Spring has sprung, and when birds migrate back to the Greater Toronto Area after a winter away, they often come looking for places to nest and take care of their hatchlings. While it may be fun to admire the pretty songsters at the feeders in the backyard, it’s frustrating when nuisance birds roost in your carport or set up shop on your roof. In an urban area like Toronto, humane bird removal is a delicate task best left to a professional wildlife removal company like ICE.

Where Birds Like to Nest

The first item on your bird control checklist should be to do a home inspection to look for signs of current or past bird invasion. Try to imagine you’re a mother bird looking for a safe, but accessible place to build a nest for her babies. Look for old droppings and nesting materials (grass, twigs, straw) in the following areas first:

• Eaves, soffits and gutters
• Attic roof lines
• Bathroom and kitchen vents
• Dryer exhaust vents
• Chimneys and flues
• The ceilings and crossbeams of carports, porches and sheds

The Types of Birds that Invade GTA Homes
The wildlife control calls we receive in highly populated areas like Toronto, Mississauga and other suburbs usually involve starlings, sparrows, pigeons, woodpeckers and Canada geese. Keep in mind that starlings and sparrows are tiny birds that can build nests in tiny spaces. Preventing pigeon nesting is particularly important, as pigeons’ acidic guano can damage window sills and roofing and encourage moss growth on roofs.

Problems Caused by Bird Invasions

Not only are bird nesting sites a noisy and dirty nuisance for homeowners, they can also lead to more serious problems.

• They can cause structural damage to roofs and soffits.
• Their nests can block ventilation systems and affect air quality in the home or even cause fires.
• Their acidic droppings can damage vehicle paint, masonry and tar-based roofing materials.
• Bird mites, ticks and fleas can move into the home and look for new hosts after nesting birds have migrated.
• Bird droppings can contain bacteria harmful to humans, such as E. Coli and Salmonella.

What to Do When You Find a Nesting Site
If there are currently no birds nesting but you do see signs of former occupation, it is important to deal with the problem before the birds return. Starlings and Canada Geese especially like to return to the same grounds year after year. Seal any exterior openings to your home with suitable materials. Ensure that exhaust vents are covered with sturdy screening that allows for airflow, and make sure any holes in the roof line leading to the attic are blocked. Replace any damaged soffits and eves troughs as well.

If you are still unsure of what to look for, or if you find an active nest populated by birds, call one of our wildlife removal technicians in Toronto/Mississauga/the GTA for help in getting rid of the problem and preventing further nesting.