Bird Removal and Bird Control
Bird removal is more complicated than simply pulling out a nest. In fact, most native birds in Virginia are federally protected, and it’s illegal to disturb an active nest without a permit. Which bird you have changes what’s legal, what’s possible, and when the work can happen.
Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal starts every bird job with an inspection and an identification. If you’ve been searching for bird removal near me or bird nest removal in the Greater Richmond area, our local team can tell you what you’re dealing with and what your options are.
We regularly handle bird control problems involving dryer vents, bathroom exhaust vents, chimneys, attics, soffits, rooflines, and other openings birds use for shelter.
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Bird Control Starts With Knowing What Is Nesting There
Before anything is removed or sealed, we need to know:
- What species of bird is involved
- Where the birds are entering
- Whether the nest is active
- Whether eggs or nestlings are present
- Whether the nest is inside or outside the structure
- What needs to be cleaned, repaired, or excluded afterward
At Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal, our bird removal process starts with a photo-verified inspection. Depending on the problem, we look for:
- Nesting material inside dryer and bathroom vents
- Damaged or missing vent covers
- Birds entering soffits, fascia gaps, or roofline openings
- Activity around chimneys and chimney caps
- Droppings, feathers, and nesting debris
- Signs of birds or chicks inside attic spaces
- Damaged ductwork or blocked exhaust openings
- Entry points that could be used again after removal
The biggest thing we want homeowners to understand is that bird nest removal is not always as simple as pulling out the nest and putting a screen over the hole.
Different bird species can be subject to different rules. An active nest with eggs or chicks may require a different approach than an abandoned nest. A bird in vent removal also has to account for what kind of vent it is because a dryer exhaust can’t be covered with any piece of wire mesh without affecting airflow.
The Nuisance Birds We Most Often Find Around Homes and Buildings in Central Virginia
You know birds are nesting somewhere on your property. You hear them rustling around…but what kind of bird is it? Does that matter?
Yes. Species identification can change everything from where we look for the nest to what type of bird control can legally be done.
Virginia designates European starlings, house sparrows, and pigeons as nuisance species. Other birds that use buildings, including native migratory species, may have different protections.
At Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal, identifying the bird is the first thing we do.
European Starlings
Out in the field in the Richmond area, these are the birds we often find squeezing into cavities and openings around buildings.
European starlings are cavity nesters. That means they are looking for small entry points to your property. They often find these openings around:
- Rooflines
- Soffits
- Vents
They are dark birds that can look almost black from a distance, with short tails and pointed bills. Depending on the season, their feathers may have a glossy green-purple sheen or pale speckling. That purple sheen really is the tell.
If you hear persistent chirping from inside a vent or wall cavity, particularly when young birds are being fed, starlings are one species we consider during a bird in vent removal inspection.
House Sparrows
These birds like small openings in homes and businesses.
They are social and like areas where people frequent. They commonly nest in holes and protected spaces around:
- Eaves
- Walls
- Signs
- Fixtures
They build nests from grass and dry vegetation.
House sparrows are much smaller than starlings. Males have a gray crown, dark throat, and brown-and-black patterned back, while females are plainer brown.
Pigeons
In our area, pigeons love roosting along ledges, especially near older buildings. That’s why they are so common in the Richmond metro. In fact, they prefer historic structures that give them plenty of ledges to roost.
You’ll also find them in or near,
- Parking structures
- Signs
- Warehouses
- Barns
They like to reuse nesting areas.
That makes pigeon bird control about preventing birds from landing to begin with.
We see this distinction especially on commercial properties where a few birds can become a recurring flock if the building continues to provide a protected roost.
Chimney Swifts
Chimney swifts are native migratory birds that use chimneys as nesting and roosting sites. They make distinctive chittering sounds and spend much of the day flying. They return to their chimney nests to feed their young.
Chimney swifts are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. That means the removal process is more detailed and regulated.
Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are protected too. They drum on siding to mark territory, excavate after insects in the wood, or cut a nesting cavity. Here’s a tip from what our bird control techs see out in the field. Woodpecker damage is usually in lines. Look for rows of half-inch holes.
Barn swallows
Barn swallows build mud nests under eaves, porch ceilings, and garage overhangs. This bird species is also protected.
Why Bird Identification Matters
The identification also identifies the bird control program we can use. That is why Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal starts with identification.
For some birds, we can handle the bird control process that same day. For a protected species, it might take longer because we need to use approved mitigation techniques. For some species, we have to wait until the active nest is empty. That’s Virginia law, and our team follows it.
If you’re searching for bird removal near me because birds are nesting in a vent, we can help.
