Dealing with birds nesting in the walls of your home can be annoying and frustrating. Not only can it create unsightly messes on the exterior of your house, but birds inside walls can also cause noise, damage, and health hazards from droppings accumulating inside. Getting rid of unwelcome avian squatters will take some work, but it can be done humanely and safely if you follow the proper steps. With a combination of identifying the birds, excluding them from nesting spots, and sealing up entry points, you can successfully evict your feathered tenants and prevent new ones from moving in.
Identify the Culprits
Before trying removal strategies, it helps to figure out what types of birds you are dealing with. Different bird species have unique nesting behaviors, entry point preferences, and responses to deterrents.
The most common birds that nest on house walls include:
Swallows
Recognizable by their forked tails and graceful flight, swallows frequently build mud nests under eaves, awnings, and other sheltered overhangs on homes. Their nests look like small bowls cemented to a surface. Barn swallows and cliff swallows are common cavity nesters. Getting rid of established swallow nests often requires knocking them down and washing the area to remove mud traces that attract rebuilding.
Sparrows
From house sparrows to tree sparrows, these busy birds look for small cavities to build their twiggy, straw nests. Sparrows may enter walls through gaps around vents, chimneys, or where wires and pipes penetrate siding. Their constant activity and noisy chattering give away nests inside walls. Sparrows are highly persistent nesters and will quickly claim any suitable cavity.
Starlings
Known for their flocking behavior, European starlings are quite gregarious. They often nest in large colonies and prefer building nests in dark, secluded spots like wall voids. Their nests are built from grasses, feathers, and debris. Starlings are aggressive birds that are difficult to deter from an established nesting area.
Woodpeckers
While woodpeckers prefer carving cavities into trees, they will sometimes drill into the wooden trim and sidings of homes. The holes they create provide entry points for other birds to then use. Their rhythmic pecking on walls is a telltale sign. Nest holes are often neat and circular in shape.
Pigeons
These large birds are known for congregating on city buildings, but they may also set up residence within walls through gaps in deteriorating masonry or unfinished attics. Pigeons build flimsy stick nests and lay only two eggs at a time, but they nest year-round and produce copious waste, which can become a nuisance.
Finches and Wrens
Smaller, soft-billed birds like finches, wrens, bluebirds, and nuthatches may all nest in wall voids. They bring in grasses, moss, and nesting materials through tiny gaps in wood or masonry. Their high-pitched chirps are an indicator of nests inside. These birds are quick to abandon nests if deterred.
Clearly identifying the bird species will help you choose effective nest removal and exclusion tactics. Ask around your neighborhood if anyone can identify a species they’ve seen near your home. Use field guides or online resources with bird pictures and sounds to aid in the identification of likely culprits.
Locate the Nest Site
Figuring out where exactly the birds are entering and nesting within your walls is crucial for addressing the issue.
Listen for Activity
Stand outside near different areas of your home during dawn and dusk hours, when birds are most active. Focus on listening intently for any chirping, fluttering, scraping, or tapping noises coming from inside walls that would pinpoint problem spots.
Check for Exterior Signs
Look for any clues on the outside of your home that show where birds are getting in. Look for:
- Accumulated bird droppings or white uric acid stains under cracks or holes
- Nest materials like straw, twigs, feathers, or mud around an entry point
- Greasy smear marks around cavities from birds repeatedly brushing against the edges
These signs will indicate active nesting areas to target.
Use a Camera
A small endoscope camera with an attached light and viewing screen can be inserted into cavities to see inside walls and confirm nests. The long, flexible tube can be snaked into voids through holes as small as 3/8 inch. This method gives you visual certainty of where nests are established before sealing birds inside walls. Endoscope cameras can be rented or purchased from hardware stores or online retailers if you foresee needing to frequently monitor wall interiors in the future.
Now that you’ve located the nests, don’t seal them in just yet! The next step is to remove any eggs, chicks, or debris inside to prevent birds from just reusing the same sites again.
