You may find your home is host to bird perching and nesting activity this season. Here are the main areas on your building which may attract and support bird activity, and what you can do about it:

Metal chimneys

Conflict: Woodpeckers/flickers will incessantly hammer on metal chimneys to communicate territory and attract a mate. The louder the better!

Solution: Installing bird spikes to the flat metal of the chimney will prevent access and subsequent hammering.

Open chimneys

Conflict: Cavity nesters such as starlings will explore and possibly nest in chimneys bringing in nesting materials which may pose a fire hazard.

Solution: Permanently sealing discontinued chimney openings or netting over for easy removal during the winter months.

Wooden siding

Conflict: Woodpeckers/flickers will hammer into wooden siding in search of insects and to create nesting holes in which to lay their eggs. The damage and holes created expose the building structure to water and insect ingress.     

Solution: Sealing up damaged areas and installing offset netting to permanently prevent access to affected areas

Soffit angles & soffiting

Conflict: Species such as sparrows, pigeons and starlings will use the soffit angles to nest or roost under the overhang directly on the roof or if the soffiting is accessible to push into the building structure and nest in the void. Once inside accumulated nesting materials, debris and waste ends up soiling insulation, attracts flies or mites and can collapse soffiting due to weight over time.

Solution: Excluding soffit angles to prevent access and reinforcing soffiting and tracks.

Flat roofs

Conflict: Pigeons and seagulls will perch and create nests directly on flat roofs. Pigeons have been known to simply lay an egg directly on a couple of sticks or a bare roof corner without much nest infrastructure, while seagulls will create a supportive structure on which to lay their eggs and raise their chicks.

Solution: Install bird deterrence or exclusion such as bird electric track, spikes or netting.

Balconies

Conflict: Another safe flat spot considered ideal for nesting seagulls are balconies. Pigeons will use both empty and occupied balconies, although furniture, planters and stored items make for great hiding spots to safely nest. The nesting materials and bird droppings soil balconies and in seagull nesting season makes it impossible for unit residents' to use their balcony space due to protective seagull parents.

Solution: Install bird netting across balconies to permanently prevent access. If you want to keep the view but also prevent birds, retractable curtain netting is an excellent option which you can open while using the space and close when not.

Vents

Conflict: Vents on the roof and the side of buildings are ideal nesting sites for cavity nesters such as starlings and sparrows. The vent provides a protective void and is often a source of heat associated with bathrooms, dryers and rising hot air in roofs. The accumulated nesting material can pose a fire hazard and the debris a potential health risk as air borne materials are distributed through the building ventilation system.

Solution: Exclude the vent either using mesh or removable covers for ease of cleaning.

Gutterlines

Conflict: Pigeons will perch and nest in gutterlines while birds such as crows will use the gutterline L-bends to create nests and raise young. Concerns related to nesting material creating blockages affecting drainage, and the acidic bird waste corroding and damaging the metal are reasons to keep bird activity off your gutterlines.

Solution: Install bird spikes, gutterguards or custom boxed netting to prevent access.

Like any great real estate, birds will come back year after year to the same spot to nest!

The best approach is to bird proof before activity starts, so arrange for the team to come out and assess your building.

Nesting season is for a limited time, so if your home is already a host to chicks and you are able to leave the new family to grow old enough to fledge they will be out soon enough and their access points can be sealed up.

Many bird species and their active nests are protected by law.

Don't get stuck with fine for tampering with nesting activity, instead contact our team of bird specialists who are qualified to identify the species, are familiar with the latest legislation and trained to deal with chicks and or eggs in active nests for effective, safe and humane bird exclusion.