Could birds be nesting in your home?
When we think of pests, typically the first thing that comes to mind is creepy crawlies and parasites such as fleas, bedbugs, and mites – but in certain times of the year, it is highly more likely that cracks and holes in the infrastructure of your home could start to facilitate a bigger kind of pest, Birds.
Although birds may look less intimidating than a swarm of fleas or bedbugs our pest experts have advised if you suspect a bird infestation you should act with a due sense of urgency. Birds can carry parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites which if passed to humans can cause serious health issues. You will feel these parasites as little red bumps – they more likely than not will bite, eat, and then scurry away.
Not only this but birds have been known to spread pathogens and diseases to humans so having a flock roosting in your attic or walls is not an ideal situation, as the main way for these diseases to spread is through the birds’ droppings.
Research suggests that up to 49% of feral pigeons could be infected with Chlamydia psittaci. Human infection is called ornithosis, and symptoms include chills, fever, sweating, severe weakness, headache, blurred vision, pneumonia, and possibly death.
Given the health risks associated with having a bird infestation in your home – here are 5 tell-tale signs from our pest experts that you may be dealing with an infestation in your home.
1 . Spotting lots of birds settling on your roof or ledges
If you are noticing lots of birds gathering on your roof you might need to start investigating why. Once birds have found a place to nest, it's unlikely they will base themselves anywhere else.
2. Loud bird noises and cries from young chicks
You may hear scratching and shuffling or the sounds of wings flapping. Depending on what kinds of birds have taken up roost, you may listen to chirps, coos, screeches, or even singing. Depending on the amount of insulation you have in the attic, these sounds may seem very faint. However, even if you can barely hear them, they could be up there. As a result, they’re destroying the value of your home.
3. Finding nesting materials around the outside of your home
Inevitably if you have a bird infestation that involves eggs and young, the birds will instinctively want to create a nest for their young using various materials such as leaves and twigs. If you are finding a lot of this debris laying around the perimeter of your home, it could be possible may be dealing with a bird infestation.
4. Blocked gutters and drainage systems with feathers and nest material
This is similar to our previous point however blocked gutters and drainage systems are a big sign that birds are nesting in your home and without urgent action, this can cause a lot of damage to the infrastructure and plumbing systems in your home.
5 Respiratory problems
In confined spaces, birds produce waste that is unhealthy to breathe in. This waste can seep into your ductwork or through crevices and contribute to worsening asthma, bronchitis, or other respiratory conditions.
Having a bird infestation is a problem that needs to be dealt with by professionals so if you fear you may have a nest living in your loft it may be time to give our expert team a call to help resolve the issue quickly and reliably for you.