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Swallows Invading your Home? How to Keep them Away.
In this blog, our Bird Control Experts share professional swallow control recommendations you can easily incorporate at your home. Learn how the experts keep mud swallows away.
Topics Covered:
- When do swallows migrate back to the US
- Where they like to nest and why
- How to get rid of swallows
- Easy DIY swallow control options
- The most effective swallow solution - bird netting
When Do Swallows Migrate Back to the US?
Every spring the swallows arrive in North America, whether they are welcomed or not. This means mud nests on your home, garage, eaves, entranceway and more.
Migratory birds such as swallows are known to return to the same location year after year. This is due to the homing instinct these birds share. Without proper swallow deterrents protecting your home, you are bound to have more nesting birds every year.
Where Do They like to Nest?
The most common part of the house swallows will nest are under the eaves of your home. A sturdy sidewall and roof overhang provide swallows with the perfect shaded area to nest.
- Exterior: under eaves, porches, patios, entranceways
- Interior: barns, toolsheds, carports with open pathways
- other covered shaded areas of the house
Why do they nest under the eaves?
- Eaves mimic cliff environments swallows naturally nest under
- Eaves protect swallows from harsh weather and predatory birds
Common surface swallows like to nest on include masonry, wood, stucco and concrete. They often nest in large colonies creating huge, unsightly and hazardous messes. If you see one swallow, there’s bound to be more on the way.
Are swallow nests and droppings harmful to people?
Bird droppings harbor diseases harmful to people, while mud nests are prone to fleas, mites, ticks and bedbugs. All of which you probably do not want on or near your house.
Clean and sanitize the area first. Clean the areas of bird droppings and nesting debris before installing any bird control products. Birds are drawn to their pheromones which can be found in their droppings and nesting material. By cleaning and sanitizing the area first, their pheromones will be removed, improving your chances of repelling them from your home.
How to Get Rid of Swallows
Our team has made things very straightforward by recommending three easy ways to prevent swallows from nesting on your home. If you've tried everything imaginable, don't worry, we've also listed what the professionals install for heavy swallow infestations as well.
Easy DIY Swallow Control for Your Home
The following deterrents can easily be installed to stop swallows from nesting on the exterior of your home. For those looking to take problems into your own hands, the following swallow control products are a great option to get started.
These products are most effective when used in combination with each other.
- Swallow Shield Swallow & Bat Deterrent
- Avian Block Bird Repellent Pouches
- Bird-Out Aromatic Bird Repellent
1) Swallow Shield Swallow & Bat Deterrent
The Swallow Shield kit contains two clear plastic sections that are 3” wide by 11” long. These strips have an adhesive backing for quick and easy attachment. It is a very low-profile way to deter swallows and are virtually invisible from the ground. The appeal of the swallow shield is that in a sense it works similar to the netting by blocking the swallows from fluttering in the eaves to build their mud nests.
- Stops swallows nesting under eaves
- Clear mono-filament lines hang from clear flat plastic sections
- Monofilaments blocking swallows from building mud nests
- Invisible from ground level
- Self-adhering back for fast application
Where do you install the Swallow Shield? It is important to place the Swallow Shield strips directly above areas the birds have nested or have attempted to nest.
- Under eaves, overhangs, entranceways and other locations swallows like to nest.
2) Bird-Out Aromatic Bird Repellent
Bird-Out is an aromatic bird repellent that uses an active ingredient called Methyl Anthranilate (MA). To people, Bird-Out has a pleasant aroma of grapes, but swallows and other pest birds are driven crazy by the scent and irritation. Bird-Out can be installed with bird netting or Swallow Shields as an additional layer of protection to discourage new birds from the area.
- Dispensers cover a 20’ x 20’ x 20’ area (8000 cu. ft.)
- Cartridges are replicable lasting up to 60 days.
- Pleasant grape scent repels birds
- Doesn’t need batteries!
Where do you install Bird-Out dispensers? Bird-Out should be installed in outdoor areas such as:
- Balconies, decks, patios, garages, tool sheds, windowsills, and backyards
3) Avian Block Repellent Pouches
Avian Block™ is an aromatic bird repellent that uses passive scent technology to disperse Methyl Anthranilate (MA) into the air to effectively repel all birds from outdoor and semi-enclosed areas. Simply hang the pouch to keep swallows at bay for up to 3 months.
- Each pouch protects a 10’ x 10’ x 10’ area (1000 cu. ft.)
- Increasing coverage is as simple as placing an additional pouch
- Each pack includes 6 pouches
- Perfect to pair with Swallow Shield strips
One of the most effective ways of deterring swallows is by total exclusion. Exclusion simply means blocking access to the areas these birds are looking to nest.
#1 Most Effective Solution: Swallow Bird Netting
Bird Netting is hands down the best swallow protection you can install for your house. For those experiencing heavy infestations of mud nests along the sides of your home, our experts highly recommend swallow bird netting. We understand netting can sound a little daunting at first. That’s why we prepared this short video to explain the importance of netting and what it entails.
Benefits of Bird Netting:
- If installed correctly it is guaranteed to stop swallows nesting in eaves
- Bird B Gone Heavy Duty Bird Netting has a 10-year product warranty
- Authorized Installers will be able to clean the area thoroughly before installing products
When should netting be installed? Install netting before the swallows migrate in the spring season. Or after the birds and their hatchlings have fully vacated their nests. Because swallows are federally protected species, Authorized Installers will follow local and federal guidelines.
Professional Help: Request a Referral for an Authorized Installer near you!
Need Help Choosing?
At Bird B Gone we pride ourselves on educating our customers with the knowledge needed to make the best possible decision. We understand dealing with protected birds such as swallows can be challenging. This’s why you can always ask our Bird Control Experts any product-related questions.
Don’t want to deal with it yourself? Bird B Gone has a vast network of Authorized Installers we are happy to locate near you. Give our team a call at 1-800-392-6915 to find a professional near you.