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When it comes to keeping birds from doing their business on your porch rails, you have several DIY options and home remedies you can try: 

• Tie a fishing line from one end of the deck post to the other. Birds won’t be able to see the line across the railing, so they can’t land on it.  

• Hang wind chimes close by, which may scare birds away. 

• Apply a bird gel repellent to the railings, which contains smells that birds generally don’t like. Or, similarly, you can apply citronella or lemon oil around the railings, since birds don’t like strong smells.

Birds are often averse to certain strong scents. For instance, the odor of predator urine, such as that from foxes or hawks, can deter them. Similarly, birds may dislike the pungent aromas of garlic, onions, and chili peppers. Essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and citrus can also be effective in keeping birds away. However, it's important to note that individual bird species might react differently to these scents, so it might require some experimentation to find the most effective repellent for your specific situation.

In most cases, a mother bird will return to a disturbed nest after the disturbance has passed. However, it can be hard for a mother bird to find a relocated nest. So, while it’s false that a mother bird will abandon her nest if it’s been disturbed, it’s not a good idea to relocate a nest with live babies or eggs in it.

Hawks might seem like fearless predators, but these smart birds do know what other animals to be cautious around. Hawks are naturally wary of humans and predators that see them or their eggs as a potential meal or threat. This list includes owls, crows, eagles, and even snakes or raccoons.