A single-family residence in the northern sector of Sherbrooke, on the South Shore of Montreal, called on our services last spring after noticing a significant intrusion of starlings in the attic of the house. The owner had noticed repeated comings and goings of birds under the eaves, a persistent noise inside the walls and traces of droppings on the front façade of the building. The situation, left untouched for a few weeks, had allowed several pairs of starlings to establish themselves and begin nesting, which made the operation considerably more complicated. Our team specializing in starling extermination quickly mobilized to assess the extent of the problem and propose a complete and sustainable action plan.
Thorough inspection of the property
From the first visit, our technicians carried out a thorough inspection of the entire building, both inside and out. In Sherbrooke and neighbouring municipalities such as Saint-Constant, traditional-style homes often have openings under the cornices, air vents without adequate grilling and gaps between the shingles finishes, all of which are popular access points for starlings. The inspection revealed three main entrances used by the birds: two unprotected soffit vent holes and a gap between the masonry and the wood framing at the gable. Inside the attic, our technicians observed two complete nests containing accumulated organic matter, feathers, twigs and various wastes, as well as noticeable fecal contamination on the blown-in insulation. This accumulation represented a real health risk, because of the bacteria and parasites that starling droppings can harbour.
Exclusion and Physical Deterrence Protocol
Our technicians first installed temporary exclusion nets at the identified entrances to prevent the birds from returning while the nests were carefully removed. Once the nests were evacuated, the interior of the attic was thoroughly cleaned and professionally decontaminated and disinfected to eliminate pathogens present in the droppings and organic matter. Registered disinfectants were sprayed on all contaminated surfaces, and the most soiled portion of the insulation was removed and replaced. On the exterior façade, stainless steel anti-perch spikes were installed along the most exposed window sills and cornices, reducing the landing areas available for starlings. This type of physical deterrent is particularly effective for flat and horizontal surfaces that are regularly frequented by birds.
Permanent sealing of entry points
The next step, crucial to guarantee the sustainability of the intervention, was to definitively seal all the openings identified during the inspection. Our technicians sealed the soffit holes with galvanized metal mesh securely attached to the frame, allowing ventilation while preventing access to birds. The gap between the masonry and the wood at the gable was filled with an exterior-grade mortar and then covered with a weather-resistant elastic sealant. Each intervention was carried out with respect for the aesthetic integrity of the house, an aspect to which Sherbrooke homeowners generally attach great importance.
Follow-up and preventive recommendations
Two weeks after the main intervention, a follow-up visit confirmed the absence of any avian activity in the attic and on the treated facades. No birds had managed to re-enter the building, and the anti-perch devices were working as intended. Our technicians inspected other risk areas: a disused chimney and an adjacent shed. Detailed preventive recommendations were provided: inspect soffits and gutters annually, clean windowsills regularly, and avoid leaving bird-friendly food sources in the yard. To learn more about our methods, visit Nova Extermination, your trusted partner on the South Shore. Also consult our work on an intervention for starlings in another sector as well as our work on a bird problem in commercial buildings to better understand the diversity of situations that we successfully deal with each year.