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Bird Issues and Roofs: Useful Information Guide

By Roof Online Staff • Updated October 8, 2022

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Bird spikes installed to keep birds from nesting on the top of this concrete support.
Geese on a flat roof. Bird issues with roofs are often related to the corrosive accumulation of bird droppings.
A couple of geese on a roof. Clearly up to no good.

1. General: “Methods Of Bird Control: Advantages and Disadvantages” is a good short overview and assessment of the various types of bird control techniques in use today. Available on the website of the US General Services Administration. 

2. General: “Pest Birds” by Nick Gromicko is a good short general introduction to birds and the building issues they cause. Found on the website of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

3. General: Seagulls: “Gulls Be Gone: 10 Ways to Get Rid of Pesky Birds” is an interesting short article from 2014 on the National Geographic website.

4. Modified Bitumen: Bird droppings and modified bitumen roofs: “Enemies of the Roof” by John W. Wells discusses roof damage and maintenance issues. Available in the March 2007 issue of Interface Magazine.

5. Technical: Recipes: “Keeping Birds Away – 3 Homemade Bird Repellent Spray Recipes” – if you’d like to try making your own bird repellant, without industrial chemicals, check out this article. (On the Tips Bulletin website.)