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How to prevent birds from nesting in your roof

How to prevent birds from nesting in your roof

by | Sep 25, 2024 | Bird Control, Blog

With the winter chill setting in, the last thing you need to worry about is a flock of pest birds sheltering in your roof. They’re messy, noisy and cause damage to your building.

Continue reading to find out how you can stay free of pest birds this winter season.

What questions will this article answer?

Why are pest birds attracted to my home in winter?

Well adapted to survive the harsh winter elements, pest birds such as pigeons, sparrows, starlings and mynas can thrive in homes and businesses across Adelaide.

Similar to people, pest birds are drawn to the warmth and shelter that your home provides when the mercury drops.

With the ability to squeeze through tiny gaps between loose roof tiles, they make their way inside your roof space, roof ventilators, attics and walls to build nests, lay eggs and raise their young. Another popular cosy nesting spot is underneath solar panels.

If you’ve got food and water sources available, this makes your home even more appealing for pest birds, who survive by scavenging a wide range of food. From small insects to diving in rubbish bins to food scraps left on the ground, they are definitely not fussy eaters!

How to spot a pest bird outbreak

If you’re wondering whether or not you have some bird visitors or a full-blown pest bird outbreak, here’s some signs to look for:

Large numbers of pest birds around your home

You may find them perching and roosting on your roof, chimney, verandah, balcony, antennae, window panels, solar panels, gutters or wooden support beams.

Persistent chirping noises

Birds, and especially chicks, chirp to communicate with each other.

Bird droppings

An accumulation of messy brown, black or white droppings on the ground is a clear sign of a pest bird outbreak.

Nesting material

Pest birds are clever at crafting sturdy nests from various foraged scraps, such as twigs, leaves, straw, pine needles and grass. So look out for nests underneath solar panels, inside your roof, or even tucked between some wooden beams.

Control pest birds fast. Speak to an expert today.

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8371 1277

Problems caused by a pest bird outbreak

There are many problems that a pest bird outbreak can cause in your home or business:

  • Constant chirping sounds can be distracting and disruptive
  • Pest bird droppings are an eyesore and contain corrosive compounds that can damage your roof, buildings, air conditioning unit, solar panels and outdoor furniture
  • Sticky and slippery bird droppings are a health and safety hazard for stairs, fire escapes and footpaths
  • They can carry and spread germs and diseases such as ornithosis (Bird Fancier’s Lung), cryptococcosis, salmonella, E-coli bacteria, histoplasmosis and aspergillosis
  • Pest birds carry parasites such as bird mites, bed bugs and ticks, which can trigger secondary pest outbreaks and allergiess
  • Birds can contaminate food and water contamination through droppings, nesting material and feathers
  • The accumulation of feathers and nesting material in your gutters and drains can cause water blockage, leaks and overflow
  • Pecking and fouling in your garden can ruin your plants, fruit trees and veggie patch and leave a mess behind
  • Pest birds can be aggressive and breed fast, so if you notice fewer native birds in your yard, chances are that pest birds have taken over the space as their territory

5 ways you can prevent pest birds this winter

We recommend the following tips to help protect your home or business from a pest bird outbreak:

Tip 1: Remove all sources of food and water

Pest birds are expert scavengers and have a wide and varied diet which can include common things you would find in an average suburban backyard. This includes flowers, fruit, vegetables, and insects. Pet food and water bowls, as well as food scraps in compost piles and rubbish bins are also a popular choice.

While bird feeders and bird baths can attract native birds, they’re also likely to capture the interest of pest birds. Where possible, we recommend having less available food and water and keeping compost and waste tightly sealed and covered.

Tip 2: Regularly inspect your home for access points and proof them

Pest birds range in size and have the ability to squeeze into small spaces to enter your home. So, it’s best to check your roof for gaps between loose tiles, uncovered vents and other small openings and either seal them off or cover them with a fine mesh. Overhanging branches and vegetation can also encourage birds to nest close to the building.

