Not all birds build their nests on trees, shrubs, or ground. Some species of birds place their nests on openings they can find on properties such as barns and houses. It is not easy to remove a bird’s nest from a vent.
Homeowners commonly identify birds such as house sparrows and starlings as pests. It’s not surprising to find these birds in vents on the side of your house.
If you are having this kind of problem, then read further. In this article, we will focus on how to get birds out of vents.
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Step-by-step Guide to Getting Birds Out of Vents
Birds will start to build their nests during springtime, and this is when homeowners discover a bird’s nest in their vents. Some of the few problems that may arise from having birds in your ventilation system are the following:
- Foul odor from the droppings of the birds
- Damage to your property such as roofs and vents
- Bird-borne diseases such as infections from bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
As You Identify the Issue, Here’re What to Prepare to Bring the Birds Out:
- Protective gloves
- Fiberoptic scope (optional)
- Mesh or vent covers
- Roosting spikes
- Owl decoys
Here are the steps you can follow to get birds out of vents:
Step 1: Identify what kind of bird is lodged in your vent.
This is very important because the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects some species of birds and it is illegal to remove them unless they are non-native bird species.
Examples of birds that are non-native and unprotected by law are the European starlings, rock pigeons/doves, and the house sparrow.
Also, find out if there are any offspring inside the nest, as some of the birds are very aggressive if you try to touch their offspring.
Step 2: Inspect the amount of debris to clear out.
You need to check to find out the extent of debris or nesting material that must be cleared before doing the work.
This may be easy for vents with external openings. Still, if the bird has lodged into an inscrutable part of your house’s vent system, you will need a fiberoptic scope to do this. You can also call the experts at this time if you can’t handle this step yourself to remove birds from exhaust vents.
Step 3: Carefully remove the nest
If the nest is empty, you can remove it from the vent. Make sure to wear protective gloves when you do this, and discard the nest properly.
If the bird is still alive and there are baby birds in the nest, it is best to call a professional or the wildlife authorities to get rid of the birds in the vent.
Another option, which possibly the most humane act you can do, is to wait for the birds to fly out from the nest when the baby birds are ready before removing the nest.
Step 4: Disinfect the vent
Once the nest is removed, it’s time to disinfect the vent where the nest was located to make sure there are no infectious organisms left or sources of parasites such as bird droppings.
For this step, you might need professional help because the chemicals used for disinfection should be selected and applied by the experts.
Other tips
- If a bird gets stuck in a bathroom vent and is injured, call wildlife officers or avian professionals to extract the bird from the vent.
- If you encounter a hostile bird, do not attempt to remove the nest yourself. Call the wildlife authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do birds get into vents?
Some birds prefer to build nests inside open or uncapped vents because it is an ideal nesting place for their young. House sparrows and European starlings are some of the birds that seek out cavities or holes in buildings to find a warm and safe place to build nests.
How much does it cost to get birds out of the vent?
The cost to remove birds from the vent depends on the location and number of birds that need to be removed from your home.
The basic price for a simple bird removal from a vent starts at $195. That’s the price for only one vent. For example, if you want to get birds out of the bathroom vent this price will already include removing the birds and the nest materials, disinfection, and putting a seal on the vent.
Tips to Prevent Birds in Vents
Determine how the birds in apartment vents accessed these areas. Look for holes or openings that they might be using as entry points. Once you have identified them, try sealing them off with mesh wire or other materials to keep birds out of vents.
Install bird deterrents near the vents, such as sound-makers, reflective mirrors, or decoys, to keep birds away. You can also install roosting spikes to prevent birds in apartment vents.
Conclusion
Keeping birds out of exhaust vents is a common problem in most houses during springtime when birds are nesting. House vents are a favorite nesting place of some pesky bird species.
In this article, we already discussed the steps on how to get birds out of vents, including helpful tips, and we hope that you learned something from this. It is better to prevent this problem than wait for it to happen. When you encounter this situation, you already know what to do.
George and I became friends after a birdwatching trip with our new group. And we have been enjoying every adventure together. When he told me the idea of establishing a site that shares our experiences and fun, I immediately agreed. After trials and errors, here we have Thayerbirding.
