Get rid of a bird’s nest in just a few steps
As a homeowner, birds are a vital part of your backyard’s ecosystem. Many homeowners try to attract birds to their yards because they are excellent pollinators and eat unwanted insects that can ravage your plants.
While birds provide great viewing pleasure, you might not want them nesting close to your home. If you’ve found a nest in a dangerous spot or want to remove a vacant nest, learn how to get rid of a bird’s nest below.
What Attracts Nesting Birds to Your Home?
There’s nothing better than sipping a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning and watching beautiful birds in your garden.
Birds provide many benefits to local ecosystems and habitats. Not only do they pollinate plants and disperse seeds, but they also keep bug and pest populations under control by feeding on various rodents, insects, and small animals.
Nesting birds are more likely to make your house their home when you:
Add seeds, birdhouses, and bird baths to your yard
Plant elms, willows, and birch trees
Add bright, colorful flowers to your garden—especially those prime for pollinating, such as cosmos and zinnias
Kick chemicals to the curb by forgoing conventional pest and weed control sprays
How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of a Bird’s Nest?
Depending on the location (and how hard it is to reach), bird nest removal costs between $100 to $2,000. The most common places birds like to nest are chimneys, eaves (roof overhang), roofs, vents, attics, and gutters.
Prepping to Get Rid of a Bird’s Nest
First, familiarize yourself with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). This act makes it illegal to destroy a nest currently inhabited by bird eggs or chicks, or if young birds depend on the nest for survival. In addition, the MBTA also restricts removing or destroying the nests of certain species of migratory birds altogether.
We recommend consulting a wildlife removal pro in your area to safely and humanely (and legally) remove an active or inhabited bird’s nest that’s in an unsafe area like a chimney, drainage pipe, car bumper, or busy walkway.
How to Get Rid of a Bird’s Nest
If you’re unsure how to identify whether a bird’s nest is active or if a species has protection under conservation laws, you should call a local wildlife professional before getting started.
Follow the steps below for inactive nests only. If you have an active nest in a dangerous location that needs to be moved, you’ll have to call in a local rescue organization or professional bird removal company near you to ensure proper and humane relocation.
As per the MBTA, it is illegal for homeowners to relocate active birds’ nests (yes, even on your property).
Inspect the Bird’s Nest
Make sure the nest is completely empty with no eggs present and inactive (there are no eggs, babies, or adult birds present for several days) before attempting to remove it. If possible, you should wait until the nesting season is over. Spring is the typical mating season for most bird species.
Discard the Bird’s Nest
Put on long sleeves, long pants, latex gloves, and a respiratory mask. Bird droppings can leave behind bacteria and viruses that are dangerous to humans, according to Washington State University. Also, mites or other active parasites may be camping out in the nest.
Spray abandoned nests with an antibacterial spray and carefully remove them. Now, you can compost the nest (leaving it outside to naturally decay) or get rid of it entirely by putting it in a sealed trash bag and throwing it away.
Thoroughly Clean the Space
Take a strong disinfectant or bleach and clean the nesting area if on a surface. A solution of 1 part chlorine bleach with 9 parts water works well. Let the area dry (but don’t rinse it).
Afterward, wash up. Remove your gloves, throw them away, and scrub your hands. Take your clothes and wash them immediately in hot water.
Apply Repellents in the Same Spot
Once the nesting space is clean, you’ll want to add humane repellents to the same spot to deter birds from nesting there again.
Use bird repellent: You can buy a cruelty-free repellent gel for surfaces made with white pepper and mineral oil that deters birds from nesting in that area for around $25.
Add bird control spikes: Stainless steel blunted spikes aren’t harmful to birds but deter them from nesting. You’ll pay $90 to $140 for spike installation.
How to Prevent Birds From Building Nests Around Your Home
You can take steps to prevent birds from starting their nests in and around your home, including:
Lock trash can lids and clear your yard of food or scraps.
Go light on the bird seed. Place bird feeders and bird baths at a reasonable distance from your home.
Look out for nests and remove them before birds finish building them (just make sure there are no eggs or inhabitants yet).
Use an insecticide to keep bugs and pests away from your home (birds mainly feast on these bugs). Remember to limit the amount of insecticide you use to reduce chemical contamination around your property.
Cover all vents and exposed roofing with mesh screens.
Clear out underbrush, shrubs, and sticks ripe for building a nest.
Install guards on your gutters and downspouts.
Place visual repellents around your yard, such as plastic owls, snakes, and hawks. Move them around frequently, so birds don’t get comfortable around them.
Purchase a hanging bird diverter. The reflective foil humanely scares birds away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a bird’s nest last?
The nesting period can last up to 10 weeks, and some species will continue to nest four to five times per year. A bird’s nest could continue to stay in use for several months or up until a bird finishes nesting for the year. It’s best to consult a wildlife professional to determine the longevity of a specific bird’s nest.
Can birds damage your home?
While not common, bird’s nests can cause problems to your property in some cases.
Block vents for your dryer, stove, and fans, creating a fire hazard
Clog gutters and drains, leading to roof and siding damage
Damage solar panels
Wiring issues if the nest is on or near a light fixture
When is a nest dangerous to birds?
Birds choose cozy spaces to build their nests. But sometimes, those locations can cause injury or harm to birds. These spaces include inside a grill or lawn mower, inside an active chimney, on a car’s bumper, on car tires, or in an active construction zone.
In these cases, you can’t wait until nesting season is over to remove the nest. You’ll want to call a local wildlife pro immediately to alert them to the dangerous bird’s nest.
How do I choose the right bird removal pro?
To ensure a wildlife conservation pro or a local animal removal specialist will humanely get rid of an active bird’s nest, ask these questions:
Are you trained in bird’s nest removal?
Are you licensed and insured?
Are you well-versed in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act?
Do you use non-harmful techniques to remove and relocate birds’ nests?
Are there bird's nest removal tools?
Metal coil-shaped retriever tools (around $50) help remove empty nests and debris from chimneys. Unless you are sure the nest is vacant, we recommend calling in a pro to handle bird’s nest removal from chimneys, vents, roofs, and other hard-to-reach places.
