Fowl Play: How to Keep Pesky Birds at Bay!
For the good of both your health and your property, understanding how to keep birds away is vital. While DIY deterrents can sometimes work, there are times when you may need professional bird control services.
Why Bird Control is Important
Bird infestations can cause serious problems for homes and businesses, which can result in structural damage, noise pollution issues and health problems for humans and pets. Birds like pigeons and gulls often nest in roof spaces, gutters and ledges, where their droppings can block drainage systems and corrode building materials, resulting in increased maintenance needs and costly repairs.
As well as the damage they cause, birds are noisy – especially in large flocks. This can be disruptive to businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector. What’s more, birds can carry diseases such as salmonella and psittacosis and their droppings can also attract other pests – can you afford to put your health at risk?
The most common nuisance birds in the UK include pigeons, starlings and gulls, which all have their own troublesome behaviours. Pigeons have large populations and acidic droppings, thriving in urban areas and making life difficult for home and business owners. Starlings form huge flocks, creating a lot of noise and leaving large amounts of droppings which can damage buildings, vehicles and outdoor seating areas. Seagull pest control and proofing, meanwhile, is needed throughout coastal towns and cities where these birds can be aggressive, especially during nesting season. They are also known to snatch food from unsuspecting people.
When considering how to keep birds away, though, you need to be aware of legal restrictions. In the UK, birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, meaning that killing or harming them without proper authorisation is illegal. Property owners can, however, use humane bird proofing solutions, like spikes, netting and other deterrents, to prevent roosting.
DIY Bird Deterrent Methods
There are three main categories of DIY bird proofing solutions: visual and sound deterrents, physical barriers, and removing attractants.
Visual and Sound Deterrents
Visual and sound deterrents can help discourage birds from nesting or roosting on your property. These include reflective tape and spinning discs, which create flashes of light to confuse birds and scare them away, as well as decoy predators like fake owls or hawks to make birds think a threat is nearby. Ultrasonic repellents, meanwhile, emit high-frequency sounds that are inaudible to humans, but unpleasant for birds.
While these methods may be effective in the short term, birds can get used to them over time, reducing their impact. For long-lasting gull, starling and pigeon deterrents, professional bird control services are far more reliable.
Physical Barriers to Prevent Roosting
Physical barriers can be an effective means of keeping birds away. Bird spikes can be installed on rooftops, ledges and signs to prevent birds from landing. Netting is ideal for protecting courtyards, balconies and large open spaces, preventing them from accessing nesting sites. Chimney covers, meanwhile, stop birds from entering and building nests inside flues, reducing the risk of blockages and fire hazards.
For maximum effectiveness, these barriers should be placed in areas where birds commonly perch or nest. Of course, these can sometimes be hard to access: professional bird control services can make sure they are correctly (and safely) placed, giving you a secure and humane proofing solution.
Removing Attractants
This is one of the easiest DIY ways for home and business owners to make a property less appealing to birds. Birds are opportunistic feeders and they’ll return to areas where food and water are readily available. Eliminate food sources, such as uncovered bins, pet food left outside and food scraps from outdoor dining areas. Look for water sources that can be removed: cover water features, fix leaks and ensure gutters are free of standing water to keep birds away.
Keeping outdoor spaces clean and bird-unfriendly is key to long-term prevention. Remove nesting materials like twigs from gutters, ledges and lawns and consider your landscaping: densely-planted spaces, for example, are natural pigeon deterrents.
Professional Bird Control Solutions
Professional bird proofing services and control solutions are the safest, most effective and most humane way to remove and reduce bird infestations from your property.
Bird Proofing Services
Professional bird proofing services provide tailored deterrents to protect your property from nuisance birds. These could include bird spikes, chimney covers, netting or wire systems, designed to prevent nesting and roosting in key areas.
Expert installation means that these bird proofing solutions ensure birds don’t return, reducing damage, noise pollution and health risks.
Humane Bird Removal
Humane bird removal uses ethical methods to manage problem birds without causing harm. Depending on the situation, a bird control service may use safe deterrents, like netting, spikes or bird wire to prevent roosting or, in some cases, humane trapping and relocation for protected species.
Long-term deterrence ensures birds are discouraged from returning while complying with UK wildlife protection laws.
Practical Applications of Bird Control Methods
Our bird control methods can be used on both residential and commercial properties, helping you to remain bird-free in the long term.
Preventing Birds from Nesting on Commercial Properties
Deterring birds from commercial properties is essential to avoid damage, health risks and costly maintenance. Warehouses, retail spaces, office buildings and hospitality venues can benefit from effective deterrents like bird spikes, netting and wire systems to prevent birds from nesting on their premises.
Businesses wondering how to keep birds away can use professional bird proofing solutions to reduce cleaning costs, prevent structural damage from droppings, and minimise health hazards linked to pest birds.
Bird Control for Residential Areas
Keeping gardens and rooftops bird-free begins with simple, home-friendly solutions like bird spikes on ledges, netting over vegetable patches, covers over chimneys and reflective deterrents to discourage roosting. Sealing gaps in roofs and chimneys can also help with pigeon pest control and proofing – as well as protection against other bird pests.
DIY deterrents, though, may become less effective over time. Professional bird control services offer effective, lasting protection, without harming birds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to keep pigeons away from my roof?
There are a number of options, including physical barriers and visual or sound deterrents.
Are bird spikes humane?
Yes – they are a simple and effective physical and visual barrier that causes no harm to birds.
Do ultrasonic bird deterrents really work?
They do at first, to some extent. However, birds can get used to their presence, reducing their effectiveness over time.
Can I legally remove birds from my property?
Any trapping and relocating must comply with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. A failure to comply can result in fines or even imprisonment, which is why relocating is best left to the professionals.
How much does professional bird control cost?
Prices vary depending on the situation: all of our services are tailored to individual needs. For a free, no-obligation quote, get in touch.
Contact Pest Stop Boys for Expert Bird Control
If you’re struggling to keep birds away from your property, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation or site assessment to reduce the risks of property damage, health problems and noise pollution.
