Having a bird nest under your deck can be a nuisance. Not only do the birds make a mess, but their constant chirping can be bothersome. However, getting rid of bird nests doesn’t have to be difficult. With some simple tips, you can humanely and effectively evict your feathered squatters.
Why Do Birds Nest Under Decks?
There are a few reasons birds may choose to nest under your deck:
- Shelter – The enclosed, shaded area under a deck provides protection from the elements and predators.
- Materials – Birds can often find supplies like small sticks, leaves, and twigs under decks to build nests.
- Undisturbed Location – If you don’t use the space under your deck often, birds may feel it’s a safe spot away from human activity.
Common deck-nesting birds include robins, barn swallows, phoebes, and wrens. These birds are looking for a safe site to lay their eggs and raise their young, and the area under decks can seem ideal.
Why Remove Bird Nests from Under Your Deck?
There are several good reasons to remove bird nests from under your deck:
- Droppings – Bird droppings can stain and damage the deck boards and foundation.
- Parasites – Birds can carry fleas, mites, and ticks that you don’t want multiplying under your deck.
- Odor – Bird and nesting odors can be quite strong.
- Noise – The incessant chirping of adult birds and chicks can be annoying.
- Aggression – Some birds become aggressive and may even attack when defending their nests.
- Maintenance Issues – Nests can clog gutters or prevent you from performing necessary deck maintenance.
For health, property value, noise, odor, and safety reasons, it’s best not to allow birds to nest under your deck.
When to Remove Nests
It’s best to remove nests:
- Before eggs are laid
- Once chicks have fledged and left the nest
Avoid removing nests with eggs or baby birds in them. This could violate the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Wait until the chicks are grown and the nest is empty before getting rid of it.
Ways to Remove Existing Nests
If a nest under your deck already has eggs or chicks, you’ll have to wait patiently until they’ve grown and flown off. Then, remove the nest by:
- Using a stiff broom or mop to knock the nest down from under the deck.
- Using a power washer to spray the nest and surrounding area.
- Using a pool skimmer to hook and pull down the nest.
- Putting on thick gloves and manually grabbing and discarding the nest.
Be sure to remove all leftover twigs, feathers and droppings under the deck as well so birds aren’t tempted to rebuild in the same spot.
How to Keep Birds from Nesting Under Deck
Once you’ve removed all existing nests from under your deck, take proactive steps to keep birds from building new nests in the area:
Block Access Points
Birds can enter small openings under decks. Block access by:
- Attaching or stuffing steel wool into openings.
- Installing lattice panels around the bottom edges of your deck.
- Securing boards, hardware cloth, or wire mesh over open areas under the deck.
Use Repellents
Apply taste and odor repellents in the problem area:
- Methyl anthranilate based gels or liquids create a grape odor birds dislike.
- Pest control strips that contain naphthalene emit strong odors to irritate birds.
- Capsaicin or garlic sprayed or applied directly to deck boards repel many bird species.
Reapply repellents every 1-2 weeks or after heavy rains.
Install Predator Decoys
Set up owl or hawk decoys under the deck. Many birds instinctively avoid areas where they see predators.
Use Sounds and Devices
- Attach ultrasonic or sonic bird repelling devices to the deck. Human ears can’t detect the sounds, but they deter most bird species.
- Play recordings of bird distress calls. This signals danger and scares off birds.
- Install a motion-activated sprinkler. When birds land, they are sprayed with water.
- Hang CD discs, aluminum pie pans, old DVDs or shiny ribbons. The reflection and noise scare cautious birds.
Apply Temporary Frightening Tactics
If birds start building nests, immediately disturb the area:
- Attach balloons, festive lights or streamers under the deck.
- Play a radio loudly under the deck.
- Squirt birds with water as they land under the deck.
Persistent harassment causes birds to abandon nest building efforts.
Additional Tips
- Install deck skirting to enclose the area under the deck.
- Place large gravel or pebbles under the deck instead of dirt. This removes nesting material.
- Trim back overgrown vegetation close to the deck.
- Use glue boards or non-toxic bird gel to trap house sparrows attempting to build nests.
- Consider professionally installing gutter screens along the edge of the deck to block access.
When to Call a Professional
For severe bird infestations under your deck, it may be wise to hire a pest control professional. They have access to advanced bird repelling tools like:
- Drone scare devices
- Remote activated sprinkler systems
- Special bird barrier netting
- Nest removal tools
A pest pro can also identify exactly which bird species you’re dealing with and any nests that may be protected under wildlife laws before removal.
Conclusion
Preventing birds from nesting under your deck again starts with removing all existing nests properly. Block possible entrance points, use repellents, install deterrents, and take quick action at the first sign of nest building next season. With some diligent work upfront, you can humanely evict your feathered tenants and reclaim your space under the deck.
