Who to hire for birds nesting in the roof

Short answer

A pest controller who does bird proofing, and for a protected species, one who knows the state wildlife rules. The critical sequence: never seal an entry point while there are dependent young inside, because you create exactly the problem you were trying to avoid and, for protected species, you may commit an offence.

Soon, not tonightIt will not usually get cheaper by waiting, and it is rarely worth an after-hours rate.

When it is someone else

Calling the wrong trade costs an attendance fee to be told so. These are the cases where this problem belongs to someone other than a Pest Controller.

  • a roofer

    they got in through lifted capping, a gap at the eaves or a broken tile. The proofing is only permanent if the roof defect is fixed.

  • a cleaning contractor

    there is accumulated nesting material and droppings to remove. That is a genuine health hazard and it needs protective equipment.

What to do before anyone arrives

  1. Identify the bird if you can — photograph it. Introduced species such as common mynas and starlings are treated very differently from native species.
  2. Watch the entry point at dawn or dusk to see where they actually go in. Roofs usually have more than one gap.
  3. Note whether there are chicks. Noise in the middle of the day from one spot usually means yes.
  4. Look in the roof space for nesting material near the entry, without disturbing it.

What to ask when you book

  • What species is it, and what does state wildlife law allow here?
  • Are you proofing every entry point or only the obvious one?
  • Does the quote include removing the nest material and treating for the mites that come with it?
  • What warranty is on the proofing?

What changes the price

No dollar figures here: this directory holds no price data and an invented range is worse than none. What follows is what makes one of these jobs cost more than the same job next door, which is the part you can actually use when comparing quotes.

  • Roof type and how many entry points there are.
  • Height and access.
  • Whether nesting material and droppings have to be removed.
  • Whether mite treatment is needed — bird nests routinely carry mites that come indoors when the birds leave.

What you can do yourself

Is this licensed work?

Pest management is licensed in every state. Native birds are protected under state wildlife legislation, and interfering with nests of protected species generally requires a permit or is prohibited outright — which is why species identification comes first.

There is no national register. Search the licence number with the regulator for the state the work is happening in.

Licensing thresholds and certificate requirements differ by state and change with amending regulation, so this page describes the mechanism rather than quoting a figure. The regulator’s own page is the current answer.

Common questions

Who should I hire for birds nesting in the roof
A pest controller who does bird proofing, and for a protected species, one who knows the state wildlife rules. The critical sequence: never seal an entry point while there are dependent young inside, because you create exactly the problem you were trying to avoid and, for protected species, you may commit an offence.
Is it illegal to remove a bird's nest in Australia?
For native species, interfering with nests is generally restricted under state wildlife legislation and may require a permit. Introduced species such as common mynas, starlings and feral pigeons are treated differently in most states. Because the answer depends on the species and the state, identification is the first step rather than a formality.
Why did I get mites indoors after the birds left?
Bird nests routinely host mites that feed on the birds. When the nest is abandoned they disperse looking for a host, and the nearest warm-blooded animals are inside the house. It is a well-known sequel to a bird problem and it is why a good proofing job includes removing the nest and treating the site.

Find a Pest Controller near you

1,396 pest controllers in this directory, ranked on published evidence rather than on advertising.

Who to hire for

General information about who does what, not advice about your specific job. Licensing, consumer law and council rules differ by state and change; the regulator for your state is the current source. More guides to hiring a tradesperson.