How To Deter Birds From Nesting Near Your Home Safely

It never fails. Every year, a mama bird decides to build her nest RIGHT BY either our front or back door. This year, she has chosen the back door. It is up in the support beam for the awning. This location is eye-level for my husband. He could step out and give her a kiss on the beak if she didn't immediately fly away every time she spotted him.

A couple of years ago, a Robin posted up in the middle of my beautiful fern on my front porch. That was pretty fun to watch over time as she laid her pretty blue eggs, and they eventually hatched. The ugliest, cutest little things you've ever seen.

One year, my mother-in-law had a bird build a nest in her front door wreath. It almost didn't make it, because it moved every time the door opened and closed. Why in the world do birds do that? Choosing a spot so precarious to create their safe place doesn't seem to make sense. They'll even move into chimneys, vents, gutters, and attics.

Why Do Birds Build Their Nests So Close to My House?

Despite the hustle and bustle of our family and big dogs running in and out, our back door bird friend still considers its perch to be the safest option.

Birds prefer to build their nests in higher places as this helps them survey the area around them. A house gives them a perfect vantage point with spots that are high enough for them to feel safe from predators, look for food, hatch their eggs, and even protect them from extreme temperatures. In addition to the common places that birds are found (gutters and attics), they can also take shelter in less obvious places like gaps in siding and small light fixtures.

How Do I Remove a Bird's Nest From My House?

While experts recommend never touching a nest unless absolutely necessary, you may find one in a place that is dangerous for the bird or super inconvenient for you. The best thing to do is to wait it out. Four weeks is the average length of time from the nest appearing to the babies flying away. If you have no choice but to relocate it, use gloves to move it to a secure location as close as possible to where it originally was.

How to Keep Birds From Building Their Nests On Your Home

The best thing to do is wait til the babies have all flown off and mama has abandoned the nest. Then you can remove it and prevent any other birds from coming back. According to chirpforbirds.com, here are some excellent tips:

Install bird spikes. Bird spikes are devices with small, needle-like rods that protrude from the base. These rods are dull and won’t harm birds, but will deter birds from perching and building a nest. You can place bird spikes on railings, ledges, under eaves, and anywhere that’s a likely nesting spot.
Hang wind chimes or scare tape. The movement and sound of wind chimes, especially if they’re made from metal or other shiny materials, will act to deter a bird from a potential nesting spot. Holographic scare tape works in the same way. However, birds are smart, adaptable creatures, and may get used to them, so these aren’t always long-term solution for deterring nesters.
Mount a motion-activated strobe light. Flashes of bright light will deter nesting birds from an area. Both the light and shadows created will keep a bird at bay, and is an excellent, bird-friendly way to keep them away.
Give them a place to nest. The best way to deter nesting birds? Give them an alternate nesting spot that’s good for you and them. Bushes, trees, and brush piles in your backyard are all ideal nesting spots. (And if you haven’t gotten to spring cleaning your yard, you may wish to wait until nesting season is over.) You can also hang a bird house or nest box in your outdoor space, preferably a sheltered space away from foot and street traffic and noise, and high enough to be safe from predators."

Where is the most inconvenient place a bird has ever built a nest at your house? Send me a message on the AppChat and let me know!