Protecting Your Building From Swallow Nest Problems

 

Protecting Your Building From Swallow Nest Problems



Spring is just around the corner and the swallows have already begun their migration back from South America to the Southern U.S.  These small, agile birds are beneficial overall to people as they consume large quantities of flying insects such as mosquitoes and flies.  

Swallows generally do not cause problems for people, however, sometimes they can decide to set up their nests above a doorway or along a covered walkway where it can create a real mess underneath from their mud and other nesting materials as well as their bird droppings which can create a slip and fall hazard as well as creating an unsightly mess.  Occasionally their nests can cause damage to buildings or structures when they clog gutters or air vents. Additionally, their droppings can carry


bacteria, fungal agents and parasites which can harbor serious diseases such as bird flu, histoplasmosis, encephalitis, salmonella, meningitis, toxoplasmosis and more.

If your home or building has had a swallow problem in the past then you will want to take proactive measures BEFORE the swallows arrive to deter them from nesting there again.  Swallows are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and it is illegal to disturb or destroy their nests once they have laid eggs in them or harm the birds themselves.  If they have already built the nest, you have to work around it until they leave for their winter homes. But if they haven’t built it yet, or are just starting, there are some steps you can take to get rid of swallows from your building.

Bird Net in¾ inch mesh size can be installed at an angle on the underside of eaves and is an effective way of keeping swallows from accessing an area where they want to build their nest. Birdnet will also exclude other birds as well from the area, providing complete bird control protection for the area.

A second bird deterrent option for swallows is a product called Bird Slide. Made of U.V. stabilized polycarbonate, Bird Slide can be glued onto on edges, eaves, angle irons, I-Beams and most “L” shaped ledges where total exclusion is the goal. Similar to birdnet, it cuts off the angle, but Bird Slide comes in multiple widths for different ledge sizes and can be painted to match the structure so it can blend seamlessly while preventing swallows and other birds from getting a grip to anchor to – they slide right off.

Installation of Bird Net or Bird Slide bird deterrent products is advanced and should be done by a professional installer to ensure there are no gaps for the birds to get through.  For a referral of an installer near you or if you have questions about installing it, please email us at mark@birdsgottago.com or birdsgottago.com


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