If not, then you know the first step to keeping birds out.
Meridian Bird Removal has steadily grown over the last decade by guaranteeing live bird capture and removal. But if you receive our emails, you know we encourage everyone to prevent bird intrusions in the first place. The first step to accomplishing that is to keep your doors and windows closed.
That sounds simple, but we know it’s not always as easy. The more deliveries and customers you have, the more your doors stay open. Concerns about COVID-19 prompt some people to open windows for fresh air. And stifling summer heat also means more open windows and doors for circulation.
Interestingly, summer is a time when we see fewer bird intrusions. They have plentiful food, water, and shade in their natural habitat, so they have less incentive to invade your building.
That will change soon, as autumn approaches. As food sources go dormant and weather turns cold, non-migratory birds will start seeking shelter and food indoors. Even if you diligently close all your doors and windows, birds will still find a way inside.
How do birds get in? Let us count the ways.
- They make their own entrances. We’ve seen scores of woodpecker-created holes. Those buggers are very skilled at penetrating wood and other building materials. Other birds, however, will also exploit any crack or chink in your exterior. Wrens are notorious for using existing holes, enlarging them until they are usable.
- They take advantage of natural building gaps. Buildings, especially older ones, are lousy with gaps. These gaps can be intentional, such as a roof gap. Other times, they accommodate building infrastructure. Think plumbing stacks, pipe entries, and vent cut-outs. There may be insulation filling the gap, but birds can easily tear this insulation away.
- They enter through non-traditional ingresses. Does your building have an exhaust fan that isn’t always running? How about a chimney? While people may not always notice these out-of-the-way methods of entry, birds will find them and use them!
The fix is in
Fortunately, it’s easy to stop birds from exploiting entry points to your building:
- Make sure automatic and manual doors function properly. That includes ensuring they close and latch on their own.
- Train employees to close roll-up and dock doors when not in use.
- Check for open windows, especially ones high up that people miss.
- Use a vinyl strip curtain for apertures that must stay open, such as shopping cart entries. Check them regularly to make sure they’re not damaged or missing strips.
- Inspect the areas around the roofline. Check for loose tiles or shingles. Especially inspect soffits and fascia boards. Damaged soffits are a common point of entry for birds.
- Check for loose masonry or missing mortar. Believe it or not, we’ve seen birds wriggle through brick and cinder block.
- Fix and fill all holes, no matter how small. Birds will enlarge holes to use to their advantage.
- Install chimney caps and hardware cloth or screens over vents and fans.
- Check door frames for gaps. Use caulking or fill to close off any opportunities that birds could exploit.
Now is the time
Fall will be here before you know it, so the time to check your building for entry points and fix them is now. Meridian Bird Removal can help. We provide comprehensive building inspections, and our expertise on bird behaviors sometimes allows us to catch things you may miss.
And whether they come from us or from another inspector, we urge you to jump on the recommendations immediately. As mentioned, birds work fast and the shelter, warmth, and possible food in your building is a powerful motivator. With the right steps and best practices, you can keep birds out and save money. After all, you weren’t raised in a barn!