Birds nesting in a vent, gutter or soffit are more than a mess — a blocked dryer vent or bathroom fan is a fire risk, and droppings carry health concerns. Georgia treats most wild birds as protected, so the right first step is knowing which species you have. Call (404) 647-6677 for an inspection.
Where birds get into an Atlanta home
Dryer, bathroom and kitchen vents; soffits and eaves; gutters; uncapped chimneys; under solar panels.
Which birds we can remove — and which need special handling
Most wild birds in Georgia are protected by state and federal law. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources states that English sparrows, European starlings, and pigeons are the exception and are not protected under Georgia law.
For every other species — native songbirds, swallows, woodpeckers and the rest — removing an active nest (one with eggs or chicks) generally requires a federal permit under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service notes these permits are “usually only issued when the particular nest is causing a human health or safety concern.” An inactive nest, once the birds are finished with it, can be removed without a permit. Removing birds or nests from inside a structure doesn’t require a permit — but that authorization doesn’t extend to a nest on a building’s exterior.
What we do
We identify the species first. For sparrows, starlings and pigeons, we remove the nest and exclude the entry point immediately. For a protected species, we wait until the nest is inactive — or work under the correct permit if there’s a genuine health or safety issue — then seal the entry point so the next bird can’t move in.
Not sure what’s up there?
Dusk activity at a roofline gap is often bats, not birds. Still not sure? Compare it in the Atlanta pest library.
Schedule a bird inspection
Call (404) 647-6677.
Sources: Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Laws Related to Native Wildlife; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bird Nests; FWS, Authorized Activities — No Permit Required.
