Bird Removal & Control

Our Bird Removal Process

1. Species Identification. To begin every project, we attempt to learn the species that is currently inhabiting a structure, and if possible, to get a good look at the nest to see if babies are present. Our company will not move ANY nest with babies in it, whether they are federally protected or not. Moving nests with babies is very often a death sentence for the young. Learning the type of species helps us know if there are any additional regulations we need to follow during the course of removal. Nearly every native bird in Tennessee is protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, including the mockingbird, the state bird. The penalties for destroying an active protected nest are real. Some birds, such as black vultures, can't legally be touched without federal permits.

2. Exterior Inspection. The inspection covers the full exterior: every vent, gutter, soffit run, shutter, etc. A house or commercial building that attracted one nest usually has other openings that will attract the next one, and sealing one hole while the others stay open just moves the problem to another area.

3. Preventive Work. All areas the birds are not currently using that are vulnerable are first sealed preventively, to ensure that once they are evicted they will not move into another area. Additionally, deterrents will be installed wherever needed to prevent exterior roosting. On commercial buildings, netting, wire, and other deterrent systems for ledges and loading docks are designed to each specific structure.

4. Bird Eviction. Once we are certain no babies are present, and that we are complying with all federal regulations, the birds will be evicted humanely from the areas they are currently residing. Once they have exited, the nests will also be removed.

Birds in Middle Tennessee Homes

European starlings are behind more of our vent calls in Middle Tennessee than any other bird. They're unprotected, persistent nesters, and a pair can fill a dryer or bathroom vent in a matter of days. Starlings here don't migrate away during the winter, so the calls come year-round.

House sparrows are often found nesting in the seams of a house. Common spots are soffit gaps, the voids behind shutters, holes in fascia, and the corners of store signs. They're also an introduced species and are unprotected.

House wrens are a native species that often turn up where people don't expect them. They're tiny, loud, and known for nesting in anything with an opening, from exhaust vents to porch-light fixtures to an uncovered grill. They're in Middle Tennessee from roughly mid-April to mid-October. They're a federally protected species.

Barn swallows build mud-cup nests on porch beams, under eaves, and over doorways, and the droppings pile up right where people walk. They're a protected species. Nests come down between broods, and the ledge gets modified so next spring's pair builds somewhere else. Birds nesting in gutters or over downspouts get the same treatment before a big storm backs the water up.

Pigeons concentrate on commercial structures. They roost on warehouses, parking decks, church cornices, and the underside of signs. Their droppings are acidic enough to damage paint and mortar over time. Pigeon control relies on exclusion hardware like netting, wire, spikes, and angled ledge systems.

Chimney swifts are often heard fluttering and chattering in an uncapped chimney flue from late spring into summer. They're federally protected while nesting. It is not legal to kick them out. Rather, the proper procedure is to wait until they voluntarily leave to migrate south for the winter, around October. At this point the chimney should be capped so that they can't get back in the following spring.

Woodpeckers don't often nest indoors. The primary damage they cause is drilling: rows of holes in cedar siding, fascia, and trim, usually from feeding or territorial drumming rather than nest-building. They're federally protected, so the approach is repair plus layered deterrents.

Are Birds in Your House Dangerous? Fires, Mites & What Droppings Carry

Fire Risk. A nest in the dryer exhaust can trap heat and lint against dry sticks and feathers, and that combination is a real fire hazard. The National Fire Protection Association reported an average of 14,630 home fires per year involving clothes dryers between 2010 and 2014. About a third of these were caused by failure to clean. When the vent is blocked, it can cause the dryer to overheat. The dried nesting materials and lint in these ducts can be combustible. Additionally, nests that are interwoven with electrical wires in attics and walls can also carry a fire risk.

Bird Mites. These pinhead-sized parasites live in the nest and feed on the birds. At times the mites can go looking for a new host, and the nearest one is usually a person. Unexplained bites with no flea or bedbug evidence can often trace back to a nest in a vent or inside the attic. Mites do not starve out quickly once the birds are gone. They can last a couple of weeks in ordinary indoor conditions, and considerably longer in a cool, undisturbed cavity. Removing the nest and treating the area generally stops the bites.

Droppings. Accumulated bird droppings can carry the fungi behind histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis, and disturbing dried droppings can send spores into the air. Additionally, bird droppings can spread Psittacosis and Salmonellosis. Exposure to droppings, feathers, and dander can also bring about an immune reaction known as Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis / Bird Fancier’s Lung for those who are vulnerable. Large accumulations call for containment and protective gear, the same standard our Attic & Crawl Space Cleaning crews apply to bat guano. Years of accumulated droppings should be approached with caution.