Finding bird droppings on a patio is a common and frustrating problem for homeowners. Bird faeces is not only unsightly, but its acidic nature can damage wood, paint, and stone surfaces over time. Large accumulations of droppings may also present minor health risks due to potential pathogens. Effective solutions involve a multi-pronged approach that modifies the environment, physically blocks access, and uses sensory methods to encourage birds to find a more suitable location.
Eliminating Attractants
The first step in bird management is to remove the primary incentives that draw birds to the patio area: food, water, and safe perching spots. Any uncovered pet food left outside is a direct invitation for birds to forage. Securing garbage cans with tight-fitting lids prevents access to discarded food scraps. If feeders are used nearby, clean up spilled birdseed or move the feeders further away from the outdoor seating area. Water sources, such as pet bowls or standing water, should be removed or drained regularly, as birds use these for drinking and bathing. Finally, trimming back any overhanging tree branches or dense shrubs directly above the patio removes convenient staging areas or potential nesting sites.
Blocking Access
Physical barriers are often the most effective long-term solution because they deny birds the ability to land or roost on structural elements.
Bird Spikes
Bird spikes, strips of blunt pins, are highly effective in preventing birds from perching on narrow ledges, railings, and overhead beams. These spikes do not harm the birds but make the surface uncomfortable and unstable, forcing them to fly elsewhere. Installation requires cleaning the surface, then securing the strips with adhesive or screws, ensuring the spikes overhang the edge slightly for maximum coverage.
Netting and Slopes
For larger, open areas like under eaves or open rafters, fine mesh bird netting creates an impenetrable exclusion barrier. Netting is secured around the perimeter, preventing birds of all sizes from entering the space while remaining relatively discreet. On wide ledges where spikes are impractical, sloped panels, sometimes called bird slopes, can be installed at a steep angle. This angled design prevents birds from gaining a secure foothold, causing them to slide off.
Scaring Birds Away
Deterrents that rely on sensory stimulation can disrupt a bird’s comfort and flight path. Visual deterrents, such as reflective tape or foil balloons, utilize a bird’s sensitivity to light and movement. When hung in an area, the movement of the tape in the breeze and the unpredictable flashes of reflected sunlight disorient and startle the birds, making the patio environment feel unsafe.
Predator decoys, typically lifelike plastic models of owls or hawks, can be placed strategically to exploit a bird’s natural fear instinct. To maintain their effectiveness, these decoys must be moved every few days; birds are intelligent and will quickly realize a static predator poses no real threat.
Alternatively, motion-activated devices can provide an immediate physical response to a bird’s presence. Motion-activated sprinklers, for instance, detect movement and emit a sudden, harmless jet of water that startles and drives away birds that approach the patio area.
Auditory devices, like ultrasonic repellents, emit high-frequency sound waves that are unpleasant for birds but generally inaudible to human ears, creating a sonic barrier that discourages them from lingering in the protected space.