On our roof, we have a strange little alcove where a couple of different roof angles meet and form a hidden corner. We’ve had birds build nests there in the past which wouldn’t be so bad except that nest material and droppings end up on our front porch. I already see a couple of birds starting a nest there. What can we do to prevent it? E. M. Boscawen, NH

You should think about permanently eliminating that protected spot that is so desirable for nesting. It’s possible that the space could be structurally blocked off or eliminated with an architectural change, or at the very least, bird spikes or a sloped surface could be installed to make it difficult for birds to nest there. You should call Colonial Pest and have one of our nuisance wildlife experts come out to evaluate the situation. Bird-proofing of buildings is one of our specialties and it could be an easy fix (see Keeping Nesting Birds Off of Your House).

PEST BIRDS OR PROTECTED BIRDS?

Our guys can also identify the nesting birds and if they are one of the common pest species (house sparrow, starling, pigeon), we might be able to remove that nest (most other birds are federally protected) right now and take steps to discourage rebuilding (see Can I Remove the Bird’s Nest on My House?). If protected birds are building the nest, however, control may have to be delayed until the young have fledged. Did you know that you can’t even touch a protected bird’s nest without a special permit? Bird protection regulations are very confusing and vary with your location, so it’s a good idea to leave bird removal to the professionals.

Call Colonial and have our certified bird control experts recommend the best solution for your situation. We have more than 25 years of experience in dealing with pest birds and we are fully certified and licensed by the states of MA and NH to perform bird-proofing, bird control, and bird removal.

For more on our bird management services, see our Bird Control page under Services.

Photo Credit : By Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England – Blackbird chicksUploaded by Snowmanradio, CC BY 2.0, Link