How to Keep Birds From Nesting on Porches
Although they're normally seen as valuable and charming animals, birds can be pests when they decide to nest or roost in places where you don't want them. Their droppings and nesting material can be quite messy, and the noise of baby birds isn't something that many people want. Birds can also bring hazards like bird mites and diseases to your property. To humanely drive birds away, follow a couple simple guidelines.
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Instructions
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1
Stop feeding the birds. If you're in the habit of putting out bird seed or bread, stop. If they're not getting free food, birds will be less likely to hang around your house or build nests there.
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2
Install sets of bird spikes on any flat surface the birds are using for roosting or nesting. Although these spikes are unsightly, they will effectively keep birds from landing or building nests there. Make sure your spikes are adequate to the birds you're trying to drive away; spikes built for large birds won't stop small ones.
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3
Scare birds away every time you see them. Make loud noises or throw something in their direction.
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4
Get a cat or two. Having natural predators around will discourage birds from nesting near your home.
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Set bird traps for birds that come back persistently. When you capture birds, keep them in the traps and drive them far away from your house to release them. Chances are they'll find another place to hang out.
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Prevent future nests and bird populations by using a sprayable bird repellent. Although bird repellents aren't guaranteed to work, they may keep birds away from your house in the future.
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7
Destroy nests when birds leave. Birds are less likely to return if they don't have nests to return to.
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Tips & Warnings
Destroying a nest of baby birds is cruel and inhumane. Destroy nests before the bird lays eggs, or after the baby birds leave. If you cannot get rid of your birds, consider doing research on them and living with them by learning to appreciate their songs and personalities. Birds will not nest in areas that have a lot of traffic -- spend lots of time on your patio cleaning, reading, or serving dinner during the spring to discourage birds from building nests there.
Bird poisons are illegal in many districts. Killing birds is illegal in most regions, and not recommended as a solution to your bird problem.
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Comments
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I have always dreamed of having a wrap around country porch and now that I do it , has drawn my attention to all the beautiful Birds that I have admired for so long and what a mess they are they sure can make on our beautiful patio furniture. I in new territory I need effective advice on how to keep them off the furniture and light fixtures.
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"It is incredibly irresponsible to encourage people to get outside cats to kill birds. For one, it is common knowledge among veterinarians that, on average, outside cats are less healthy and have shorter life spans than their inside counterparts. Also, as an ecologist, I can't stress enough how damaging this invasive species is to animal communities. House cats are not native predators. They are responsible for many species of animals going extinct world-wide. They are efficient killers that will kill even when they are not hungry. It is estimated they kill millions of birds annually in the US alone. Their impacts on herpetofauna and small mammals is just as staggering. In a natural ecosystem, there are no predator-free zones, so the presence of these invasive predators will not deter birds from nesting any more than a hawk or owl decoy would." -Walker Wilson
