Birds on your property can cause a serious amount of damage and place your loved ones at risk of deadly diseases. So to keep both your home and your family safe, we’ve put together our five favorite bird proofing methods.
1 – Bird Netting
Bird netting is the most effective and guaranteed method on this list for keeping your property bird-free. Bird nets prevent access to specific areas by creating a physical barrier that birds cannot get through.
Netting is an incredibly versatile method for bird proofing your home as it can be used anywhere. So whether birds are nesting on your guttering or they’re attacking your prized fruit tree, nets can be fitted to prevent all access.
Different bird nets, like the ones sold at 1env Solutions, are designed for specific birds, with the holes in the mesh varying in width. For example, pigeons and gull nets are much larger than those made for sparrows.
2 – Modify your Garden
There are two main reasons birds will visit your garden: food and water. If possible, remove all potential food and water sources to discourage their presence. If there’s nothing worth landing for, then they won’t visit – it’s as simple as that.
If you have many fruit-bearing trees in your garden, you’re much more likely to have a bird problem. Try swapping out such trees for the non-fruit-bearing type to decrease your chances of a bird problem on your property.
The same goes for water features in your garden. For example, if you have a water fountain and don’t want to get rid of it, you could replace the freshwater with saltwater as birds cannot drink it. If you have an outside tap, make sure it isn’t leaking and dripping everywhere, as this provides an easy water source – and a hefty water bill!
Also, try to keep your garden neat and tidy. If you have lots of clutter, you’re providing birds with easy access to nesting materials. Long grass and overgrown bushes also provide them with hiding spots that encourage their presence.
3 – Decoys
Decoys are essentially fake versions of predators designed to scare away birds. You can purchase these from most general stores and pest control suppliers in a variety of shapes and sizes.
They are usually affordable and easy to implement into your garden, depending on the type you purchase. While they are effective at first, the efficiency of decoys tends to dwindle over time. Birds are intelligent animals, and they can figure out that the threat isn’t real over time. Once they’ve called your bluff, your bird problem will return.
Due to this, decoys often work best when they are combined with another bird control method.
4 – Bird Spikes
One of the most common bird deterrents on the market, bird spikes are highly effective at keeping birds away from specific areas. Bird spikes work best when they’re placed on the locations where birds like to perch, most likely your gutters and along the roofline of your home.
While some people call them inhumane due to their rather dramatic look, they are actually completely harmless. The spikes are not intended to pierce or damage the birds. Instead, they are simply used as a barrier to prevent diseases and birds from perching.
Just like the bird netting, the size of bird spikes is directly related to the size of the bird you’re trying to control. Smaller birds like sparrows will be able to squeeze between the larger spikes used to deter pigeons, rendering them useless. If this is the method you decide to use, make sure you find out which bird is causing you problems first!
5 – Bird Repellants
Many bird repellants are available on the market, but you should aim to use a non-toxic one. Most pest repellants contain harmful substances that could kill the birds and even harm your loved ones and pets if they come into contact with it.
Remember, we’re trying to keep the birds away from our homes – not kill them off. If you’re nervous about using commercial repellants, you can always make your own!
Birds have a natural aversion to strong smells like garlic and pepper and some essential oils. So mix up a pungent concoction and spray it around the problem areas. This isn’t a particularly long-term solution, but it will keep the birds at bay for a while.
We recommend combining one or two of the above methods for the best results and a guaranteed bird-free property.
Birds, the next Covid. Come on man!
Let me know if you find a way to keep deer off the property.
I love the birds on my property
Birds used to be desirable.
Cats weren’t because they killed birds.
I guess they’re OK now and birds are now on the “who’s out” list this month.
Who comes up with this cr*p?
How about an article on getting rid of Ridgewood politicians?
That would be most useful.