Suddenly the birds in the back yard are dive-bombing the dog, and possibly the family humans, too. Is this some bizarre real-life reenactment of the classic movie "The Birds?" Why do blue jays and mockingbirds and other familiar backyard visitors suddenly turn hostile?

Some birds are large enough to carry off and eat small dogs, so if you live in this situation, your small dog will require a human escort for trips outside. For your dog's benefit, you might want to put some temporary fencing, such as rabbit fencing, around the area to help the dog stay out of the line of fire. Staying out of the area whenever possible is prudent.

Home Sweet Home

Chances are your family is actually only one of the families that call your home their home. The others may not pay rent, unless you count those that eat undesirable insects, and provide humans with endless hours of entertainment. In return, one of the things the birds need is a place to nest.

Just as your family thinks of home as "your castle," the bird family has a castle to defend, too. Otherwise, predators may eat their babies. At some point the babies have to learn to fly, and may spend some pretty defenseless time outside the nest, possibly even on the ground. The parents busily feed, teach, and protect them.

If your dog appears to parent birds as a threat, the dog may be swooped at and pecked on the head! Startling and upsetting though this may be, it's generally not actually dangerous.

During the "siege," consider a hat for your dog (and you) that extends out over the eyes, and fits the dog comfortably.

The Wildlife Experts

To find out how long a standoff in your back yard is likely to last, consult your local wildlife experts. You may find these folks at the zoo, at nature parks, at the animal welfare division, through animal humane groups, and wildlife rehabilitators. These people can determine the potential harm from the specific birds you're dealing with, as well as the likely duration of the nesting period in your locality. Some birds are capable of drawing blood, and some of the large birds can also drive songbirds out of your yard.

Depending on the bird involved and the law where you live, it may be illegal to disturb the nest, and that might not help anyway. Waiting the nesting time out is usually your best option, and it will likely end within a few weeks. If you are advised to remove nests after the birds have vacated them, handle the nests only with gloves, and keep them away from your animals and your face. Birds carry some serious diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

It pays to keep an eye on happenings in the back yard. There may be a war going on out there, and you and your dog might wind up in the line of fire!