How to Remove Birds and Exclude Them
Recently I worked on a home that was plagued with starlings. The homeowner reported seeing what appeared to be a nest in the soffit of the house. Another wildlife company had completed some exclusion work a few years ago but missed some important details. There were some problems with the exterior despite being well maintained and built in the early 2000’s. Read our article on inspecting your own home and how to identify these problems early.
Heavy staining and nesting material poking through the ventilation holes of the soffit is a clear sign of activity.
Starlings are smart and will take advantage of any opportunity to access a nesting site. They only need 1 1/2” hole to fit through. and are notorious for invading unprotected dryer and bathroom vents. They can easily hover and flip open the flapper with their beak to enter.
On this home, there were three primary access points identified that needed to be repaired. A rear dormer roof intersection, a gable end return and a missing drip edge. As I’ve discussed before, roof intersections are the first place to look when trying to identify animal entry. Homes are not built with bird proofing in mind and gaps are frequently left in the flashing that will leave you vulnerable to wildlife.
To access and remove the nest, I partially disassembled the soffit, and then removed the material. While I was working a Starling sat on the other side of the roof waiting for me to leave.
The nest was large and had been in use for quite a while. The dark staining on the soffit also confirmed this. Once the nest was removed, I inspected the rest of the house to identify any additional entry points.
How to Exclude Birds
The primary objective when sealing your home is to be thorough. Animals see the world from a very different perspective than ours. Being low to the ground gives them an advantage at spotting gaps that are not immediately obvious to us, so you have to check every potential access point. Tools like an inspection mirror make this job a lot easier.
Once you have identified the problem area its time to plan the repair. Typically the most effective and efficient material to use is aluminum flashing. It is easy to work with and can be formed into any shape needed. You can pick up the tools and materials at your local home store. Using cardboard make a template of the location you need to close off. Once it you have a tight fit with the template, unfold it and lay it out on your flashing. Mark your fold points and make your cuts. Install with exterior rated self tapping screws and use a high quality exterior rated sealant if needed.
If you need assistance repairing your home give us a call at (336) 915-7373.
Below are some examples of custom repairs done with aluminum flashing and high quality sealants.
https://thebirdersreport.com/wild-birds/feeding-wild-birds/the-insidious-invaders-house-sparrows-starlings
https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/managing-house-sparrows-and-european-starlings/#:~:text=Feeders%20with%20short%20perches%20and,often%20avoided%20by%20House%20Sparrows.
