You don't have to park your car under a tree to discover why people have
no patience with roosting birds. Everyone knows bird droppings pile up
under a roost. You need to wear hats to keep the droppings off!

An occasional bird perching on a tree limb, gutter or fence may not be a
serious concern. But problems arise when pigeons perch on your balcony
railing, sparrows select your carport rafter and gulls bask on your boat
dock piling. Give them bird feeders or bird houses to visit.

When starlings, grackles, blackbirds and crows roost by the thousands in
trees -- they create a serious health hazard.

Physical barriers may be the most effective way to control birds
roosting on buildings.

To eliminate birds on ledges try porcupine wire, stretching a "slinky"
toy, or stringing rows of monofilament, one or two inches above each
other about two feet apart. Sheet metal or hardware cloth placed at an
angle on ledges may also make roosting more difficult. Or wind chimes.

Pruning may eliminate birds roosting in trees. Removing some cover may
be enough to make the roost site less attractive. Scare tactics may
provide temporary relief.