[Carolyn (OP)]

These are my double impatiens - pretty aren't they.  I grew these myself from seeds.





Every year I hang pretty flowers on my porch and every year birds destroy at least one of them by building nests.......




Is there any thing I can do to make them stop?  I'm not trying to be cruel here....  I don't want my flowers destroyed and I don't want to drown the birds or their eggs when I water the flowers.  How can I get rid of the little pests?

_{Mod edit - formatted the subject as a question.  Please try to do this to help keep the forum tidy and easy to navigate - thanks!}

[Chemistry4me]

A scare-crow? []

[Don_1]

Personally, I would rather have the bird nesting in my basket.

You may well have the same breeding pair returning each year. Why not set up a basket specifically for the birds to nest in?

I don't know about US laws, but here in the UK it is an offence to destroy a nest while it is occupied.

[blakestyger]

I'd rather like birds nesting like that - really nice. What is the bird called?

[MonikaS]

That's what I would do:
Don't hang the plants before the birds get into their nesting mood. Meanwhile find out what kind of birds they are, learn about their nesting habits and offer them the perfect nesting place. Once they are settled you can hang your plants and enjoy them without birds.
You might need to do that again next year, but the year after that the birds should know the better nesting site and use it instead of your flowers.

[RD]

The birds may be doing more good than harm by eating sails, slugs, and insects which could damage your other plants.
(You could try putting up a nest box nearby next year before you put the baskets out).

[Karen W.]

Carolyn Knowing your absolute fear of he birds.. I would suggest hanging spinners n betwen each planter or on either side.. The birds dislike the movement.If you have any breze it will elp detour them.

I love the birds nesting on my porch it is cool to see them raise heir hatchlings.... so cute...
 we have barn swallows, and little sparrows, robins, and humming birds that nest here... also night Herons; which were rare for here.. but they started nesting here a few years back..

 Anyway  we also have bald eagles, hawks. owls, buzzards, blue birds,, flickers,  red headed wood
peckers, swifts, sea gulls, canadian and alusion geese, Egrets, Godwits, Kestrels, Kildeer, ducks of many varieties,mud hens(koots).

Your Flowers are gorgeous though.... I love the pink ones.... do they like shade?

[tangoblue]

i think that you should leave them alone because like other replies may have said they will probably eat all of your bad insects.