The sight of a pair of birds tending a nest in a tree in the spring is always a sweet sight that warms the heart.

But if they’re nesting on your house, that can cause other problems. Birds can be territorial while nesting, which means they could dive-bomb your family, the mail carrier, or anyone who’s coming and going on their daily business. Or, if they work their way into a gap or opening, you can end up with birds and other creatures in your attic or chimney.

Removing an active nest is against federal law in most circumstances. If your house is attractive to nesting birds, the best thing to do is to be proactive ahead of nesting season. Before spring has sprung, you’ll want to check the perimeter of your house and make a few adjustments to make it less inviting to birds.

Mind the gaps

Keep an eye out for new openings that would attract cavity nesters. Check the roofline, windows, and chimney and cover for exposed openings with galvanized hardware cloth until repairs can be made. This is also a good time to make sure the cover for your dryer vent is still in place.

Add deterrents

Think through how you can make the environment less conducive to nesting. You can try hanging a set or two of wind chimes, some reflective bird scare tape, or just maybe a tin pie plate. The fluttering and noise can convince birds to move along and find a different site. You can also try to trick them into thinking that a predator is hanging around the desired nesting site by setting out an owl decoy or playing recorded sounds of hawk cries.

Naturally, the birds are always welcome to fly in for a bite to eat, especially if they can use some extra energy to get them through the demands of nesting season. Keep your feeders filled with Lyric Supreme Mix. With 50% sunflower seeds and nuts, it provides a feast for a wide variety of birds at a great value