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Frequently Asked Questions About Birds

Q.  I have birds nesting in my vent/eaves.  What should I do?

The best thing to do is to leave the nest alone for a short while.  Nesting songbirds do not usually cause damage; they are at worst a temporary inconvenience, and at best a neat opportunity to watch wildlife. 

House sparrows and European starlings are two songbird species that love to nest inside small cavities such as uncapped vents and in holes in roofs. The good news is, these babies grow up quickly; the chicks will hop or fly out of the nest at about 2-3 weeks of age and will not return.  Once they’ve left, the parents also abandon the nest site.  Take care to secure an appropriate cover on the opening (such as a screen or vent cap) after the birds have left to prevent them from re-nesting in the same spot. 

In the rare situation that a nest is causing a health or safety hazard, there are two options:  One is you can hire a humane wildlife removal company to remove the babies and build a false nest for them.  We recommend AAA Gates Wildlife Control at (416) 750-9453.

Alternatively, you can build a false nest yourself and move the babies into it; however the false nest must be hung directly over top of the current nest entrance in order for the birds to continue raising their young.  Baby birds moved to any new location, (sometimes even within several feet of the original nest site!), will not be cared for by their parents and will die.  Click here for instructions on how to build a false nest. 

Information on other conflicts with birds is not yet available here – check back soon!  You can also check www.humanesociety.org for more information on resolving wildlife conflict situations.