How to Keep Birds Away from Garages and Sheds

by Alex Kecskes

If your home has a separate garage or shed, you probably have pest birds roosting and nesting either inside or under the  eaves.  Birds love to perch on the rooftops and exposed beams of these structures.  And unless you deter them with some bird control device,  birds will continue to gather in greater numbers in and around these structures. Eventually, birds will even start to nest and roost under the eaves of your home.

The longer you wait to implement some effective bird control measures, the more brazen the birds will become.  They’ll start to gather in your back yard and leave droppings all over your pool, spa, patio, and BBQ.  Keep in mind that birds can carry any of 60 known diseases. If you have children or pets, you’ll be cleaning up the bird droppings on a daily basis.

The good news is that there are a number of humane and effective bird deterrents that you can use. Here are a few that you should look into:

Garden Bird Netting

Lightweight and easy to handle, Garden Mesh Netting will block birds from specific nesting sites around your shed or garage.   It comes in 14 x 100-foot and 14 x 200-foot rolls, but you can easily cut it down to the size. It’s also available in three different "mesh" sizes--1/4" mesh, 1/2" mesh and 3/4" mesh. It’s easy to install under eaves and other areas, especially if you use the bird netting clips that are recommended. The netting is made from a durable, UV-protected polypropylene. It’s strong, lightweight and virtually invisible.

Bird Slope

Scientifically designed to keep pest birds away from eaves and similar nooks and crannies, Bird Slope are slippery PVC panels that mount under eaves  to prevent birds from gaining a foothold. They scramble and “squirrel-cage” with their little toes and finally give up, moving on to other more hospitable areas. The best bird slope panels are UV protected and sun- and weather-resistant to last longer. Bird slope is ideal for deterring a wide range of birds—including swallows, starlings, pigeons and seagulls. The panels blend in with most architectural styles and they’re now available in two colors--stone and grey.

Copper Stuf-Fit Mesh

Ideal for keeping pest birds out of small holes and crevices, Copper Stuf-Fit mesh creates a physical barrier that blocks out birds. It’s ideal for use in openings and tight spaces too small for regular netting or other products. The mesh comes in 20-foot and 100-foot roles and can be “formed” into the shape of the area needed to deny birds access. The wire mesh will hold its shape in tight areas to prevent birds from “working” their way around it. It can also be used to block birds from getting under roofing tiles, retractable awnings, and where pipes enter siding or foundations.

No Nasty Nest

Ideal for use in blocking swallows, No Nasty Nest consists of hanging "twine" that denies birds access to nesting sites. Faced with wading through the twine strips, birds will simply move on to a better spot to nest. If you have swallow mud nests under the eaves and sides of your garage, shed or home, you’ll want to get this bird deterrent. Each strip of No Nasty Nest has a self-adhering back for fast application on eaves, gables, entryways and other areas.

How to Keep Gulls Away from Your Home

by Alex A. Kecskes

If your home has been besieged by gulls, you know what a nuisance they can be. These scavengers will eat just about anything that’s on your patio, boat dock or backyard. That includes fish, insects, mollusks, worms, mice, young birds, bird eggs, and berries. When gulls feast and gather, they'll leave an awful mess. They can cover your backyard and patio area with smelly, disease carrying droppings and rotting fish. If they use your rooftop to tear apart their prey, they can dislodge and damage roofing tiles and other rooftop structures.

Like most birds, it’s not just one type of gull you have to worry about. There are over 45 species of gulls. Your typical gull is a medium to large bird with a mostly white body and grey or black markings on the wings and tail. Their stout, orange bills and webbed feet make them easily recognizable. While gulls are often found near large bodies of water like bays, inlets and lakes (as well as the ocean), they have been known to venture inland for food. So don’t be surprised to see them on the roof of your home or patio if your home is miles inland. 

To keep gulls away from your home, you should first remove any open food source such as open trashcans or pet food. After that, you’ll need some effective bird control measures to keep them away. Here are three bird deterrents the pros use:

Bird Spikes for Gulls

Gulls regularly choose the roof of a home or structure to roost on. The peak of a roof is an especially desired area as it provides a nice look out point for food and predators. Bird Spikes are a humane product used to keep gulls off roof lines, parapet walls, pilings and other areas. Bird Spikes simply create an uneven surface that gulls know they cant land on. Spikes that are pre-assembled, such as the Stainless or Plastic versions are easiest to install.

Bird Spiders

Bird Spiders have spindly arms that whip about in the wind. Gulls see these and will simply move on to a friendlier landing perch. Bird Spiders are easy to set up on decks, posts, atop light fixtures, rooftops, fixed umbrellas and awnings. These bird deterrents are available in 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-foot arm lengths to create larger and larger areas of bird deterrence. Look for bird spiders that feature a glue-on base, which can be attached to most surfaces.

Sonic Gull Control

No gull likes to hear his fellow gulls being attacked. Or the sound of Peregrine falcons screeching in for the kill. Bird Sonic Deterrents exploit these fears and drive gulls away. These devices broadcast prerecorded distress and predator calls that resemble normal bird sounds to humans. One popular device features a built-in speaker that covers up to one acre. The unit can be programmed to turn on or off at night, and you can even adjust the volume.