Expert Guide on How to Keep Birds Away from Your Home & Garden
Birds are part of our natural environment and are often welcome. Unfortunately, they can also become a problem in our homes, businesses, and outdoor spaces.
One of the main problems with birds is the droppings they leave. More than just unsightly, they can damage property and cause diseases. Plus, birds can make a lot of noise, especially if they live on your property.
Birds don't mean any harm; they just don't know any better. And when it comes to getting rid of birds, it's important to practice methods that are both effective and humane. You can solve your bird problem without harming the birds, so you can go back to enjoying your space and they can go back to enjoying theirs.
Understanding Bird Behaviour
Common Birds That Cause Problems in the UK
Most birds in the UK never bother humans. However, some species have learned to live with us, and this often causes conflict.
The main pest bird species in the UK are:
Pigeons
Pigeons live quite happily in human cities. They feed off the food we throw away, and like to shelter on rooftops, in windows, in abandoned buildings, and other sheltered spots. Relatively timid, their droppings can cause diseases including histoplasmosis.
Seagulls
Although their natural habitat is coastal areas, seagulls live throughout the UK. They prefer to nest on flat surfaces like roofs. These large birds do not carry diseases, but they are extremely loud. Plus, anyone who has had a cone of chips stolen at the seaside knows how aggressive gulls are.
Starlings
Although small, starlings are a major nuisance. They live in large groups, and their droppings can spread diseases like histoplasmosis and salmonellosis.
Magpies
Highly intelligent and adaptable, magpies are recognisable by their black and white colouring. Magpies are opportunistic feeders that will even pray on small animals, and their shrill cries make them extremely annoying.
Why Birds Invade Homes and Gardens
Birds may be on your property for several reasons. Ultimately, it usually comes down to one or more of the following:
- Food
- Water
- Shelter
- Nesting spots
Human homes provide birds with everything they need to thrive. For example, you may be feeding songbirds, but this also attracts pest species like pigeons and magpies. Water features in your garden are a water source for pest birds. Plus, trees, sheds, or even your house itself can give birds sheltered nesting spots they can live in.
Breeding and Nesting Habits
Birds tend to build nests in the spring. Different bird species prefer different nesting areas. Pigeons and seagulls nest on flat roofs, while crows, magpies, and starlings prefer nests in trees. Birds may nest inside structures like garden sheds or even in the loft of your house if they can get access.
The best way to deal with this is to stop it from happening in the first place. Once birds establish a good nesting site, they will return year after year if they can. It's better to make sure they can't build a nest by denying them access to potential nesting sites.
Health and Safety Risks
We don't normally think of birds as dangerous. But they can cause problems.
One of the biggest ways they do this is by carrying diseases in their droppings. Pigeons are notorious for this, but starlings and other birds can also make you sick. When birds nest on your property, the droppings quickly pile up, putting you and your family at risk of health problems.
Birds can also carry ectoparasites like mites. These creatures will often live in a bird nest, and when the birds leave, mites may come inside your home looking for a new food source and bite you.
Also, some birds aggressively defend their nests. Magpies, crows, and seagulls can be quite aggressive. They may swoop at people and pets who get close to the nest.
Additionally, bird droppings are highly acidic. They can cause damage to buildings and particularly to the paint of your car.
Identifying Signs of a Bird Infestation
Birds are most active during the day, and because they fly, they are easy to see. If birds are living on your property, you may also notice excessive droppings, especially around the nesting area. You may hear loud squawking or see them gathering nesting materials to build a nest.
Most species like to nest somewhere high to keep their eggs safe. Trees are their natural habitat, but they will use human structures like roofs too. Birds often look for places sheltered from wind and rain, so inside deep windows, underneath roof junctions, and in garden sheds all make good places for them.
Legal Considerations for Bird Control in the UK
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, wild bird species are protected by law. That means you can't:
- kill or capture wild birds;
- destroy a bird nest while the bird is using it;
- destroy bird eggs;
- disturb wild birds or their young while they are at or near an active nesting site.
