something is out of place, or new, or shiny, or looks like it might be fun to pick up, etc., birds are on it! The birds were having a bit of enjoyment with the nails.

My cockatiel leaned over from her project of preening my eyebrows one evening and plucked my contact lens from my eye! No harm to my eye nor the contact, by the way.
lincann thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
catherinet
11 years ago
Is it possible that the gutters have edible stuff in them, and the nails have just come loose and fallen in the gutters over the years, and the birds pick them up and throw them overboard...just to better get the good stuff?
lincann thanked catherinet
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