How to Keep Birds From Roosting on the Roof of Your Porch

Because birds often travel in flocks, the damage they do can be substantial.

While some people use bird feeders to attract birds for their beauty and song, other seek methods to get rid of birds. Birds that settle on ledges, perches, roofs and porches are often a nuisance. Their droppings, muddy nests and feathers befoul your property. The noise they make, too, can be annoying. To keep birds away from your porch roof, scare them and make it difficult for them to set up shop on your property.

Things You'll Need

• Nesting boxes
• Balloons
• Foil
• Imitation hawk or owl
• Pan
• Spoon
• Gas exploder
• Acoustic bird-scaring device
• Spike strips or coils

Instructions

1. Put up nesting boxes to offer pest birds an alternative roosting area. The birds may decide to relocate to the artificial nests. Use boxes that fit the type of bird you're trying to deter. Set up the boxes at a far enough distance, so the birds aren't a nuisance anymore.

2. Use frightening devices to keep away pest birds. Hang up strips of foil or large balloons with scary eyes painted on them. The balloons and shimmering of the foil in the sun scare away pest birds. Set up an imitation hawk or owl near the porch. The fake predator bird scares away pest birds.

3. Open a window near the roof and drum on a pan with a spoon, to scare away roosting birds with the noise. If this doesn't work, set up a gas exploder outdoors, to make a loud exploding sound that scares off the birds.

4. Place an acoustic bird-scaring device on your porch. The acoustic device plays sounds of various birds in distress. The calls warn birds of danger ahead and motivate them to stay away from the area.

5. Fit your rooftop with spike strips or coils in areas where birds tend to perch. The strips, which have needle-like prongs that stick out in multiple directions, make it impossible for birds to land on your roof.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of just using one method, use a combination of methods to successfully get rid of pest birds.

• Most birds are protected under federal and state laws; harming or killing them is illegal.

References

• Iowa State University: Managing Iowa Wildlife; Georgia Bryan
• Baltimore Bird Club: Backyard Bird Problems