Bird Proofing Your Roof

Bird proofing your roof means blocking the gaps, ledges and sheltered spots where birds roost and nest, such as at the eaves, along the ridge and around chimneys.

It stops pigeons and other birds from damaging your roof, clogging your gutters and leaving a mess around your home. The one thing you need to get right is timing. Wild birds’ nests are protected by law while they’re being built or in use, so it’s best to proof your roof before birds settle in. Here’s what’s involved.

Solar panels give pigeons a warm, sheltered gap with a roof over it, and once one pair moves in, others often follow. Nesting material and droppings build up underneath and wash into your gutters, and birds can peck at or dislodge the cables beneath the panels.

The usual fix is mesh clipped around the edge of the panels, closing the gap between the panels and the roof. Good systems fix to the panel frames without drilling, so neither the panels nor the roof are damaged. Check your solar warranty first, and ask exactly how the mesh will be fixed.

Any old nests and debris are cleared out before the mesh goes on, but an active nest has to be left until it’s no longer in use. That makes the best time to proof solar panels soon after they’re installed, or outside the main nesting season.

• Pigeons regularly landing on your roof or disappearing into gaps at the eaves.
• Twigs, feathers or nesting material poking out from under tiles or the eaves.
• Scratching, fluttering or cooing coming from the loft, especially early in the morning.
• Droppings building up on your drive or windowsills.
• Gutters overflowing even though you’ve had them cleared.
• Slipped or missing tiles close to where birds gather.

A few birds on the ridge might not seem like much, but once they start nesting the problems add up.

Nests and droppings can block gutters and downpipes. When water can’t drain away, it spills over the sides or backs up under the edge of the roof, which can lead to damp.

Birds will use any gap they can find. Broken tiles, loose ridge tiles and gaps at the eaves give them a way in, and those gaps can get worse as birds come and go. Once they’re in the loft, they can disturb insulation and leave nesting material and droppings behind.

Chimneys are another favourite, especially ones that aren’t used. A nest can block the flue, so if you use your fire or stove, have the chimney swept and checked before you light it.

All wild birds, their nests and their eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It’s an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it’s in use or being built, and that includes pigeons.

In practice, that means:

• Don’t remove or block in an active nest. Wait until the young have left and the nest is no longer in use.
• Make sure no birds are trapped inside before any gap is sealed.
• The main nesting season usually runs from around March to August, but the law protects an active nest at any time of year, and pigeons can nest all year round.
• Stopping birds from nesting in the first place is the legal and humane approach, which is why timing matters so much.

Some birds that nest in roofs, such as swifts and house martins, have declined sharply in the UK. If they nest on your home, it’s worth proofing around their nest sites rather than over them, or putting up a swift box nearby.

The right approach depends on where the birds are getting in or landing. The most common options are:

• Solar panel mesh, clipped around the edge of the panels to stop birds getting underneath.
• Bird spikes on ridges, chimney stacks and ledges, which stop pigeons perching and roosting.
• Eaves combs, fitted along the eaves on profiled tiles to close the gaps birds use to get into the roof.
• Repairing gaps, such as replacing broken or slipped tiles and re-securing loose ridge tiles. Often the best bird proofing is simply a roof in good repair.
• Chimney cowls or caps, which stop birds getting into the flue. If the chimney is in use, the cowl needs to suit your fire or stove.
• Gutter guards, which help keep nesting debris out of your gutters.

Deterrents that don’t physically block access, such as plastic birds of prey, tend to be less reliable. Birds often get used to them.

Bird proofing means working at height, often around fragile tiles, ridges and chimneys. A roofer can do it safely and spot the gaps birds are actually using, not just the obvious ones.

There’s another advantage. While we’re on the roof, we can repair the damage birds have caused, such as cracked or slipped tiles, loose ridges and blocked gutters, rather than simply covering it up.

At On Call Roofing and Repair Service, a drone inspection lets us see where birds are getting in and how much damage they’ve done, without anyone needing to climb up first. You get to see the photos and footage for yourself before deciding what to do.

Is it illegal to remove a pigeon nest from my roof? If the nest is being built or in use, yes. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it’s an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy any wild bird’s nest while it’s in use or being built, and that includes pigeons. Wait until the nest is no longer in use before it’s removed and the roof is proofed.

When is the best time to bird proof a roof? Before birds settle in. The main nesting season usually runs from around March to August, so autumn and winter are often the easiest times. Pigeons can nest all year round, though, so any active nest has to be left until it’s no longer in use.

Does bird proofing solar panels void the warranty? It shouldn’t, as long as the mesh is fixed with clips that don’t drill, screw or glue into the panels. Warranties vary, so check with your installer or panel manufacturer first, and ask whoever fits the proofing exactly how it’s attached.

Can I bird proof my roof myself? It’s possible, but it means working at height, and it’s easy to miss the gaps birds are actually using or damage tiles in the process. A roofer can do it safely and repair any damage birds have caused while they’re up there.

How do I know if birds are nesting in my roof? Look for birds disappearing under your tiles, nesting material poking out at the eaves, scratching or cooing in the loft, and droppings building up below. Gutters that keep overflowing can also be a sign of nesting debris.