As you can imagine, this limits what you can do about a bird problem.
Pigeons and crows are recognised as pests, but to trap or hunt them requires a licence. This is why preventing bird problems is so important because once a problem starts, there isn't much you can legally do about it.
Scaring birds away from your property is legal as long as they are not actively nesting at the time. It's also legal to deny them access to nesting areas, so long as you do it outside of the nesting season in the spring.
Preventing Birds from Nesting and Roosting on Your Property
The best way to deal with problem birds is to deny them access to shelter, food, and nesting sites.
- Block up areas where birds can access lofts, eaves, vents, and outbuildings. Use galvanized steel mesh or chicken wire to block up holes.
- Use pest-proof compost bins. Get rid of rubbish regularly and store it in sturdy bins with tightfitting lids. Remove standing water from fountains, birdbaths, and gutters.
- Trim trees. Pick up fallen fruit regularly and use bird netting to protect fruit and vegetable patches in your garden.
Natural Deterrents and DIY Bird Repellents
Birds are very dependent on their sense of sight, and you can use this to scare them away. Visual deterrents like reflective objects and even decoy predators like owls and hawks make birds think an area is not safe. However, birds often get used to static objects, so visual deterrents that move with the wind or by battery or solar power are a good idea.
Most birds do not have a strong sense of smell and are immune to the chemicals in many deterrents that would work on mammals. However, you can use physical controls like bird spikes or bird wires to keep birds off ledges and rooftops.
Effective Bird Control Methods
Physical Barriers
Physical barriers include bird spikes, netting, and wires. These devices physically deny access to particular areas for birds. Once installed, they can last for years, making them one of the most effective bird control methods. However, make sure you install them correctly. Often, people will use bird spikes on a windowsill, for example, but only spike the edge of the sill, leaving space for birds to get in behind.
Motion-activated Devices
You can also use motion-activated devices that respond to the presence of a bird. These include sprinklers that will spray water at them which will scare birds without harming them, or devices that will make noises that sound like hawks and other predators that scare the birds away.
Step-by-Step Guide to Keeping Birds Out of High-Risk Areas
- Identify Problem Areas - Locate entry points, perches, and nesting spots.
- Use Physical Barriers - Install bird netting, spikes, or wire to block access.
- Apply Visual Deterrents - Hang reflective tape, predator decoys, or moving objects to scare birds away.
- Utilise Sound Deterrents - Play ultrasonic sounds or distress calls to discourage birds.
- Remove Food and Water Sources - Keep the area clean and eliminate attractants.
- Apply Non-Toxic Repellents - Use gel or liquid repellents on ledges and surfaces.
- Monitor and Maintain - Regularly check and update deterrents as needed.
Chemical Solutions and Professional-Grade Bird Repellents
Some chemical products can repel birds, including gels and sprays that are non-toxic to humans. Repellent liquids are good for spraying on large areas like tree branches and rooftops, while taste-aversion sprays can be used on vegetables and fruit to make them taste bad to birds.
To comply with the law, these deterrents must not harm the birds in any way.
Professional Bird Control Services
Bird repellents can help you maintain a clean and bird-free environment, but sometimes, birds can be extremely persistent. And because the legal framework around what you can do to birds is so rigid, it's sometimes necessary to seek professional help. Professional pest control technicians have licences to deal with birds in ways you can't, and they also have expertise in handling persistent problems that can make their services worth considering.
Final Word
When it comes to birds, prevention is everything. You're not allowed to harm birds in the UK, so the only thing you can do to protect your property is make it less appealing to them for nesting and food gathering.
Use physical controls and deterrents to make your home less inviting to birds, but make sure you stay within the law. If birds are already nesting on your property, you may need to wait until the young birds have grown up and flown the nest before you can deal with them.
Birds are part of our natural environment, and shouldn't be harmed. But by using the physical controls in this article, you can live side-by-side with these creatures without conflict.
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