Gutter and roof bird proofing means closing the gaps that birds use to get into a roof space, eaves or wall cavity, and fitting gutter guards so gutters cannot be used as a nesting ledge or an entry route. In Launceston, the usual culprits are common starlings and house sparrows. Both are small, introduced cavity-nesters that squeeze through gaps at the gutter line, under roof sheets, around broken or dislodged tiles and into vents.
Launceston Bird Proofing is a referral service. We do not install gutter guard or mesh, and we hold no trade licence. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to one independent business in the Launceston area that does roof and gutter proofing. That business inspects, quotes and contracts with you directly.
Signs that birds are in your roof
- Chirping, scratching or fluttering in the ceiling, especially at dawn in spring.
- Birds flying straight into a gap at the gutter line or under the roofline.
- Straw, grass, feathers or plastic poking out from under tiles or corrugated iron.
- Bird mites indoors, which can appear when a nest is abandoned and the mites look for a new host.
- Gutters full of nesting material, or overflowing in rain.
Starlings in particular return to the same nest site each year. Tasmanian residents on r/tasmania describe the same pattern: birds come back every spring until the gap is closed.
How birds get in
On Launceston's older weatherboard and brick homes, the most common entry points are:
- The gap between the gutter and the roof sheets. On corrugated iron roofs, the corrugations leave openings above the fascia that birds can climb into.
- Under roof tiles. Ridge capping with crumbling mortar, slipped or broken tiles and unsealed valleys.
- Eaves and soffits. Rotted or shrunken boards and gaps where eaves meet walls.
- Vents and whirlybirds. Unmeshed roof, wall and subfloor vents.
- Where solar panels meet the roof. Covered on our solar panel bird proofing page.
How roof and gutter bird proofing works
- Watch and inspect. Identifying exactly where birds enter is the most important step. A business may watch at dawn or dusk, look for staining and nesting material, and check roof cavities.
- Identify the species and any young. If the nest belongs to a protected native species, the work waits until breeding has finished. With starlings and sparrows, which are introduced, the installer still needs to make sure no birds are sealed inside.
- Remove nests and clean out. Old nesting material is a fire risk near wiring, harbours mites and attracts birds back. It is removed from the roof void and gutters.
- Seal entry points. Gaps are closed with mesh, purpose-made fillers, eave-gap strips, or repairs to tiles and capping. Vents get mesh covers.
- Fit gutter guard where it helps. A metal mesh gutter guard fitted over the gutter and under the first row of tiles or sheets closes the gap at the roof edge and stops gutters filling with nesting material and leaves.
- Check the result. The installer, or you, watch for a few days to confirm birds are no longer getting in.
Gutter guard as bird proofing
In Launceston, a lot of bird proofing is done by gutter guard businesses rather than pest controllers. Several Tasmanian companies market bird-proof gutter guard. This is a mesh that covers the gutter and runs up under the roofing to close the gap that birds use on corrugated roofs. It also keeps leaves out, which matters in leafy suburbs such as Trevallyn, West Launceston and Norwood.
Not every gutter guard proofs against birds. A clip-on plastic product that covers only the gutter opening may still leave the roof-edge gap open. Ask whether the product is designed to close the gap under the roof sheets, what aperture it has, and whether it suits your roof profile. Metal mesh is the common choice, and in bushfire-prone parts of the Tamar Valley, ask whether the product suits bushfire-zone requirements.
Native birds that also use roofs
Not every bird in a roof is a pest species. Welcome swallows build mud nests under eaves and verandas, and native honeyeaters, rosellas and other parrots sometimes use roof gaps. In Tasmania, native birds are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, and taking or possessing protected wildlife, or its products, needs a licence or permit. An active native nest should be left alone until the young have fledged, and NRE Tas Wildlife Services (03 6165 4305) can advise if you are unsure. Once the season is over, the gap can be sealed so the birds nest elsewhere. Our Tasmanian bird laws page has more.
Indian mynas: report, do not just proof
Indian mynas are a major pest bird on the mainland and commonly nest in roofs there. NRE Tas says Tasmania does not have an established population. Incursions, usually near seaports, have been eradicated a number of times since 2003. If you think you have seen an Indian myna in Launceston, report it to Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777 rather than only proofing against it.
Bird mites and clean-up
When a nest is removed or abandoned, bird mites can migrate into the house. They are small and irritating but do not establish permanently on people. Removing nesting material as part of the proofing, and cleaning or treating the affected area, is the usual response. If mites are biting, the business may suggest a treatment of the roof void around the old nest.
What it may cost
Costs depend on how many entry points there are, the roof type and height, and whether gutter guard is included. Mainland roofing and pest businesses usually quote on inspection. Some Tasmanian gutter guard companies publish long product warranties, but these are business-specific. Ask for an itemised quote covering nest removal, each sealing method, any gutter guard by the metre, and roof repairs such as re-pointing ridge capping.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop starlings nesting in my roof?
Find the exact entry points, wait until any nest is empty or confirm the birds are starlings, remove the nesting material, then seal the gaps with mesh or fillers. Gutter guard that closes the roof-edge gap helps on corrugated roofs.
Is it illegal to remove a bird's nest from my roof in Tasmania?
It depends on the species. Starlings, sparrows and feral pigeons are introduced and not on the protected schedule. Native birds and their eggs are protected, so their active nests should be left until the young have gone. Check with NRE Tas if unsure.
Can bird nests in the roof cause a fire?
Dry nesting material close to wiring, downlights or a flue is a commonly cited fire concern. That is one reason proofing businesses remove old nests rather than only sealing over them.
Does gutter guard stop birds getting into the roof?
Some products do and some do not. A metal mesh guard that runs up under the roofing and closes the gap is designed for birds. A guard that only covers the gutter opening may leave the main entry open.
Why do I have tiny mites in the house after birds left the roof?
Bird mites often leave an abandoned nest looking for a new host and can wander indoors. Removing the nest and treating the area usually resolves it.
Next step
Tell us your suburb, your roof type (tile or iron), roughly where birds are getting in, and what you hear. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to one independent business in the Launceston area that does roof and gutter bird proofing. Make an enquiry or read how it works.