Bird nest deterrents: keeping your roof bird-free

The spots most used for nesting are roof eaves, ledges, air conditioners, gutters and the space under solar panels. One of the worst places to have a nest is inside the roof itself.

Bird exclusion: creating a bird-free zone

Exclusion is about creating barriers the birds find unappealing. A product that works well on one building may do very little on another, because the birds we get in Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth are not all the same species and they do not all behave the same way. And the point is never to harm them.

Which deterrents work on a roof

Choosing the right one means assessing the situation, working out what type of bird you are dealing with, and thinking about what the installation will look like once it is up.

• Bird spikes. Metal or plastic spikes along roof edges and ledges stop birds perching. A good visual deterrent that keeps birds off without hurting them.
• Reflective deterrents. Reflective tape or hanging discs move birds on by catching the sunlight. Simple and effective. The professional versions use turning reflectors, which look considerably better than discs strung around a building.
• Sound devices. Ultrasonic deterrents emit a high frequency birds dislike. They are not always effective over larger areas.
• Bird proofing mesh. Mesh seals off problem areas, particularly around solar panels and open eaves. It stops birds getting underneath and building.
• Chicken mesh with gap-filling foam. One of the most effective ways to block birds out of a roof. Quick, and most jobs of this kind are finished in a day or less.

Deterrents, not harm

Bird deterrents should never harm the birds. They are doing what comes naturally, which is looking for a safe place to build a nest. Whether you are dealing with pigeons, sparrows or anything else, the right deterrent protects the house and leaves the bird to find somewhere better.