Tip 3: Locate and remove nesting material

As territorial creatures by nature, pest birds carefully choose places to nest, roost and breed. Besides harbouring different types of parasites, germs and diseases, nests also provide a safe place to lay and incubate eggs, which attracts more birds and worsens an outbreak.

Regular yard maintenance and keeping your garden tidy and relatively free of small loose twigs and leaves can also help reduce the availability of nesting material.

Tip 4: Clean and disinfect the affected area

Not only do pest birds make a mess with feathers, germ-infested nesting material, debris and droppings, they also leave behind pheromones, which attracts other birds. That’s why it’s always important to clean up the mess from any pest bird infestation.

Allstate offers professional cleaning and property maintenance services to refresh, rejuvenate and sterilise the mess from pest birds. Our services include gutter, roof void and water tank cleaning or pressure washing to keep your property looking sparkling clean and pest-free.

Tip 5: Solar panel cleaning and proofing

With the rise in solar panel installations, pest birds have had increasingly more options for safe and comfortable nesting spots on roofs all around Adelaide.

Unfortunately, they are also responsible for causing messy stains and damage to expensive solar panels, resulting in the loss of efficiency.

You can avoid pricey repair bills with Allstate’s solar panel cleaning and proofing service.

After managing the pest bird problem, we conduct a thorough clean of the area and then install a UV coated mesh skirting to the sides of your panels. This hard-wearing mesh prevents birds from nesting underneath your panels, enabling them to function at their best.

Protect your home from pest birds today

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8371 1277

Professional pest bird management

At Allstate, we provide a range of innovative and humane pest bird management methods Depending on the extent of the outbreak, we may use a combination of approaches to ensure that the root cause of the problem is fixed as quickly as possible.

These include:

  • Installing roosting deterrents such as bird spikes, netting, wire, jolt
  • Physical control measures such as trapping
  • OvoControl – an RSPCA approved and AI-powered modern long-term bird control solution

To learn more about a tailored bird control program for your home or business, contact Allstate for a comprehensive pest bird assessment today.

For safe and fast pest bird control, choose Allstate

Having a pest bird infestation is a noisy and messy distraction, and the last thing you need to deal with in the cold winter weather!

At Allstate, we understand pest bird behaviour so that we can manage all infestations from their source, and use a range of innovative and modern treatments to help prevent the problem from returning.

Since 1986, we’ve assisted homes and businesses across all suburbs of Adelaide with pest bird outbreaks of all sizes in commercial, residential and industrial settings.

Available 24/7 for advice and solutions, we offer payment plans to help keep you and your family protected from pest birds for good.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

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8371 1277

Termite nests: what they look like and how to prevent them

Termite nests: what they look like and how to prevent them

by | Sep 24, 2024 | Blog, Termites

Adelaide is riddled with termite nests which are home to some of the most destructive termite species in Australia. With an entire colony of hungry termites to feed, these nests can cause significant and expensive damage to buildings. Find out how you can protect your home or business from a termite nest in this Hivemind article.

What questions will this article answer?

Reasons to avoid a termite outbreak

Adelaide is riddled with termite nests which are home to some of the most destructive termite species in Australia. So, it’s no surprise that around one in five houses have been affected by a termite outbreak.

With an appetite for cellulose-rich food, termites chew through wooden structures including trees and timber beams in and around your home. When you start noticing signs of damage, it’s already too late.

Not only does termite damage compromise the structural safety of your family home, it can also increase the risk of fire hazards and electrical short circuits.

To make things even more stressful, termite damage is also expensive to fix. The average repair bill for termite-related damage is around $10,000 and unfortunately isn’t covered by insurance as it is considered highly preventable.

It’s clear that termite nests can spell bad news for Adelaide homeowners. With thousands of hungry termites to feed, you’ll want to keep them away at all costs!

What is a termite nest?

With a fragile outer skin, termites must protect themselves and their colonies from the environment and predators by building and living in tightly sealed nests. Being dark, warm and high in moisture, these nests provide them the ideal conditions to survive.