Clear Out Nesting Materials
Before installing deterrents or sealing up cavities, it’s vital to remove any nesting debris, eggs, or hatchlings from wall spaces first. Adult birds can be persistent about returning to reuse an intact nest. Here are some tips for how to clean out wall voids:
Remove Eggs and Chicks
Use an inspection camera to view inside the wall space. If you spot intact eggs or live chicks inside, consider waiting 2-3 weeks until they have fledged and left the nest. This is the most humane option. If waiting is not possible, you’ll need to remove any eggs or chicks and humanely dispose of them.
Clear Out All Debris
Use a long, narrow scraper, wire hook, or shop vacuum tube to remove all straw, twigs, feathers, and other nest materials from the cavity. The fewer traces of an existing nest, the less incentive there is for birds to rebuild in the same spot.
Check for Droppings
Bird mites from accumulated droppings can cause illnesses, so wash out any wall void with diluted bleach using a pump sprayer for sanitation if needed. Allow the area to fully dry before sealing.
Removing interior nest remnants is time-consuming but necessary. Getting a professional inspection may be wise if wall cavities are extensive or hard to access. With the nest cleared out, you can now start using deterrents and exclusion tactics to keep new nests from forming.
Install Bird Deterrents
A variety of bird deterrents exist to make areas of your home seem unwelcoming and unsuitable for nesting. Installing these devices before breeding seasons can prevent nesting.
Physical Deterrents
Blocking bird access to entry points works as a physical prevention method:
- Netting – Steeply angled nets or mesh can be installed over cavities to block access while still permitting airflow.
- Spikes – Plastic or metal pointy spikes can be positioned around cavity edges to deter perching.
- Electric tracks – Low-voltage electrified tracks deliver a mild shock and scare birds off landing spots.
Audio Deterrents
Making cavities an unpleasant auditory environment can repel nesters:
- Ultrasonic devices – These produce high-pitched sounds only birds can hear. They are most effective when moved around frequently.
- Bird distress calls – Recordings or live playbacks of species-specific alarm and distress calls unsettle birds.
- Thumping objects – Items like old compact discs hung to bump in the wind create random tapping that disturbs birds.
Chemical Deterrents
Smell and taste repellants make areas unappealing:
- Methyl anthranilate – Grape flavoring is a safe but irritating taste deterrent mistable around cavities.
- Eucalyptus, mint, or garlic oil – Strong herbal scents birds avoid can be sprayed around entry points.
Keep experimenting with different individual or combined deterrents until you find what works best for your situation. Persistence is key, as birds may initially ignore novel devices but grow wary over several days or weeks.
Seal Up Entry Points
Cutting off physical access to enclosed wall spaces is the definitive solution for preventing bird nesting where it’s not wanted. Sealing every gap, hole, and crack thoroughly can take some time and effort, but it is well worth it.
Inspect Exterior Walls
Walk the perimeter of your home, looking for any openings at least 3/8 inches wide that birds could enter. Pay special attention around the roofline, soffits, on gables, and near chimneys or vents. Mark each spot needing repair with painter’s tape for easy reference.
Choose Closure Materials
Use durable materials that will permanently block openings, blend visually, and withstand weather:
- Hardware cloth – Galvanized steel wire mesh with 1⁄4 inch grid holes
- Steel wool – Dense packed steel fibers are easy to stuff in gaps
- Caulk – Flexible silicone or acrylic latex caulk adheres well
- Wood – Rot-resistant cedar boards or treated plywood patches
- Metal – Rustproof aluminum, copper, or steel sheeting
Seal Tricky Areas
Pay extra attention to sealing up challenging points prone to bird entry:
- Chimneys – Cover flue openings when not in use; cap top openings
- Vents – Attach commercial vent covers or wire mesh over vent grates
- Eaves – Plug exposed overhang gaps between walls and soffits
- Gables – Repair loose flashing, boards, or siding
- Cracks – Use caulk, fillers, or expanding foam for long vertical or horizontal gaps
With all holes and openings denied, the birds should eventually give up interest in your walls and move on to more suitable habitats.
Monitor and Maintain
Don’t consider the job done as soon as repairs are made. Keep monitoring areas diligently for any renewed bird activity or attempted re-entry.
