Bird Removal & Control Services in Colorado

Southwest Colorado Local Animal Control

Bird Facts!

Scientific name: Aves

While birds are an important part of our ecosystem, they can sometimes create issues by finding shelter in our homes or businesses. To avoid potential risks, bird removal may be necessary.

Potential risks include:

– Birds, bird droppings, and nesting materials can carry any of 60 transmittable diseases and ectoparasites (fleas, lice, ticks).

– Bird droppings are highly acidic and can cause extensive damage to machinery, equipment, and structures (i.e. homes, attics, garages, sheds, warehouses, places of business, or other location that offers optimal conditions for a bird to nest.).

– Regular cleanup of bird droppings is costly and can lead to expensive repairs.

– Bird nests can clog drains and pose fire risks.

– Birds can contaminate food production and damage other products when nesting in warehouses. Such an occurrence would also violate health codes.

Common Problem Birds in Southwest Colorado

It is important to note that some nuisance bird species are native to Colorado and are protected by state and federal regulations. These birds must be managed in a way that does not cause harm.

European Starling

European starlings are robin-sized blackbirds. Their plumage color differs depending on gender and season. In summer, adults are glossy black with light speckles. In winter, they can appear browner. Female starlings typically have less color and more cream on the tips of their feathers. The dark, pointy beak becomes bright yellow in spring. Both males and females have a pinkish-red color to their legs.

Other native “blackbirds” inhabit Colorado as well, (red-winged and yellow-headed). These are protected by state and federal regulations. You want to be sure not to mistake these for the starling.

European starlings commonly nest in attics, on buildings, and under ceramic tiles on roofs. They are also problematic in barns and warehouses. In addition, these birds are known to transmit diseases such as encephalitis and ornithosis.

Furthermore, they compete with native species and have been known to mimic the sounds of other birds and will lay their eggs in another bird’s nest.

House Sparrow

The house sparrow is another common, non-native bird of Southwest Colorado. Both males and females are mostly brown with black streaks above and grayish below. Males have a black throat-bib flanked by white spots.

Problems with these birds include out-competing native species for resources, nesting in eaves, rooflines, under roof tiles, attics, etc., and they are known to host infectious diseases such as salmonellosis.

Do not confuse house sparrows with native sparrows (i.e. chipping, grasshopper, and song sparrow). These species are protected by state and federal regulations.

Pigeons

Pigeons are a very common non-native species and are easily distinguishable. They typically are blue-gray with two black bands on the wings and one black band on the tail that contrasts with its white rump. Color morphs range from mottled brown to sooty black to solid white.

They are larger than the tawny-brown mourning doves that are native to the US and protected by state and federal regulations.

Common problems associated with pigeons include waste build-up – which can carry numerous diseases harmful to humans, nesting on homes and buildings, and noise. They also carry mites. The mites will feed off the birds, but once the birds leave the mites can move inside.

Cliff Swallow

The Cliff Swallow is a migrant inhabitant of Colorado that typically arrives here in early spring (April/May). They have a rust-colored face with a white forehead, a square tail, metallic dark blue backs, and pale cinnamon rumps. Their mud nests are easily distinguished from that of a Barn Swallow because it is fully enclosed except for the entry hole.

Cliff swallows often build their nests under soffits on houses, apartments, and commercial buildings, where they can cause a huge mess with mud and disease-carrying feces. They also carry an ectoparasite known as a swallow bug (in the same family as the bed bug). If the nest is on a home or building, these insects may move inside once the birds migrate for the year.

These birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and once eggs are laid, or babies are in the nest, the nest cannot be disturbed until the babies have left.

Barn Swallow

The barn swallow is also a migratory bird that can be seen in Colorado during spring and summer. These birds look very similar to cliff swallows, except that they are cobalt blue colored above and tawny below with forked tails (their most distinguishing feature).

Barn Swallows build mud nests as well, but they are cup-shaped and not fully enclosed. These nests are often built in protected areas around homes, apartments, or commercial buildings. They can cause just as much damage to that of the cliff swallow with their feces and mud.

These birds are protected by state and federal regulations.

Northern Flicker

The Northern flicker is a large brownish–grey woodpecker with black plumage, a black speckled breast, and either red or yellow feathers under their wings. They are unlike most other woodpeckers, as they typically feed on the ground.

These birds are mostly migratory. The males arrive in early spring to establish their territory and then begin drumming to attract a female. Drumming is when the bird repeatedly pecks on a surface – usually metal – to attract a mate.

The biggest problems associated with the flicker are typically due to drumming, or from the bird pecking holes in the side of a house or building to nest. These issues can usually be mitigated with deterrents that keep the birds from landing.

Northern flickers are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so all control methods must be non-lethal.

Birds can carry a variety of diseases transmittable to humans; some are only common to specific species.

Bird Diseases

Bird Removal in Colorado

Some situations may call for the physical removal of nuisance birds, such as birds feeding on agricultural products, persistently nesting in buildings, destroying vegetation, or causing hazardous working conditions.

In many circumstances, however, installing a bird control system, before the problem gets out of hand, can put an end to the issue.

There are numerous bird control products on the market, but the most effective for roosting and nesting birds are those that physically prevent them from landing. Preventative solutions are also humane, as they do not cause harm.

If you have any questions or need assistance with a bird issue, do not hesitate to reach out to San Juan Wildlife. As with all of our services, whether the situation calls for exclusion or removal, we handle nuisance birds safely and humanely.

We provide bird removal and control services in the following areas:

Allison, Arboles, Bayfield, Cahone, Cortez, Dolores, Dove Creek, Durango, Fort Lewis, Gem Village, Hermosa, Hesperus, Ignacio, Mancos, Marvel, Mesa Verde, Pagosa Springs, Pleasant View, Rico, Silverton, Towaoc, Vallecito, Yellow Jacket.

Southwest Colorado Residents: Get a Free Quote for Bird Removal and Control

Check Out What Our Clients Are Saying

“This is a good company for serving any of the problems you might have. Call Tom Hayes, he has the knowledge and does a great job. Highly recommend him.”

Mary Bates

“Tom Hayes was fantastic to work with and I would recommend him to anyone for animal control in the Four Corners. Thanks Tom!”

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“Tom was thoughtful and thorough with his wildlife services. I was pleased with his response both to my concerns and to my philosophy with my farm operations. My only regret is not enlisting his services sooner!”

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