How to Keep Birds Away From Your House

Birds often leave big messes around houses, which creates the need to deter them.

Birds are lovely to have around the property because they can provide relaxing entertainment and they help to keep pesky insects at bay. However, the enjoyment of birds can go away quickly if you have birds that perch on your home, fences, trees and lawn ornaments. A single bird that has taken a shine to a particular perching area can quickly leave a whitewash of droppings behind, especially if it's a large bird. There are some things you can do to keep a bird or a flock of birds from perching on your property.

Things You'll Need

• Bells
• Trash can lids
• Pie pans
• Balloons
• Pyrotechnic devices
• Fake owls
• Newspaper

Instructions

1. Disturb the birds that like to perch in trees by making loud sounds beneath the trees. You can use bells, trash can lids or other objects that make suitable sounds to scare the birds away

2. Use pyrotechnic devices, such as shell crackers or shell bangers. Use extreme caution with these devices.

3. Hang pie pans or helium balloons near the bird areas. Helium balloons work especially well for very high places that can't be easily reached. Just attach them to a long piece of string and tie them to something sturdy to deter the birds.

4. Place fake owls around the areas where a bird likes to perch.

5. Wrap posts that birds perch on with newspaper on top. Make sure at least 6 inches of the newspaper extend past the post and shred that part of the newspaper.

References

• Managing Urban University of Kentucky Extension; Pest Bird Problems in Kentucky; Thomas G. Barnes, et al.
• University of Missouri Extension; Controlling Nuisance Blackbirds in Roosts; Robert A. Pierce II, et al.