Wild birds are fun to watch at backyard bird feeders, and by feeding on insects, they are a natural form of pest control. But when birds start to nest on your porch, in your attic, or other inconvenient spots, it can create quite a mess—and even put baby birds at risk. Regardless of what types of birds you’re dealing with, here are 7 bird-safe ways to deter nesting and encourage birds to move elsewhere while still supporting local wildlife.
Potential Problems Due to Bird Nesting
Sparrows, wrens, blue jays, mallards, starlings, doves, and pigeons are just a few types of birds that commonly nest near humans. These birds sometimes build nests in attics, garages, and sheds, but they may also build their homes inside walls, air ducts, dryer vents, chimneys, exposed
pipes, and other out-of-the-way spots.
Not only are many of these nesting sites potentially hazardous to birds and nestlings, but when birds nest in the wrong location, they can cause a host of problems:
- Property damage. Acidic bird droppings stain or corrode paint, wood, and metal. Nesting materials clog up gutters and drainpipes and lead to water or mold damage.
- Pests and diseases. Wild birds potentially carry mites and diseases, including avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.
- Increased fire risk. Nests in dryer vents and chimneys, or near electrical equipment or outdoor lighting, increase the risk of fire.
- Noise. Birds are early risers. Depending on where the nest is located, they may disturb your sleep.
- General mess. Birds are top-notch nest builders, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t messy. If birds are nesting on your property, it’s not uncommon to find scattered sticks, feathers, and droppings beneath their nests.
The good news is that most birds don’t cause major issues, and it’s not always necessary or recommended to deter nesting. Due to urban sprawl and habitat loss, bird populations are steadily declining and it’s increasingly common to find birds in urban areas.
Learning how to share space with wild birds protects their populations from further decline, while having birds around can also reduce garden pests naturally.
Bats and rodents also sometimes nest in attics and other undisturbed areas. The rustling sounds they make are easily mistaken for bird activity. Before addressing potential “bird problems,” make sure you’re in fact dealing with birds.
Bird-Safe Ways to Deter Nesting
If you want to keep birds from nesting in unwanted spots, start implementing your bird prevention strategy in the fall or winter when most birds aren’t actively nesting. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects many types of birds and makes it illegal to interfere with nesting birds and their young.
If birds have already started to nest on your property, wait a few weeks for the nestlings to fledge. Never attempt to block off or remove active nests.
1. Offer Other Nesting Spots
If you have room for it, the best way to keep birds from nesting in inconvenient areas is to provide safer nesting spots in an underused section of your yard or garden. This may involve installing birdhouses or planting evergreens and other trees and dense shrubs to create natural sheltering spots for birds and their babies.
You may also want to install a bird bath and a few bird feeders to make your nesting site even more inviting to birds and to lure them away from other parts of your property. The best part about this method is that it supports local bird populations while encouraging birds to stop nesting in unwanted spots.
2. Tidy Up
In addition to creating sheltering sites to keep birds from nesting in unwanted areas, you can also deter nesting by cleaning up your garden and removing natural nesting sites.
To start, pick up any waste in your yard that may be attracting birds, such as old tires or hollow fence posts that birds may want to nest in. Then, prune overgrown trees and shrubs, trim tall grasses and weedy areas, mow regularly to keep your lawn cut close, and consider calling a chimney sweep to clean out your chimney.
3. Remove Old Nests
As some birds reuse old nests, removing empty nests is another way to make an undesirable nesting spot less appealing to birds. However, it’s important to closely observe nests for several days before removing them to ensure they aren’t still in use. And remember: never touch nests that contain baby birds or eggs.
To remove an old nest, wear sturdy gloves and a face mask, gather up the nest and any leftover debris, and throw it in your trash can. Then, clean the area with a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) or a vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) and a stiff brush. Thoroughly wash your clothes and hands afterward and submerge the brush in the cleaning solution for 30 minutes.
If you want to ensure birds don’t rebuild their nests in that area, install some of the nesting deterrents listed below.
4. Remove Food Sources
Growing flowers that produce lots of seeds, such as black-eyed Susan and sunflowers, attracts wildlife and makes birds more likely to nest in your garden. If you want to make your property less inviting to birds, remove food sources by deadheading seed-bearing flowers before they get a chance to produce seeds. Also, remove any bird feeders.
While you’re at it, clean up any spilled bird seed and outdoor pet food, and move your compost into enclosed bins to discourage birds from nibbling on old food scraps.
5. Close Off Entry Points
Cavity nesting birds, like sparrows, sometimes build their homes in chimneys, dryer vents, drains, and other tight spots; but they may also find their way into your attic or your shed through a small hole or opening. Blocking off these entrance points discourages nesting, but it’s important to work with professionals and to follow proper safety protocols if you’re trying to deter birds from entering vents or chimneys.
Use expandable foam, caulk, weather stripping, wood boards, or wire mesh to close up small openings under your eaves or in your attic. Always check these areas for wildlife before closing them off, and make your repairs in winter when birds are less likely to be nesting.
While most birds nest from spring through fall, pigeons also nest in winter. If pigeons are nesting in unwanted areas in winter, wait until the babies fledge to make your repairs.
6. Use Deterrents
There are a lot of deterrents that allegedly keep birds from nesting; however, some of these deterrents work better than others and you may need to do a bit of experimenting to find the deterrents that work for you.
Bird spikes are dull, bird-safe spikes that are commonly installed over potential nesting sites to keep birds from perching or nesting. Scare tape, predator decoys, windchimes, ultra-sonic deterrents, motion-activated lights, or shiny objects such as CDs are also used to keep birds away. Using spray deterrents made from citrus oil, cayenne powder, peppermint oil, garlic, cinnamon, or cloves may also be effective, but these products should not be used when birds are actively nesting.
7. Enlist Professional Help
Unfortunately, birds sometimes build their nests in chimneys or mailboxes, or near busy doorways that just aren’t safe for baby birds. If this happens, contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Never attempt to move the nest on your own. Once the nest is safely relocated by a professional, thoroughly clean the area with diluted bleach or vinegar, and then install bird spikes or another deterrent to keep birds from nesting in that spot again.
