What to Do About Birds’ Nests

The chirping of birds outside a window can be a relaxing sound to hear each morning. But when those birds are creating nests in your trees and causing messes that pile up on your outdoor patios and porches, then something needs to be done. According to Carl Shaw, an Orlando exterminator and the owner of Critter and Pest Defense, the most obvious step for any homeowner to take once a bird’s nest has been discovered is to try and get rid of it completely.

Despite the beauty of many types of birds, the nests they create can leave behind piles of excrement and other debris that can become so thick that eventually, it can become difficult for the average homeowner to wash away without the help of a cleaning professional. “The best thing to do in that case is exclusion and complete removal of the nest,” explains Shaw.

In commercial structures under construction, birds will oftentimes build nests that have to be removed before the construction can continue. “We are talking about birds that are pooping all over everything, so people need to have something done about this. They can’t just go on living with bird poop everywhere,” Shaw says.

The Dangers

Having unwanted birds’ nests in your home or commercial space can actually become dangerous if the droppings from these nests are allowed to build up over time. Feathers, droppings, and other debris are not only unsightly, but they can become unsanitary too. Bird droppings can carry disease, and may pose significant health risks to children.

Of course, not all types of birds cause the same kinds of problems for homeowners. In Orlando, an exterminator is most commonly needed to get rid of the birds’ nests created by pigeons, starlings, or swallows. “The builders of commercial structures need to be aware of whether they have a bird problem going on, because if that is the case, they need to get a professional in to handle the job right away,” Shaw explains.

The Removal Process

Because Shaw’s company is an eco-friendly pest control business, he says he always gets rid of birds’ nests in the most humane way possible. Although there are a number of ways to eliminate birds and their nests, the most common is to net the nest and then remove it from whatever structure it is on by putting it somewhere else. “That is the key, to get them to set up shop somewhere else,” he explains.

Another element of nest removal is called spiking, which is the process of installing spikes in the area where the birds built their nests to prevent them from doing the same thing again in the future.

Because birds’ nests can be located just about anywhere, there are many times when climbing equipment is required in order to get a bird’s nest down. “Sometimes, I have to rent a lift, and other times I might need climbing equipment,” Shaw says. “With the climbing equipment, it has to be a really specific type, because in some cases, I need to lower people down to the area where the nest is located.”

The Cost

Shaw explains that the cost of removing a bird’s nest can vary greatly depending on the project and how difficult it is to get to the nest in question. “Price wise, it is different for every job,” Shaw says. Things like having to rent a lift or borrow special climbing equipment can increase the price of having a nest removed.

Before starting on any job, Shaw says he will do an initial inspection of the property and give the client a price quote of how much he expects it to cost. For homeowners who already have a good idea of where the nest is located, Shaw says he can usually give a general estimate over the phone based on a few details that the homeowner can provide about the job. “If they can give me a good idea of what is going on, then I can give them a pretty good idea of how much it’s going to cost to have me come out and get rid of the nest,” he says.

Unwanted birds and pigeons can be more than just a nuisance to homeowners; they can become a safety hazard as well if the debris from their nests is allowed to build up to dangerous levels. For this reason, it’s important that homeowners in Orlando hire an exterminator who can tackle this problem and prevent it from getting worse.