Bird netting maintenance comes down to a few checks: look for tears, sagging and gaps at the edges, make sure no bird is trapped behind the net, and fix problems while they’re small. Netting that’s looked after lasts. The USDA’s Wildlife Services says properly maintained netting can last 5 years or more, and the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (ICWDM) says UV-stabilized polypropylene netting can last as long as 10 years.
Skipping it costs more than it saves. One loose corner lets pigeons back into the space you paid to close off. And birds trapped behind netting may die and decay there, the USDA notes, which leaves a building with a cleanup nobody wants.
Bird netting maintenance checklist
Go through this list each time you inspect:
- Edges and anchor points. Start where the net meets the building. Any gap along the sides, top or bottom is a way in, and so is a loose tie or clip.
- Tears and holes. Rough edges on building facades can tear netting, the USDA says. Check the spots where the net rubs against brick, stone or metal.
- Sagging. Netting should be pulled taut, with no loose pockets or wrinkles that could trap and tangle birds, according to UC IPM.
- Trapped birds. Look behind the net for live or dead birds. A live bird needs a way out, which is where an access panel helps.
- Nests and nesting material. Old nests behind the net hold droppings and debris. ICWDM advises wearing gloves when removing nests, to avoid nest mites and lice.
- Access panels. ICWDM describes cutting panels with fasteners into netting so lights and equipment can be serviced. Make sure they close fully after every use.
- Vent covers and small openings. Openings closed with wire mesh need checks too. Humane World for Animals advises checking vent covers now and then to make sure the vent still works.
How often to inspect
None of the government guides we read give a schedule for building netting. Our advice: look it over at least twice a year, and again after any big storm or work on the roof or facade. UC IPM’s general rule applies too: after netting goes up, keep watching the area for new ways in and adjust.
What you can and can’t remove
Before you clear out a nest, know which bird built it. Rock pigeons are on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s list of non-native birds that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act doesn’t cover, and European starlings and house sparrows fall outside the law too. Most other birds’ nests are protected. Destroying a nest with eggs or chicks in it is prohibited, and the Fish and Wildlife Service says you usually have to wait until the nest is no longer in use.
Cleaning up droppings safely
The CDC says large amounts of bird or bat droppings should be cleaned up by professional companies. Disturbing soil with droppings in it is linked to histoplasmosis, a fungal infection, and the CDC says adults over 55 and infants are at higher risk. If you handle a small amount yourself, keep the dust down. The CDC mentions protective masks, like N95s, for workers who disturb soil with droppings in it.
Repair or replace?
Our rule of thumb: small tears can be patched or tied closed, but netting that’s brittle, faded or torn in many places is due for replacement. Plastic or nylon netting may need replacing more often than wire mesh, Purdue Extension notes. So if you keep patching the same net over a vent or small opening, metal mesh may be the better fix.
Here’s a simple example
Say a Queens co-op put netting over an air shaft three years ago to keep pigeons off the window ledges. After a winter storm, one corner pulls loose from its anchor. Within weeks, pigeons are back on the ledges, and one gets stuck behind the net. Re-anchoring that corner right after the storm would have kept the shaft closed and spared the bird.
How NYC Extermination helps
Birds are one of the animals our wildlife removal service handles across the five boroughs. If birds are nesting in or on your building, we start with a free on-site inspection to see which birds they are, where they’re getting in and what they’ve damaged. We also install bird netting on ledges, air shafts and courtyards, and fix netting that has come loose.
For buildings, see pest control for apartment buildings. Choosing new netting? Read what makes the best bird exclusion netting, or call (347) 988-2315.
Frequently asked questions
How long does bird netting last?
Properly maintained netting can last 5 years or more, according to the USDA, and UV-stabilized polypropylene can last up to 10 years, according to ICWDM. Storms, sun and rough building edges wear it out sooner.
Can I take down a pigeon nest behind my netting?
Pigeons aren’t covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so their nests aren’t federally protected. Nests of most other birds with eggs or chicks are. Wear gloves, since nests can carry mites and lice.
Is it safe to clean up pigeon droppings myself?
Small amounts, with care: keep the dust down and wear a mask, such as an N95. The CDC says large amounts of bird droppings should be cleaned up by professional companies.
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