Nesting birds can be a nuisance, especially when they make their presence known early in the morning. A common problem with roofs old and new, initial prevention is the best route to deter nestings birds from making your roof their new home.

Unfortunately, once the birds have got into the roof, it is near impossible to be rid of them. If you’re concerned that your roof may be susceptible to this problem, read our top tips which detail how to deter birds from choosing to nest in your roof this summer.

Locate and Seal
It is rare that a bird will purposely damage your roof in order to gain entry. The birds will find holes in the roof that will have appeared due to general wear and tear, and find their way into the innards of the roof. A way to prevent birds from accessing the roof is to seal the holes when they begin to appear. The RSPB recommends that you or a specialist check your building for damage during the winter months, as birds are less likely to nest at this time, and seal what you can. If you don’t have any sealant on hand, use a wire mesh to cover the damage as a short-term solution. The wire mesh won’t harm the bird, but will temporarily deter them from trying to enter the roof.

Repellent
Purchasing repellant, like perch-repellant gel, will stop birds from settling on the roof top. A non-toxic gel can be spread on the roof so that when birds land, the gel feels sticky and uncomfortable, deterring further interest in the rooftop.

Use Decoys
Place decoys, such as hawk or owl models, on the top of your roof to discourage the nesting birds from entering. Hawks and owls are predatory birds which will scare the birds wanting to nest in your roof.

Identify the bird
Commonly, a nesting bird is likely to be a house sparrow or a starling. If this type of bird has managed to gain access to your roof and nested, it is technically illegal to intentionally disturb their nests due to their conservation status. If another breed of bird has nested in your roof, the RSPB recommends that if you absolutely have to move the nest, you should only do so when the baby birds have flown away.

If you have any further questions regarding the removal of nesting birds, the RSPB website has an extensive database which holds many answers.