Bird deterrents for roofs and window sills

Most people can put up with the pitter-patter of feet from time to time, even rattling gutters, but when it happens frequently, it is a nuisance. Of course, bird droppings are another inevitable problem as they can be toxic and cause damage to buildings. Debris, particularly in the nesting season, can be another issue.

As a respected pest control company in London, we continually get asked about our bird control services. We always provide our customers with information regarding what they can do for themselves and suggest longer-term bird deterrents that can be installed on window sills and roofs. Of course, whatever deterrents we recommend will always comply with the law and not cause any harm to the birds. Here are some of the things that we suggest.

Spikes

Often referred to as Pigeon Spikes, spikes are highly effective and a humane way of deterring pigeons and other birds from landing on roofs, guttering or sills. The spikes won’t impale the birds, but they will make it difficult for them to land, which encourages them to find vantage points elsewhere. They are generally inexpensive, easy to install and require little maintenance, so they are understandably one of the most popular options. Spikes come in a wide range of different types, and we always suggest speaking to an expert to ensure you get the suitable spikes for your problem.

Wires

Often spikes are inappropriate, especially when required to cover large areas such as a flat roof. In this scenario, we recommend using Seagull Wire which is less of an eyesore and won’t prevent access, if required, to rooftops. The wires are usually attached between posts and need to be narrower than the bird’s wingspan of the birds, such as gulls, that you are trying to deter. By preventing birds from landing, they have a similar impact to spikes and often, the two are used together on different areas of buildings.

Netting

Netting is an alternative that can be used to spikes and wires and has much the same effect but can have a greater impact if you have a problem with smaller bird species such as tits. The netting is typically mounted from several posts at a suitable height and prevents birds from landing. It is commonly used on flat roofs and in conjunction with spikes placed on window sills. It is relatively inexpensive and very effective.

Visual Deterrents

Visual deterrents come in many different guises, including artificial hawks or owls, ribbons, rods, and even scarecrows! They can be relatively effective, but birds can get used to them, so their long-term impact is not particularly good. If you adopt this kind of approach, we suggest combining them with some of the other methods highlighted above.

Do you need more information about bird deterrents?

Please contact us if you would like more information about effective bird deterrents for your roof and window sills.