An apartment building in Saint-Jude, a rural municipality in the Montérégie region of Saint-Hyacinthe, called in our extermination team in Saint-Jude after rock pigeons and house sparrows invaded the balconies, roof cracks and common areas of the building. In this mostly agricultural territory, residents complained about droppings on railings and garden furniture, as well as incessant noises early in the morning. The situation was detrimental to the quality of life and risked devaluing the building in the eyes of future tenants.
Diagnosis and identification of species
Our certified technician first conducted an inspection of all six floors of the residence, paying particular attention to the cornices, exterior stairwells, ventilation grilles, and overhanging roof spaces. Two species have been confirmed: the rock pigeon (Columba livia), present in groups of about ten individuals on the upper ledges, and the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), which nested in the cracks around the windows of the third floor on the east side of the building.
This identification step is crucial because it conditions the choice of intervention methods. Because pigeons are large birds, they require robust physical deterrents, while sparrows can be excluded by finer mesh nets. The pest control program was therefore adapted to both species simultaneously.
Implementation of exclusion measures
For pigeons, wide-base stainless steel anti-perching spikes have been installed on all horizontal ledges on the upper floors. On the balconies, stainless steel stretched wires (spring cable system) were put in place between supports anchored in the concrete, creating an uncomfortable surface without altering the visual appearance of the façade. This discreet system is particularly popular in residential buildings because it does not change the architectural appearance of the building.
For the sparrows that nested in the cavities around the windows, our team installed small mesh nets (19 mm polyethylene net) fixed on lightweight aluminum frames. These nets cover all identified nesting areas without blocking the natural light of the apartments. The installation work was carried out in coordination with the residents in order to minimize the inconvenience.
At the same time, we sealed the peripheral openings with polyurethane foam and fine mesh around the ventilation vents. These interventions were carried out in addition to a pest prevention program adapted to the multi-unit residential context.
Cleaning up contaminated areas
The ledges and nesting areas had an accumulation of droppings dating back several seasons. Our technicians equipped with appropriate respiratory protection carried out a complete cleaning by vacuuming, followed by disinfection with an approved bactericidal product. The sparrow nests, which contained organic material that could harbour dust mites, were removed and safely disposed of.
The management of bird droppings in residential areas requires special precautions, especially in common areas where residents circulate frequently. Our teams worked outside of peak hours and marked out the areas being treated. To learn more about our post-infestation cleaning procedures, consult our achievements such as our intervention in a residential building on the South Shore.
Long-term outcomes and recommendations
Following the installation of the deterrents and deep cleaning, residents noticed an almost immediate disappearance of the birds from the treated areas. A few pigeons tried to resettle on an uncovered section of the ledge on the Saint-Jude side, which required an additional visit to extend the coverage of the points. This corrective intervention was included in our service guarantee.
We recommended that the building owner inspect the installed devices annually, especially taut cables that can loosen with Quebec’s freeze-thaw cycles. With minimal maintenance, the systems in place have a lifespan of several years. Nova Extermination offers annual maintenance contracts tailored to rental property managers who want to keep their facilities in good working order.