Different Ways to Get Rid of Nuisance Birds

Birds are persistent. Unfortunately, if a bird likes the look of your backyard, house, or attic as a way to take shelter or raise a family, it will just keep coming back, no matter how many times you remove it. Therefore, in the long run, you should be looking to prevention as opposed to removal if you wish to make your property bird-free.

There are many advantages to having birds on your property. They provide entertainment and a connection with nature, whilst also removing many garden pests and even snakes in the process. However, there are occasions, especially when the bird decides to attempt to move indoors, when removal and prevention and necessary to protect your property from nuisance birds.

Not only do birds leave droppings and cause a horrific smell, their nesting in roofs, plus the acidity of their droppings, makes some birds dangerous to the foundations of your home. In addition to this, birds are known to set off allergies, with 30 percent of people with asthma allergic to birds. 

Due to the very nature of birds, at first glance fences look to be ineffective against the creatures. After all, most birds can just fly over them, and they provide perfect perching spots, one of the main attractions to birds looking to find a vantage point.

• Coupled with bird spikes, fences can be very effective.

Often seen as a way of preventing people from climbing over fences, when it comes to birds, bird spikes work in a slightly different way. By providing an environment intolerable for birds to perch upon, suddenly your property loses its appeal to them, and they are likely to move on to a new location. 

Often associated with Roald Dahl’s The Twits, thankfully modern-day bird gel is a lot less gruesome, but just as effective.

• This transparent substance can be used in companion with fences and is a useful way of encouraging birds to move on.

Bird gel is sticky, but not sticky enough to keep the birds from taking off. Instead, it simply provides a very uncomfortable environment for the birds and makes it a lot less likely for them to bother you by perching on your property ever again. Bird gel can also be used on roofs and other surfaces that birds frequent.

The cheapest and arguably the most ingenious way of preventing bird infestations, you will find these fake hawks all across the country. Whilst it is true you can acquire one of these for just a couple of dollars, the truth is that most birds are not so easily fooled.

For it to be really effective, a mid-range product costing around $30 is probably necessary. Still, compared to the other methods detailed on this list so far, this solution is a bargain.

Another thing to bear in mind is that the more rudimentary fake birds of prey are very dependent on the weather, namely wind. If you live in a place where strong winds are uncommon, investing in a battery-powered fake hawk is probably necessary.

The killing of birds is an effective way of prevention, but not advised, for two principle reasons.

1. First, most birds are protected by federal law, meaning you may be committing a crime by killing the bird with a gun, poison, etc. This law especially applies to all migratory birds (i.e. birds that stay seasonally) and protected species.
2. Second, consider the moral question before deciding to take a bird’s life. This article has shown there are plenty of effective ways to get rid of birds without having to take their life.

Birds are crucial to nature and the surrounding ecosystem, and a reduction in bird numbers could not only endanger bird species but other species that rely on birds for food. Therefore, the removal of nuisance birds via killing is not advised, although it is understood that it is necessary in exceptional circumstances.