Reapply Deterrents
It may take a few nesting seasons of constantly chasing birds away and reapplying deterrents before they finally abandon attempts to reuse your walls. Be prepared to frequently refresh smelly or sticky repellants.
Make Timely Repairs
Check monthly for any new gaps or damages that could allow birds back in. Make fixes immediately before breeding seasons start. Keep walls maintained to prevent reinvasions.
Watch for Signs
Keep observing the exterior walls for any lingering bird droppings or sounds within voids that signal persistent nesters. Be ready to quickly intervene and install new deterrents as needed.
With vigilant maintenance and a commitment to exclusion, the birds should eventually give up and move on for good.
Calling In Professionals
In some difficult pest bird cases involving extensive infestations, challenging locations, or health hazards, it may become advisable to hire professional wildlife removal experts.
Large Colonies
Major colonies of hundreds of birds like pigeons, starlings, or swallows pose big nest eradication and sanitation issues best handled by companies with the proper training, equipment, and legal permits.
Hazardous Droppings
Bird droppings and feather dander can cause histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis contagious illnesses. Professionals are needed for safe cleanup and disinfection when droppings accumulate at concerning levels inside walls or attics.
Inaccessible Areas
Safely removing nests from tricky areas like inside chimneys, steep roofs, or tall walls often requires expertise beyond DIY methods. Choosing professional assistance can be wise in these cases.
Inspect any work proposals and company qualifications thoroughly when selecting an avian removal service. Prioritize experienced companies dedicated to gentle, humane techniques.
Humane Removal Methods
When dealing with live birds already nesting within walls, it’s vital to use humane removal methods for their health and safety:
Proper Timing
Avoid sealing occupied cavities or destroying nests during breeding season when eggs or hatchlings may be present. Wait until the young have fully fledged and left the nest, if possible.
Passive Removal
Simply installing exclusions and deterrents that encourage birds to self-relocate is ideal when time allows. Let passive methods motivate birds to leave before sealing areas.
Live Trapping
For inevitable cases of active removal, use small cage traps baited with food to gently capture birds unharmed for relocation away from the home.
Mind Chicks
If unfledged chicks are present, they can be gently removed and taken to permitted wildlife rehabbers until they are grown enough to survive independently from their parents.
Treating birds humanely reduces stress on them and prevents collateral damage to your home from panicked birds trapped inside. With thoughtful removal strategies, birds can be safely convinced to settle elsewhere.
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Conclusion
Ridding wall cavities in your home of nesting birds takes diligence across multiple fronts. Identifying the bird species at play allows you to select suitable humane deterrents and removal tactics. Locating nest sites through careful inspection and listening allows you to directly target problem areas for cleaning out debris and sealing up openings. Cutting off physical access points while discouraging entry prevents rebuild attempts. Monitoring your home’s exterior and maintaining repairs and exclusion materials will solidify your victory. With the right know-how and a strategic combination of intelligent methods, you can successfully resolve bird nest infestations in your home’s walls and prevent frustrating recurrences in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are signs birds are nesting in my walls?
Common signs of bird nesting inside walls include noises coming from voids, accumulated droppings or smear marks around cavities, nest materials outside holes, and high bird activity around the home during dawn and dusk hours.
What if I seal a nest inside my walls?
You should always inspect inside wall cavities and remove any nest remnants, eggs, or chicks first before sealing birds inside, or they may die and create foul odors. Use an endoscope camera if needed.
Will birds attack me if I remove nests?
While agitated birds may dive bomb or peck to defend nests, attacks are mostly bluffing and not serious. Wearing a hat and protective clothing reduces any risk. Removal at night, when birds are calmer, helps.
How can I stop damage to my home if birds keep re-nesting?
Persistently chasing birds away with various deterrents while repeatedly sealing every possible entry point will eventually convince nesters to abandon your home. Don’t let repairs lapse.
Why shouldn’t I use bird poison or lethal traps?
Poisoning and lethal methods are not only inhumane but illegal in the U.S. for migratory native bird species. Focus on gentle exclusion and deterrents for a lasting solution.