Birds
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Pest birds — particularly pigeons, starlings, and house sparrows — cause significant property damage and serious public health risks when they roost and nest on commercial and residential structures. Bird droppings are highly acidic and can permanently damage roofing materials, ventilation equipment, vehicles, and building facades. Beyond property damage, accumulated droppings are associated with over 60 transmissible diseases and create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards.
Effective bird control is about exclusion and deterrence — making your structure an unattractive and inaccessible nesting site without harming the birds. Select Exterminating’s bird management specialists assess your property, identify the species and nesting behaviors involved, and implement a customized deterrent program using the most humane and effective methods available.
Understanding bird problems
Pest birds establish roosting and nesting sites quickly — and the longer they go unaddressed, the harder they are to dislodge. Here are the key signs that birds have moved from a passing nuisance to an active problem on your property:
Nesting materials in gutters, vents, and structural gaps
Birds nesting in gutters can cause drainage blockages that lead to water damage and foundation issues. Nests in dryer vents, bathroom exhaust vents, and HVAC systems create fire hazards and introduce debris, ectoparasites, and pathogens into your living environment. Active nests inside structure voids should be addressed promptly.
Concentrated droppings on ledges, equipment, and entry areas
Heavy accumulations of bird droppings on rooflines, HVAC equipment, loading docks, windowsills, and building ledges indicate an established roosting or nesting population. Droppings are not only unsightly — they're acidic enough to corrode metal and degrade roofing materials over time, and they create liability risks in high-traffic areas.
Our bird mitigation process
Bird management requires a customized approach — species, nesting location, and the extent of contamination all shape the right solution. Here’s how our specialists assess and address the problem:
Detailed Inspection
Our specialists assess the full scope of the bird activity — species identification, roosting and nesting locations, access points, and the level of structural damage or contamination present. A proper assessment is essential to designing an effective, lasting deterrent program.
Treatment Plan
We implement a customized combination of physical deterrents including exclusion netting, bird spikes, wire systems, and ledge modifications to eliminate nesting and roosting access. For active nesting areas, we coordinate nest and dropping removal with proper protective equipment and sanitation protocols.
Follow-Up
Bird pressure is persistent — particularly from pigeons, which are highly site-loyal. We schedule follow-up inspections to assess deterrent effectiveness, make any necessary adjustments, and ensure the structure remains protected as birds attempt to find new access points.
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Why choose our bird treatment
Species-specific deterrent programs using physical exclusion, netting, and spike systems
Professional dropping removal and sanitation to eliminate health hazards
Humane, non-lethal methods fully compliant with federal migratory bird protections
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to remove bird nests from my property?
It depends on the species. House sparrows, European starlings, and pigeons are non-native, invasive species not protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act — their nests can be legally removed. However, most native bird species — including robins, swallows, and wrens — are federally protected, and active nests with eggs or chicks cannot be disturbed. Our specialists ensure all work is conducted in full legal compliance.
Are bird droppings really that dangerous?
Yes. Accumulated bird droppings are associated with over 60 known diseases, including Histoplasmosis (a serious fungal respiratory illness spread through dried droppings), Cryptococcosis, and Psittacosis. Dried droppings also release airborne particles when disturbed during cleaning, making proper protective equipment and sanitation protocols essential.
How do bird spikes work and are they harmful to birds?
Bird spikes are physical deterrents installed on ledges, rooflines, and other roosting surfaces. The angled spikes make it physically impossible for birds to land and roost — they do not harm the birds in any way. Spikes are one of the most effective and durable long-term deterrents for ledge-roosting species like pigeons and seagulls.
Why do pigeons keep coming back to the same spot?
Pigeons are remarkably site-loyal — they return to established roosting and nesting sites year after year and have a strong homing instinct. Simply chasing them away or removing one nest is ineffective. Lasting pigeon control requires physical exclusion that permanently denies access to preferred roosting sites, combined with dropping removal to eliminate the olfactory and visual cues that draw them back.
Can bird infestations affect my HVAC or ventilation systems?
Yes, this is one of the most serious structural risks posed by pest birds. Nesting materials in dryer vents, attic fans, and HVAC systems can block airflow, create fire hazards, and introduce mites, lice, bacteria, and fungi directly into the air circulating throughout your home or building. Any sign of nesting in or near ventilation systems should be addressed immediately.