If what you’re hearing overhead turns out to be something other than a bird, our wildlife removal page covers the rest of what we handle.
Bird in vent removal is usually a one-visit job
If you hear rustling or chirping coming from a vent, stop using that appliance immediately. Dryers are most at risk because bird nesting material is a mix of dry grass, twigs, feathers, and lint. We can’t think of a bigger fire hazard.
In fact, the NFPA lists blockage, including bird nests, as a cause factor in thousands of dryer fires a year.
The good news is that vent nesters are almost always European starlings or house sparrows. That means we can begin bird control that same day.
In fact, most vent jobs are one visit. We remove the birds and the nesting material, clear the duct, and install a vent guard.
If you’ve been searching for bird in vent removal, call Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal at 804-735-0100 to schedule an inspection.
One-Time Bird Removal Without a Long-Term Contract
Have a bird control problem? Call Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal.
We handle bird removal without the long-term contract for ongoing services. Most bird problems are one-time situations.
If you’ve been searching for bird removal near me, bird nest removal, or bird in vent removal, call Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal at 804-735-0100 to schedule service.
How to tell if it's birds or something else
Most people who call us know something is there. But without knowing what to look for, it’s pretty tough to make an animal identification. Here are some field notes from our local bird control teams when on service calls throughout Central Virginia:
Birds
This one is going to sound pretty simple, but the clearest signs that point to birds include chirping, chattering, and peeping. Bird noise is usually the loudest during daylight hours.
Also be aware of fluttering and scratching. Wings against a duct wall make a distinct rustling sound. You can almost hear the air being pushed.
Watch for birds coming and going from the same openings. If you see repeated trips, you need bird control. Other obvious signs include twigs and grass poking out of a vent hood.
Finally, droppings streaking below a ledge is a sign that birds congregate at that area.
Bats
This is the mix-up we see out in the field the most often. And it makes sense, because both birds and bats are winged creatures.
Here’s the biggest tell that our bird control techs said to watch for… the chimney right around sunset.
If something is flying into the opening at dusk, those are birds heading to roost for the night. If things are flying out at dusk, those are bats heading out to feed.
Bats are also quieter. Well, they aren’t exactly quiet, but their vocalizations are at a high enough frequency that most people can barely hear them.
Another sign that points to bats is their droppings. Bat scat is larger and full of visible insect fragments. You won’t see those in bird poop.
Squirrels and raccoons
This mix up doesn’t happen as often because both squirrels and raccoons are clearly heavier than any bird.
With squirrels, you will definitely hear gnawing and scampering. They are active in daylight.
Raccoons in a chimney create unmistakably “big” sounds, especially at night.
Both are covered on our wildlife removal page.
Is the Nest Active? This Changes the Bird Control Approach
This is the question that carries all of the legal consequences.
First, what is an active nest?
An active nest means eggs, chicks, or an adult sitting on it.
For a protected species, an active nest can’t be legally disturbed. An empty nest (once reproducing season is over) can be removed regardless of species.
Here are the signs of an active bird nest:
- Ongoing vocalizations
- Adults making the same trips to the same opening
- Fresh droppings
The federal legalities surrounding birds make it essential that you contact a bird control pro instead of trying to handle it yourself.
Our bird removal service areas in Central Virginia
If you’ve been searching for bird removal near me and want a local team that understands and respects Virginia wildlife law, Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal is based right here in Chesterfield County and works in all communities across Central Virginia.
We hold the Virginia Commercial Nuisance Animal Permit and are members of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association and the Virginia Wildlife Damage Management Association.
We regularly provide bird removal and exclusion for homeowners, property managers, HOAs, restaurants, offices, and commercial properties in:
- Chesterfield
- Midlothian
- Bon Air
- Brandermill
- Woodlake
- Salisbury
- Moseley
- Chester
- Powhatan
- Richmond
- Henrico
- Glen Allen
- Short Pump
- Tuckahoe
- Mechanicsville
- Ashland
- Hanover
- Rockville
- Goochland
- Petersburg
- Colonial Heights
- Hopewell
Don’t see your neighborhood listed? If you’re anywhere in Greater Richmond, give us a call.
You're not an ornithologist. You shouldn't have to be.
You shouldn’t have to know which birds federal law protects, whether a nest counts as active, or what a starling looks like. That’s the job of a local bird control company that knows the law and the species.
Here are the things we hear most often from Central Virginia homeowners before they call us.
"I'll just knock the nest down."
DON’T DO THIS. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects more than a thousand native species, and destroying an active nest is a federal offense. Especially if you aren’t 100% certain on the species, don’t remove the nest.
"I'll just block the hole."
