Will Destroying a Nest Deter Birds?

Bird nesting is a problem for many households. Birds will set up shop wherever they find a nice alcove or warm area in which they can raise their young. Simply destroying birds' nests will not necessarily deter birds from hanging around your home. Birds choose where they nest based on several factors.

  1. Warm Areas

    • The nesting area that a bird chooses has to be well heated and insulated. This is so when the bird lays its eggs, they will have the incubation temperature needed to survive. Simply destroying the bird's nest will not necessarily cause the bird to leave permanently, but it will make the bird angry. If it is an aggressive breed of bird, it might become violent, but this is rare. More often than not, the bird will simply find another spot that is warm and start over again. This spot may be on or around your house, or it may be elsewhere. It's not possible to determine where the bird will re-locate to.

    Height

    • A bird will also want to keep the nest safe from potential predators, so it will often nest up high so ground-bound creatures cannot easily reach the nest. If you do manage to destroy the nest, the bird will nest again in a higher place, often in the same tree or in a nearby tree. If the nest is on your home and you destroy it, the bird will find a higher and more concealed place nearby to nest. For the most part, the bird will stay nearby.

    Walled In

    • If possible, a bird will nest in an area that is not entirely open. Many breeds of common birds will place their nests up against the trunk of a tree or up against a corner of your home. This is for both warmth and for safety. If a bird is nesting on the branch of a tree and you destroy the nest, it will most likely move to an area that is more protected for its next nest.

    Near Water

    • Birds like to be near an open water source. Birds, like many creatures, require water for survival and for their reproduction. If you destroy a bird's nest, it will most likely move to an area closer to water. However, that does not necessarily mean that the bird will leave your area, especially if you are near an open water source such as a deep ditch, creek or in an area laden with common puddles after rain. Birds will not be deterred entirely by destroying their nests, but they may relocate to nearby areas.