A bird suddenly appearing inside your home can be a startling experience. While such an event can be alarming, birds typically enter human dwellings for understandable reasons related to their natural instincts and environment.
Why Birds Try to Enter
Birds may attempt to enter homes driven by their fundamental needs for shelter and safety. They might seek refuge from harsh weather conditions like storms or extreme temperatures, or to escape predators. Attics, chimneys, and vents can appear as inviting, protected spaces to a bird searching for a secure spot.
The prospect of nesting also draws birds towards human structures. During breeding season, typically from spring through early summer, birds actively search for sheltered locations to build nests and raise their young. Openings such as uncapped chimneys, loose vents, or gaps in the eaves can offer ideal, predator-free sites for nesting.
Food availability can also lure birds indoors. Accessible pet food left near an open door, crumbs on a patio, or even an abundance of insects inside the house might attract a curious bird. Additionally, birds can enter a home by accident, perhaps by flying through an open window or door while disoriented or if startled and seeking a quick escape. Some migratory birds are particularly drawn to indoor lights at night. Birds may also mistake reflections in glass for open spaces or habitats, leading them to fly directly into windows.
Preventing Future Attempts
Securing all potential entry points is key to deterring birds. Regularly inspect and repair screens on windows and doors, and ensure they are tightly fitted. Seal any cracks, gaps, or small openings around the house’s exterior, including around eaves, rooflines, and utility penetrations. Installing screens or covers on chimneys, vents, and other exposed pipes can block common access routes.
Removing attractants helps. Store pet food indoors or in sealed containers, and promptly clean up any outdoor food spills or crumbs. Managing insect populations around your house can reduce a bird’s incentive to forage near entry points. If you have outdoor water features like bird baths, consider relocating them further from the house or draining them to reduce their appeal.
Various deterrents include reflective objects such as old CDs, aluminum foil strips, or holographic tape, when hung near windows or entryways, can startle birds with their movement and flashes of light. Visual deterrents like predator decoys, such as plastic owls or hawks, can be placed strategically, but their effectiveness often requires periodic repositioning to prevent birds from becoming accustomed to them. Physical barriers like bird spikes can be installed on ledges or window sills to prevent perching, and netting can be draped over vulnerable areas like eaves or porches to create an impenetrable barrier. Some specialized sprays containing grape seed extract or chili pepper mixtures can also deter birds.
Dealing with an Intruder
Should a bird find its way inside your home, remaining calm is the first step to ensure the safety of both yourself and the bird. Panicking can stress the bird, making it more difficult to guide it out. It is helpful to remove any pets and young children from the area to minimize additional stress or potential harm to the bird.
Create a clear escape route. Confine the bird to a single room by closing all interior doors. Then, open the largest window or an exterior door in that room as wide as possible, removing any screens if present. Birds are naturally drawn towards light, so dimming interior lights and closing blinds or curtains on other windows will make the open exit the brightest point, guiding the bird towards it.
Allow the bird time to find its own way out. Avoid chasing or swatting, as this can cause injury or increase its panic. If the bird does not exit on its own, you can gently guide it by using a large sheet or towel held between you and the bird, slowly herding it towards the open exit. A bird may be stunned or land on a surface, allowing you to carefully cover it with a light towel and gently pick it up for release. If the bird appears injured or you are unable to safely remove it, contacting a local wildlife rehabilitation expert is advisable.