How To Keep Crows Out Of Your Yard

Do you know the difference between a raven and a crow?  There is a difference and whichever one is dominating our neighborhood in Wenatchee like a gang of thugs, I'm fed up.

Crown and Ravens are both very intelligent creatures and as smart as a 7-year old child. READ MORE

While I can appreciate the intelligence of these birds, my beef is with their tendency to dominate a neighborhood or your yard, and possibly drive away other varieties of birds.

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This spring and early summer, i have noticed very few desirable birds like goldfinches, our state bird and hummingbirds, visiting my yard, compared to previous years.  It has been a remarkable difference.  A pair of doves that were nesting in our Colorado Blue spruce were attacked and I witnessed a terrific battle amid the branches.  Now, I only see a solitary dove around our house so I think it lost it's mate in the attack by one of the ravens or crows that lord over the neighborhood.

The hummingbirds that were frequent visitors several times a day have pretty much disappeared from our feeder and while a raven or crow can't intercept them midflight, I suspect they may have had their nests raided.

If you have experienced this in your yard and are tired of noisy and unruly crows or ravens, try this technique.  It seems to be effective at our home in keeping these neighborhood bullies away--for now.

Hang a Fake Dead Crow in the Yard!

These very realistic looking decoys are marketed as a Halloween decoration but they can be used as a great deterrent for the birds on you property.  It is supposed to be displayed upside down warning others of it's kind that one of their own has died and to stay away.

This decoy has feathers, plastic claws, a beak and beady eyes.  It did the trick at my daughters home in Wenatchee.  I have employed it in my backyard and there was a dramatic difference in the presence of crows or ravens.

The trick I'm told is to place it out at night when the birds are roosting and won't see you deploying the decoy.  It was suggested that I move it to different locations every few evenings so the crows or ravens don't grow complacent or perhaps that there is something very dangerous in my yard and they should avoid the danger by staying away.

I have noticed here in the second season of deploying a dead crow decoy, they may have gotten on to me or no longer fear the implied threat.  I may have to get a new one but I'm not sure they will suddenly think "Uh-oh, there's a dead brother.  Let's stay away"  Maybe I need to remove all the trees from my backyard?

Hopefully, the ravens or crows don't seek retribution.  Those of us of a certain age can relate!