5 signs that show you have a bird problem

From symbols of love to being labelled as harbingers of doom, birds have fascinated different cultures across the world for thousands of years. As well as providing fleeting moments of beauty that boost health and wellbeing, birds pollinate plants, spread seeds and control pests by dining on an array of insects.

They’re also considered to be pests in their own right – especially those birds that thrive in urban and industrial areas. While many species don’t pose a threat, nuisance birds, such as gulls, geese and starlings, can spread diseases, damage property and brickwork, create safety risks and give customers, staff and the public a bad impression of your organisation.

These pests can be a problem to control because they can reach parts of buildings that are difficult to access. They exhibit a wide range of smart behaviours and can adapt to new environments and conditions quickly. 

With wildlife laws protecting birds, their nests and eggs, choosing the right course of action to protect your business is vital. However, it’s not that easy – especially if you don’t know you’ve got a bird problem until it’s too late.

The early bird catches the worm

When architects, facilities managers, surveyors and business managers consider pest control, they’re more likely to think of pests that cause the most financial damage, such as rodents, flies and stored product insects (SPIs) – those that feed on commodities. But anything that signifies poor sanitation, disrepair and neglect will never be good for a business. 

Anyone who wants to protect their reputation and business-critical assets or real estate needs to think about keeping birds away from their buildings, too - protecting their infrastructure with minimal service time and frequency. But it’s not just dealing with bird infestations when they happen. It’s also about safeguarding your pre-existing or planned premises to stop infestations from happening in the first place.

How to recognise a bird infestation

Proactive pest management is the key to successful bird control, but what signs of a bird infestation should you look out for? This isn’t an Alfred Hitchcock movie. It’s unlikely that hundreds of crows will appear from out of nowhere and perch on a climbing frame while your employees are enjoying a break.

That being said, a bird infestation is fairly easy to recognise when you consider the five following clues. Anyone who might have to deal with the problem of pests should consider each of the following signs when planning and incorporating bird pest prevention.

1. Visual signs of a bird infestation

Do you have birds settling on roofs and ledges of your premises? There are obvious harbourages, such as open balconies and ledges with a good view of food sources in the warmth of the day and sheltered areas such as struts or guttering to nest in at night.

Why can this be a problem? Larger birds can dislodge roof tiles – a clear danger for anyone or anything that happens to be directly below. Birds gaining access to roof spaces can bring nesting material inside and contaminate the building space with droppings and damage insulation material. This damage can result in a high cost of repairs and cleaning.

Other than being unattractive, bird droppings (guano) can lead to several problems on and around buildings. Guano can corrode stone, metal, paintwork and various building materials, resulting in potential structural weaknesses on roofs and other supporting structures. On paved areas, guano can cause a slip-and-fall risk for staff and visitors. It can also spoil raw materials and finished goods, causing financial loss.

Have you spotted a nest? From elaborate structures built from twigs, moss, grass, mud and feathers to simple twig platforms, nests can vary greatly. Some bird species don't even use nesting material. Instead, buildings are used as nesting sites.

Bird nests can include flammable materials such as twigs and straw. They can also gather to block drains and damage roofs from flooding. Are there signs of feathers? Feathers, primarily from dead birds, can play host to a range of parasites, bacteria and viruses. Birds also carry ectoparasites such as fleas, ticks, lice and mites that can contain infectious pathogens that pose health concerns.

2. Can you hear birds?

Whether they’re defending their territories or trying to attract a mate, birds communicating with each other can be beautiful or bothersome. Starlings, a known bird pest, are experts at ‘mimicry’ – copying sounds from other birds or other mechanised sounds that they encounter. You can probably imagine how annoying this could be. For business owners, continuous bird noises such as cries, especially from young chicks, can be a problem and a clear sign of birds occupying their premises.

3. It’s time to take stock of your bird problems

Birds are particularly concerning for food businesses where food safety is paramount. It makes sense to carefully check your stock. Is any of it damaged? Businesses storing grain and other stored products can lose a large amount to birds. Packaged goods can be damaged by birds pecking at them to access the food or from droppings fouling the packaging. Losing produce to bird infestations can be a costly business.

A bird infestation can also compromise food safety standards and regulations by causing hygiene and contamination problems. With health regulations stricter than ever, ensuring your building isn’t providing birds with their three needs to survive – food, water and shelter – is essential.

4. Do you have blocked drainage?

Have you checked your guttering? Feathers and nest materials can clog up guttering and drainage systems. A serious drainage issue in a restaurant, for example, could lead to a large repair bill, force the restaurant to close its doors to customers and suffer from negative press or bad online reviews.

A blocked sewer line is a potential health hazard and your business may have to close until it’s deemed safe to re-open. If the problem affects adjoining buildings, you may also be liable to pay damages and clean-up costs.

On top of all that, blocked roof drainage systems and collected water can become breeding sites for flying and biting insects while flooding on roofs can lead to internal leaks, rotten timber, metal corrosion, damaged plaster and other wall coverings and flooring inside your premises.

5. Don’t forget to check your solar panels

Solar panels are designed to absorb the sun's rays to generate electricity or heating. They’re an investment your business will hopefully benefit from for many years. Birds use solar panels to seek shelter from predators, weather conditions and to nest. However, the build-up of nesting materials and droppings can reduce their effectiveness.

You’ll probably hear birds such as pigeons nesting in your panels before you see them, but it can be difficult to encourage birds to move on once they've settled and many more are likely to follow. Therefore, the right bird deterrent is paramount.

What type of bird control is right for your business?

As previously mentioned, birds exhibit a wide range of smart behaviours. Sometimes, when birds realise that a certain deterrent carries no real threat, they can rapidly become habituated to it. Without professional help, this could render some artificial adversaries useless.

Choosing an incorrect product may result in additional problems, so you need an integrated pest management programme to deal with any bird problems now while preventing new problems in the future. All urban birds need is a nesting site and a reliable food source. On existing premises, an on-site survey is essential and will establish current levels of bird pressure, behavioural patterns and inform responsive recommendations.

What next?

By investing in ongoing professional bird management, businesses will not only save money but ensure their premises are protected throughout the year. Choose a company, like Rentokil, that uses its extensive, global knowledge of bird control to tailor solutions and provide bird control that protects your business now and in the future.

Our bird consultants and expert technicians use their knowledge of bird biology, behaviour and local laws for control to produce strategies for long-term pest prevention. We provide humane, fast, effective, discreet and targeted solutions to protect any business, 24/7. Our solutions are sustainable – focusing on environmentally friendly deterrents that can safeguard your business while helping to protect the environment.