Jim and Madeline McGhee’s home east of Calgary has attracted a massive influx of migratory birds leaving the couple to take measures to dissuade the unwanted guests.
For the last three days, the couple’s residence outside Carseland has attracted hundreds upon hundreds of cliff swallows after repairs began on the birds’ previous home, a bridge on Highway 24 located approximately a kilometre from the McGhees, on Tuesday.
Once completed, the nests of migratory birds cannot be disturbed so the McGhees have spent hours scraping away unfinished nests from under the eaves of their home. The McGhees have alerted Alberta Environment of their swallow dilemma and it appears the only long term solution to protect their home would involve erecting a net around the building to prevent the birds from landing.
“We’d pretty much have to put the house under a hairnet, I call it, for the summer during their nesting season and just live with it,” said Jim McGhee. “If we can deter them, hopefully they won’t come back next year.”
For years, thousands of cliff swallows have lived under the Highway 24 bridge over the Bow River but crews have placed nets to ward off the birds during construction.
The McGhees are working with the construction company to secure a net to cover the couple’s home.
With files from CTV's Kevin Green