Please don’t. Before mitigation tactics can happen, you need to be 100% certain that the nest is empty. If it’s a protected species, you’ve also just committed the violation described above.
"I put a plastic owl up there."
Decoys work for a time. But let’s pull up the research to see what it really says. Research on owl decoys shows an initial deterrent effect that lasts for a few weeks. However, once birds realize that the decoy isn’t real, they begin to ignore it and do as they please.
Bird control works better when it addresses why the birds are there and physically prevents access to the problem area.
"I've been banging on the vent and spraying them with the hose."
This only moves the birds around while you are standing there. They will be back once you go back inside. And you want to keep in mind that doing this to a protected species is breaking federal law.
"I bought a strip of bird control spikes online."
Spikes are a legitimate tool, and they stop birds from landing on ledge, and rooflines. But they do nothing if a nest is already somewhere on your property.
"They'll leave on their own."
That is true with birds that migrate. But, once migratory birds find an area they like to nest, they will return to it every year.
"I'll just vacuum up the droppings."
We don’t recommend it because bird droppings can host a fungus that causes histoplasmosis. The risk is increased when dry droppings got lofted into the air. And that is exactly what vacuuming does. If you plan on vacuuming bird poop, make sure you are wearing the proper protective equipment.
"It's just a bird. How bad can it be?"
It depends where it is. A nest in a dryer vent is a fire risk, so in this case, it can be really bad. Nests in gutters and downspouts back up and cause water damage. Furthermore, droppings are acidic enough to degrade masonry, paint, and metal.
“I’ll put chicken wire over the dryer vent.”
Don’t do this. This is one of the DIY fixes we really don’t want homeowners improvising.
Virginia’s residential code specifically says screens can’t be installed over clothes-dryer exhaust terminations. Dryer exhaust needs an unobstructed passageway and a functioning backdraft damper.
The bird control solution has to be appropriate for a dryer exhaust.
“There are birds in the dryer vent, but the dryer still works.”
It might work, but that doesn’t mean that using it is safe. The nesting material can catch fire.
“The birds left, but now I’m finding tiny bugs around the vent.”
Those may be bird mites. Bird mites normally feed on birds, but they can move away from an abandoned nest after the birds leave.
“It’s a bird in the chimney. I’ll just put a cap on it.”
First, find out what bird is in there. Chimney swifts are native migratory birds that use chimneys for nesting and roosting. They are handled differently from nuisance species such as starlings. Putting a cap on a chimney while birds or chicks are still inside can turn a bird problem into a trapped-bird problem.
"A guy came to the door and told me I have a bird problem."
Nobody can tell you that from your porch, and they certainly can’t tell you which species it is. Companies that send salespeople door-to-door are usually selling a package, and a lot of times, that “package” is a scam.
If someone you didn’t call is pushing a price today, get a second opinion.
Bird removal FAQs
There's a bird flying around inside my house right now. What do I do?
Don’t chase it. That exhausts the bird and it’ll start hitting windows. Shut the interior doors so it’s confined to one room, put the pets in another part of the house, and turn off the lights in that room.
Then, open an exterior door or window leading from that room. Close the blinds so the open one is clearly the brightest way out.
Step back and give it a few minutes. Most birds find the opening.
When's the best time to do bird control and exclusion work?
Late fall and winter. That is outside of nesting season. Nesting season is when you legally can’t touch a protected nest or seal things in. In Virginia, bird nesting season extends from April through August.
Who do I call for bird in vent removal?
This is one of the most common questions homeowners have because a bird in a vent also involves HVAC ductwork.
That said, start with a bird removal company. If the inspection shows damaged ductwork, a significant duct-cleaning issue, or another repair outside the wildlife portion of the job, we can explain what needs attention next. The important thing is figuring out what is inside the vent before somebody starts tearing ductwork apart or pushing tools through the nest.
Does the vent or attic need to be cleaned after bird nest removal?
Sometimes removing the nest is enough. But there are times when everything up there must be cleaned.
That’s because birds can leave behind:
- Grass
- Sticks
- Feathers
- Droppings
- Nesting material
- Dead insects
- Dead chicks
In a vent, we also want to know whether debris extends farther into the duct.
The amount of contamination matters as well.
Talk to a local bird removal team
Lewis Pest Control & Wildlife Removal holds the Virginia Commercial Nuisance Animal Permit and belong to the National Wildlife Control Operators Association and the Virginia Wildlife Damage Management Association. We are family-owned, based in Chesterfield County, and working across Central Virginia.
If you’ve been searching for bird removal near me or bird control, call us at 804-735-0100 to schedule an inspection.