Birds Are Nesting on Your Commercial Property — What Should You Do?

Spring is when many New Zealand businesses begin noticing more bird activity around their properties. As the season progresses, some of those birds begin moving beyond occasional visits and start building nests and settling into commercial buildings and structures.

Once nesting begins, managing the problem can become more complicated. What you should do next depends on several factors, including the bird species involved, where the nest is located and whether eggs or young birds are already present.

Simply removing a nest isn’t always the right solution. Depending on the species, there may be restrictions around disturbing active nests, and removing nesting material without addressing why birds chose the location can leave the same area available for them to use again.

If you’ve discovered birds nesting on your commercial property, the first step is to understand what you’re dealing with before deciding what to do next.

Where Birds Nest on Commercial Properties

Commercial buildings can provide birds with exactly what they’re looking for when choosing somewhere to nest: shelter, protection and a secure place to raise their young.

Common nesting locations include:

• Roof cavities, gutters and spaces beneath roofing
• Ledges, parapets and sheltered rooflines
• Canopies and covered loading areas
• Rooftop plant, HVAC units and other equipment
• Beams, rafters and high-level structures inside warehouses
• Gaps around cladding, signage and building structures
• Areas around roller doors and other building access points

For warehouses and other enclosed buildings, finding the nest is only part of the problem. It’s also important to understand how the birds are getting inside. Removing nesting material while leaving the same access point available can result in birds returning to the area.

Different species also behave differently and may be subject to different rules, which makes identifying the bird an important next step before taking action.

Identify the Bird Before Taking Action

Before disturbing a nest or deciding how to manage it, it’s important to know which bird species you’re dealing with.

New Zealand commercial properties can attract a range of species, and the appropriate response can differ depending on the bird involved. Some native and introduced species are protected under New Zealand law, while others may have different classifications and management options.

If you’re unsure which species is nesting on your property, New Zealand Birds Online is a useful resource for identifying birds commonly found around New Zealand. Photos, location, behaviour and the type of nest can all help with identification.

For businesses, getting the identification right is particularly important before removing or disturbing an active nest. The presence of eggs or young birds can also affect what action is appropriate.

This brings us to one of the most important questions property owners and managers ask:

Can You Remove a Bird Nest in New Zealand?

Not every bird or nest can be treated in the same way.

Under New Zealand’s Wildlife Act 1953, wildlife has different levels of protection depending on the species. Without lawful authority, it is an offence to disturb or destroy the nest of absolutely protected or partially protected wildlife, or game birds.

This is why identifying the species before disturbing an active nest is so important. The fact that a bird is causing a problem on a commercial property doesn’t automatically mean its nest can be removed.

If you’re unsure what species you’re dealing with, whether a nest is active, or what action can legally and appropriately be taken, it’s best to get advice before interfering with it.

The next step is to understand what can be done while birds are actively nesting and how the property can eventually be protected against the same problem returning.

What Should You Do If Birds Are Already Nesting?

Once you’ve identified that birds are actively nesting, the next step depends on the species, the stage of the nest and where the activity is occurring.

Avoid immediately removing the nest or blocking access to it before you know what you’re dealing with. Instead:

• Confirm the species and whether the nest is active. Look for birds regularly entering and leaving, eggs, chicks or adults tending the nest.
• Identify how the birds are using the property. Are they nesting on an external ledge, inside a roof cavity or gaining access to a warehouse through an opening?
• Consider the immediate impact. Droppings, nesting material or aggressive behaviour around entrances, walkways, machinery or food-handling areas may require more urgent assessment.
• Get professional advice if you’re unsure. An assessment can establish what action is appropriate now and what can be done to prevent the problem from recurring.

In some situations, bird-proofing work may need to be planned around the nesting activity rather than carried out immediately.

Once it is appropriate to take action, the next question is how to prevent birds from using the same location again.

How Do You Stop Birds Nesting in the Same Place Again?

Simply removing a nest may leave the same opportunity available for birds to return.

The longer-term solution is to identify what made that particular location suitable for nesting and prevent birds from using it in the same way again.

If birds are getting inside a building, the priority is usually finding and securing the access points. Warehouses are a common example, where birds may enter through roller doors, damaged cladding or gaps in the building. Depending on the site, bird netting, bird brush and other exclusion measures can be used to prevent access to these sheltered internal areas.

If birds are nesting or settling on external structures, the approach may be different. Bird spikes or pulse-wire systems can be used on suitable ledges, parapets, rooflines and other surfaces to discourage birds from landing and re-establishing in those areas.

For larger or more established pest bird problems, proofing one nesting location may not address the wider pressure around the property. Population management or Marksman services may also be considered where appropriate, alongside physical bird proofing and exclusion.

The important thing is that there isn’t one bird control product that works for every property. The species involved, nesting location, access points, surrounding bird activity and design of the building all influence which solution is likely to be effective.

On larger or more complex commercial properties, several areas may need to be considered together. Addressing the reason birds are using the site — rather than simply removing the immediate problem — gives the property a much better chance of avoiding the same nesting issue again.

When Should You Get Professional Help?

If birds are actively nesting on a commercial property, getting advice early can help avoid taking the wrong action and make it easier to plan a longer-term solution.

A professional assessment is particularly worthwhile if:

• You’re unsure which bird species you’re dealing with.
• Eggs or young birds are present.
• Birds are nesting inside a warehouse, roof cavity or difficult-to-access area.
• Bird activity is affecting entrances, loading areas, machinery or other operational areas.
• The same nesting problem has returned from a previous season.
• You’re unsure which bird-proofing solution is appropriate for the building.

At No More Birds, we work with commercial properties across New Zealand to assess bird problems and recommend solutions based on the species, behaviour and building itself.

Our site inspections are free, and any recommended work is provided as a no-obligation quote.

Birds Nesting on Your Commercial Property?

If you’ve discovered nesting activity, don’t wait for the problem to become more established.

Book a free site inspection with No More Birds and our team can assess what’s happening, explain the options available and recommend the most appropriate way forward.

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