This year we seem to be getting an ever increasing number of calls regarding nesting birds. Nesting birds can present many dangers to home and business owners. Generally people who call us are complaining of the noise and nuisance of the birds, oftentimes oblivious to the dangers carried by birds, their droppings and nesting materials. Furthermore when we get calls it is oftentimes year two of the bird nesting on the premises, it appears that people think that after the birds leave the nests they will not be back. However birds are persistent creatures and once they have established a nesting site they will come back year on year.

Different species of birds will have different nesting patterns and favoured places. However the attic and eaves of houses remain ever popular, mainly due to the natural shelter and protection that they offer. Birds will squeeze through the tiniest of gaps and holes and will generally cause some damage to the exterior of your house. A lot more serious and what people don’t see, is what is going on it your attic. The image below which we took in a client’s attic recently very clearly illustrates the dangers that the nesting birds bring into your attic.

There are three dangers in this particular case. In the bottom right corner there are wires from a ceiling spotlight, there are two dangerous risks here, birds could start pulling at cables and also that nesting material located near cables could potentially start a fire. Also what you cannot see in this picture is that the client’s water tank is located just to the right, any nesting material or bird faeces that enters into a water tank obviously carries major health and safety hazards. The third hazard is that nesting material is piling in along the wall which is over a bedroom, there is a strong risk that the nesting material is home to blood feeding parasites and other insects who can easily make their way along the wall into the rooms of the house.

From what we have encountered in the past my advice would be is to get nest problems solved sooner rather than later. Unfortunately ignoring the birds or assuming there is no problem because you can’t see one is the wrong approach to take. Always get a professional involved because over time gaps and holes in roof areas can also cause structural damage by exposing untreated timbers to the elements.

Please take a look at our nest removal page for further information and advice.