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Fowl Rooftops
Canada Goose on a rooftop
Urban birds often select the roofs and balconies of residential and commercial high rises for their nest sites or roosting places. These places are safe from predators and removed from the flow of human and vehicle traffic on the streets below. Understandably, roof top fowl or balcony "drop ins" may not always be desireable to landlords or tenants. Though nesting gulls and geese will depart once the youngsters gain flight, they or others will likely return the following spring. Pigeons, however, are more like permanent residents, active year-round.
No Building Allowed!Encouraging nesting birds to move elsewhere requires persistent maintenance. Daily cleaning of nesting materials from the roof and top of the elevator shaft eliminates the potential of nests being built there. Once a gull, goose or almost any other bird nest is in the process of being established it is protected by law and requires either a permit from the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection or the Canadian Wildlife Service to be removed.
Please report any Canada Geese nesting in the City of Vancouver to the Vancouver Park Board's Wildlife Department at 604-257-8510.
Mechanical Deterrents
Placing strips of porcupine wire on areas where birds frequent prohibits therm from landing or nesting. The wire is sold under a number of different brand names and can be purchased either directly from the manufacturer or through most hardware stores.
Porcupine Wire Used to deter pigeons
Other Deterrents
The application of sticky or tacky commercially-developed bird repellents can injure both targeted and non-targeted animals, can discolour the material that they are applied to, will need regular replacing, and stain surfaces in warm weather. Visual deterrents such as palstic owls have had reports of marginal success at best.