Termite nests are carefully constructed from a mixture of dirt, chewed wood, clay, saliva and droppings which combine to form a tough, solid outer shell.

Inside, they usually contain various chambers which are connected by an extensive intricate network of tunnels.

Keep termite nests away from your garden. Speak to an expert today.

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8371 1277

Types of termite nests

Depending on the species of termite, nests can vary in location and appearance. Here are the more common ones that you might have come across:

Subterranean nests

These out of sight nests are usually hard to spot as they are tucked away several feet underground in soil and underneath rotten tree stumps.

While the actual nest itself isn’t visible from the surface, you may instead spot brown mud tubes nearby, which are protected tunnels that termites use to travel safely between their food source and nest.

Termite Mounds

Made of soil and clay mixed with termite saliva, mounds are raised dome or hill shaped dirt structures. They can be up to several feet tall (in some cases, even up to 3-4 metres!) and indicate that there is a large colony inside. Sometimes, mounds can even have unique architectural features such as chimneys or pinnacles.

Arboreal nests

Made of wood shavings and termite droppings, oval shaped arboreal nests are built on trees, as their name suggests. They can either be seen protruding off the side of a trunk or branch, or sit between branches. Their outer walls have the consistency of paper mâché.

Termite nest prevention techniques

Consider taking the following steps to actively deter termites from building a nest on your property:

Regular garden maintenance

Avoid storing piles of wood near your house, and remove rotten tree stumps and wooden sleepers. Clear away piles of leaves and litter from your gutters. Keep tree branches, plants, shrubs and bushes trimmed away from the walls of your home.

For landscaping projects, take care not to damage any existing termite protection barriers.

Remove sources of moisture

Inspect for leaking pipes and drains and fix them as soon as possible, as moisture attracts termites.

Termite inspections are the best way to prevent a termite outbreak

Without proper the training and equipment, it can be hard for the average person to know for sure if there are active termites on your property! That’s why our top tip for termite protection is getting regular termite inspections conducted by an experienced professional.

Termite Inspections

For homes at low risk of a termite attack, we recommend having a termite inspection at least once a year, following government guidelines.

For properties with a higher risk level, more frequent inspections may be necessary to ensure that any subtle signs of termite activity are detected as early as possible.

At Allstate, our technicians are trained and licensed to conduct comprehensive inspections which are compliant with Australian standards.

Our inspections cover all internal and external areas of your property, including subfloors, outbuildings and surrounds.

Your technician will perform a physical assessment for signs of termite damage, activity, nests and ingress points using advanced termite detection equipment, such as borescopes, sounding tools, moisture meters and movement detectors.

When your inspection is completed, we’ll send you all the information that you need to know in a handy inspection report.

To learn more about how termite inspections can help termite proof your home or business, speak to a friendly Allstate consultant.

Don’t delay your termite inspection. Book today.

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8371 1277

How are termite outbreaks treated?

Depending on the extent of the outbreak and the number of active termites, our technicians will use a combination of the following termite management methods:

Premise termiticide spray

Applied directly to areas with heavy termite traffic, Premise works within a few hours to stop termite activity. It is formulated to specifically target termites, making it safe for people, pets and the environment.

Sentricon termite stations

A proven long term termite prevention barrier, Sentricon provides continuous protection from termites as soon as it is installed. Positioned around the perimeter of your home, 30cm away from your walls, Sentricon underground baiting stations are laced with termiticide to keep termites from venturing any closer inside.

Choose Allstate for effective termite control

The last thing your home or business needs is the stress and destruction caused by termite outbreaks. At Allstate, our technicians are available 24/7 to all suburbs of Adelaide to help with any urgent enquiries.

Established in 1986, we have a proven track record for successfully preventing and managing termites for clients in residential, commercial and business settings. Our technicians are fully equipped with modern termite-detecting equipment and innovative, proven treatments to keep your property termite-free for good.

With payment plan options and competitive warranties on all our services, you can act fast against termites today.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

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8371 1277