Six months in prison and up to $15,000 in fines. That is what it would cost me to remove “the wrong” bird nest from your home.

Chances are the bird that made a nest in your bathroom vent, or your gutter, or in the portico of your home is protected under the umbrella of the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Exceptions for birds considered non-natives and exotics in the U.S., include:

1. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

2. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

3. Domestic Pigeon or Rock Dove (Columba livia)

4. Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus – the only parrot that doesn’t nest in cavities)

5. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

6. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis – egg and nest removal without a permit, and hunting), and for some captive-bred birds like mallards.

The US Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 makes it illegal to destroy or disturb nests with birds or eggs in them unless it falls into the species mentioned before. No matter where they nest, or the damage they do, neither you, or a wildlife company, has the ability to remove the eggs, young, or nest until all birds are capable of flight. Oftentimes this is a four to six week process depending on the bird species.

Now, there is the option to petition US Fish and Wildlife for a predation permit to allow you to remove the birds and the nest. In my experience, those petitions are rarely approved, and often time the approval process takes around the same amount of time as waiting for the young birds to be able to fly.

So what can you do if you hear a bird in your vents, or see one nesting where you don't want them to? I recommend calling us to at least come out to your home or business and inspect to determine the species that has outstayed their welcome and create a plan for removal and exclusion.. 

We do that by first using non-intrusive cameras and imaging devices that allow us to see inside the vents, or into the nest to identify the eggs, or the young, without disrupting the nest or causing damage to the eggs or young.

After the inspection we can create a plan to remove the birds and the nest, and then schedule a date to make the necessary changes and repairs needed to prevent future access and nesting in that area. 

Only once we are positive that all birds can fly and removing the nest will cause no loss of life, we can work on removal and exclusion.

In the case of birds in a dryer or bathroom vent, we usually go up in the attic or to the inlet of the dryer vent ducting, detach the ductwork, then delicately remove all nesting material with a rod and brush system. The nesting material and subsequent debris gets pushed out to the exterior of the structure so as to not make a mess inside your home or business.

Once all of the nesting material and debris is removed, we then install a new dryer vent or bathroom vent cover that is resistant to bird intrusions but still allows for easy cleaning and maintenance. Many “standard” louvre style vent covers you find on 95% of the homes in Cincinnati have a working life of around 5-7 years. After that point the plastic gets degraded by the wind, rain, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations and becomes so brittle it cracks and crumbles to the touch. If you have owned your home for over 8 years and have not replaced your vents, it might be a good idea to give us a call to preventatively replace your vents than to have to do it only AFTER birds have made a mess of your home. 

If you have birds nesting on your home that you want removed, or you want to prevent future avian intruders into your home or business, please click on the “schedule service tab” and request an inspection.

Till Next Time… See ya Folks.