Hi. We are having a huge problem with Crows or Grackles "pooping" on our patio by the pool. They poop in one spot ... along the edge of the pool. We discovered that they have a nest up in the tree just past the pool. The mother or father brings the babies food and then swoops down onto our patio, depositing clearish white jelly-like blobs with dark black in them. We can't tell if he/she is actually producing the blobs herself or maybe carrying them in her mouth and then dropping them! The poop depositing is constant.

We were gone 24 hours and when we returned there were 66 blobs. Each morning when we wake up there are close to 20. It is making us crazy! We can't figure out why she has picked this one spot and how she can possibly be "pooping" so much. Besides tearing down the nest (which we won't do while there are babies in it) ... do you have any ideas of what can we do? We have tried placing chairs and various other objects in the way but the crows just poop around them. We placed a tarp down and she pooped on top of it. We try waiting inside and quick opening the door and screaming at them—but they still manage to make their deposit and fly away. We are out of ideas! Thanks - Linda

My Answer

Blackbirds, Crows and many other birds remove the young bird fecal matter from the nest. Their young excrete "poop" into a sack and then the parent picks up the sack and carries it away so predators will not find the nest.

I would guess that the distance between the nest and your pool side is about as far as the sack will travel and still hold together, thus the repeated dropping on that spot. Once the young leave the nest the problem goes away. Meanwhile I suggest you use newspaper and treat the problem like a new puppy.