We’re experiencing the nearly annual ritual of pigeons setting up a nest in our back yard. 

There’s a Torah commandment (????? ???) for sending away the mother bird of a nest in order to take the eggs. 

I’ve always performed the mitzva, without a bracha, under the assumption that it’s already in my possession, being that the nest is in my backyard.  I saw a ‘cellular shu”t’ last week from Harav Eliyah of Tzfat, I think, who says it’s not a mitzva at all if it’s found in your back yard. 

Oh well, I guess it’s just a nuisance then…