Birds....any suggestions keeping them out?

[Scout3918]

I having a problem keeping birds from building a nest and getting in garage and pooping on floor. so far not on my equipment but it probably matter of time.

I have torn the nest down least 3 times and power washed the birds away, but they keep coming back. They are building nest, by gutter and over hang (sorry no pictures at this time) and the roof not sealed enough to keep them out.

any suggestions other than sealing. If sealing only way what do you suggest to use?

thank you,

 

[G-ManBart]

Part of my barn/shop/garage is open air to the outside and the first year birds were getting in immediately. I bought a bunch of lightweight steel mesh at Lowe's or Home Depot, cut it to size and used a heavy staple gun to hold them in place....haven't had a bird get in since then (several years).

I've seen it called a couple of things...like stucco mesh, or netting. It cuts easily with hand snips:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-27-...97-in-Galvanized-Steel-Stucco-Netting/3374312

 

[CN Spots]

Most garden centers carry a cheap plastic bird netting for plants. Comes in a roll. I've actually had fairly good success with those cheap plastic snakes too. I've seen fake owls and hawks that re supposed to keep birds away but I've never used them.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've had birds build nests on top of the gutter downspouts/transition under the soffit and motion lights. I've cut a block of wood with an angle on it and zip tied it in place to prevent them from building. A few of the blocks have some 3" drywall screws in them as protrusion sticking out.

If you have holes, you'll need to cover them up. Like Bart mentioned some heavy wire mesh or there is some some commercially available bird screen. I'm not sure how small of a section of bird screen you can buy.

 

[stm317]

I've seen people string fishing line across places they wanted to keep birds out of (like swimming pools, etc). The slight reflectiveness of the lines moving in the air will deter some birds.

But, figuring out a way to string fishing line across your lot is probably more work than just sealing up your building, and you'll look a lot more crazy to the neighbors with fishing line run everywhere too.

 

[CoogarXR]

I have a transom window on my front door. I tried everything to keep birds from building nests in the corners. I even put a strip of wood up there with drywall screws sticking up like a bed of nails. Those dumb birds built right on top of the points!

I eventually had to build a screen to fit in the transom frame. They will still come and hover in disbelief that they can't come in... But it worked.

Sometimes you just get a persistent bird that insists that spot is his home. My previous house had a problem with them building on top of the flood lights. I was worried that the next sitting on the hot lamp housing would catch fire, but it never did. I knock the nests down as soon as I'd see them, but they'd put them right back.

 

[Scout3918]

thanks for the replies. I like the mesh idea and may try fake snake too.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

If they are starlings or house sparrows, I have good luck trapping them. I use an Uncle Blaine's sparrow trap and an S&S Controller trap for starlings. Bonus is that with all of these aggressive invasive species reduced you see more native birds around.

 

[Bobf]

I had problems with them sitting on the hanging lamp in the entry way and crapping on the tile floor below. I put one of those dime store rubber snakes on the lamp and they seem to stay away.

 

[rsanter]

Bird netting and the bird spikes

Bob

 

[BADSIX]

I tried the owl and it bothered them for about a week, then they were perching on his head.
Jay D.

 

[isb cornbinder]

thanks for the replies. I like the mesh idea and may try fake snake too.

Maybe you could hang a few pictures of Anthony Weiner's trouser snake?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I tried the owl and it bothered them for about a week, then they were perching on his head.
Jay D.

Birds ignore owls as most of them do not prey on other birds. Try a fake hawk or falcon...

Tommy