In researching, there isn't much that can be done once they've scouted the area. What may scare off one duck can be ho-hum to another. Balloons were suggested, a life-like owl with moving head another.. may have them decide it isn't a good spot. It seems that they like this spot because of the mulch. My neighbor has a tiled patio with a mulched foliage border that abuts mine and that is where she's trying to nest. We have a similar sized area as his patio but it was just ugly dirt with some small trunked trees that were probably put in for shade. They are a nuisance because while beautiful when in bloom, they drop all their leaves when everything else is starting to bloom. Eventually, matching a patio like our neighbor has, if we should live so long, is on the back burner because of the expense. Not only does it include the installation of the patio foundation but the removal of the trees. Cutting them down easy enough, we've already cut down one, but deep root removal is another story. In the meantime, to hold down blowing dirt and make it more attractive, the bare ground was covered in a large area of mulch. We were able to discourage Daphne from nesting in our area before she laid any eggs, but she didn't move too far away.