Most native birds nesting on an Ontario building are legally protected — the bird, the nest and the eggs — under the Migratory Birds Convention Act. An active nest with eggs or chicks generally has to be left alone until the young fledge. House sparrows and European starlings are introduced and are not protected the same way, so identifying the bird comes first.
That single difference decides almost everything about a bird job: what can be done, and when. Here is how it plays out in real homes across Grey-Bruce.
Which birds actually get into Ontario buildings?
A handful of species cause nearly all the calls, and each one has a favourite spot.
- House sparrows — small, bold and persistent. They pack dryer vents, bathroom fans, soffits, eaves and gaps behind loose trim.
- European starlings — glossy black with speckles, and stronger than sparrows. They force open vent flaps and will use an attic gap.
- Pigeons — ledges, balconies, barn openings and open sheds, rather than small gaps.
- Chimney swifts — a chimney specialist. They cling to the inside wall of an unlined masonry chimney and nest there. A species at risk in Ontario.
- Robins, phoebes and swallows — usually nesting on the building rather than in it: a porch light, a deck, a beam under an eave.
Not sure which one you have? Sparrows and starlings make the same scratchy racket in a vent. When in doubt, treat the nest as protected and ask.
The legal part: which birds are protected in Canada?
Native migratory birds are protected. Under Canada’s Migratory Birds Convention Act, it is against the law to disturb, damage, destroy or remove the nests and eggs of most native migratory birds. Robins, swallows, phoebes, swifts and most Ontario songbirds fall under it. A few birds sit outside that Act — crows, jays, hawks and owls, for instance — but they are protected under Ontario law instead, so the practical answer is the same: do not touch the nest until you know what you have.
Chimney swifts get extra attention. Chimney swifts are listed as Threatened in Ontario, and the loss of open masonry chimneys is one of the reasons commonly given for their decline. If swifts are using your chimney, that is not a job to improvise.
House sparrows and European starlings are different. Both were introduced to North America, so they do not carry the same protection. That is why a starling in a soffit and a robin under an eave get very different answers from us.
Identification comes before action: removing a protected nest because someone guessed wrong is a real problem, and one phone call avoids it.
The timing rule: sometimes the honest answer is “not yet”
If a nest is active — meaning there are eggs in it or chicks in it — it generally cannot be disturbed. So when a homeowner calls in May with a bathroom vent full of chirping, the honest answer is often: not yet.
The wait is usually shorter than people fear — most small songbirds go from eggs to fledged young in weeks, not months. Once the nest is genuinely empty, the material comes out and the opening gets sealed.
We would rather tell you to wait three weeks than do something that is against the law. In the meantime, we can book the permanent repair for the right week.
Fall is the easy season for this work. Our guide to fall wildlife-proofing your home in Ontario covers the openings worth closing before winter.
Where the birds are and what happens next
| Where they are | Usually which bird | Protected? | What happens next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dryer, bathroom or stove vent | House sparrow or starling | Not protected — but only if it is confirmed as starling or house sparrow | Confirm the vent is empty, clear the material, fit a vent cover that still vents |
| Attic or soffit gap | Starling or house sparrow — but swallows and phoebes use eaves and soffits too | Not protected — but only if it is confirmed as starling or house sparrow | Identify first. If confirmed introduced: remove, clean up, screen or seal. If native or unsure: treat as protected and ask |
| Chimney | Chimney swift (or a bird that fell in) | Yes — and swift nests stay protected even when empty | Do not block or cap. A swift chimney needs proper advice before anything is sealed — call and we will tell you who to talk to |
| Ledge, beam or open structure | Pigeon | No — pigeons are introduced and are not covered by the Act | Clean up, then block or screen the roosting ledge |
| Under a deck, eave or porch roof | Robin, phoebe or swallow | Yes — leave an active nest alone | Wait for the young to fledge, then remove and prevent |
This table assumes the bird has been identified. If it has not, treat the nest as protected.
How do you get birds out of an attic?
Attics are the biggest jobs, because a bird in an attic usually means an opening other animals will find too. The same gap that let a starling in will let a squirrel or a bat in later. The work is three things: get the nest out, clean up properly, close the entry.
Our full walkthrough is here — the ultimate guide to safely removing birds from your attic. Not sure it is even a bird up there? Start with what’s in my attic — identify the animal.
There is a bird in my dryer vent — what now?
This is the most common bird call we get, and one of the most time-sensitive. A vent packed with twigs and grass is a genuine fire and moisture risk — lint has nowhere to go, the dryer runs hot, and damp air backs up into the wall.
The permanent fix is not just clearing the vent; it is fitting a cover that keeps birds out while still letting air move freely. Full detail here: birds in vents — dryer, bathroom and stove.
What if the bird is in the chimney?
Two very different situations share one opening.
A bird that fell in is stuck and stressed and needs to get out — a fairly quick job, and better than opening the damper and letting a panicked bird into the living room.
Chimney swifts nesting on the flue wall are a different matter entirely. You do not block, smoke out or rush a chimney with swifts in it. Swift nests are protected even when the birds are gone for the season, and swifts come back to the same chimney year after year. That means a swift chimney is not a cap-it-in-the-fall job. Leave it alone, and get advice from Environment and Climate Change Canada or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources before anything is sealed.
For a chimney that is not a swift chimney, a proper cap is what ends the cycle.
How do you stop birds nesting on a ledge or under an eave?
You clean up, then you change the surface so it is no longer a comfortable place to sit or build: screening the soffit, closing the eave gap, blocking the ledge. Removal without that step just buys you a quiet week.
Why it is worth acting on rather than ignoring
- Blocked dryer vents are a real hazard. Lint plus nesting material plus heat is a fire risk, and trapped moist air rots wall cavities.
- Nesting debris blocks airflow. Bathroom fans that cannot exhaust push humidity into the attic, and that is how you get damp insulation and mould.
- Old nests and droppings need careful cleanup. Nests can carry mites, and dry droppings should not be stirred into the air.
- Something bigger may follow. A gap wide enough for a starling often widens — and that is one way squirrels chewing wires in the attic can begin.
If the first sign of trouble is a smell rather than a sound, a bird may have died in a wall or vent — that is covered in dead animal smell in a wall or house.
How the work actually gets done
Every bird job follows the same order.
- Identify the species. Whether the bird is native or introduced changes what is legal.
- Check whether the nest is active. Eggs or chicks mean waiting, for most species.
- Wait, if the law requires it. We will tell you how long and book the return.
- Remove the nesting material safely. Proper protection, careful handling, no stirring debris into the air.
- Clean up the area. Droppings and residue dealt with, not just the visible nest.
- Screen or cap the opening. Vent covers that still vent, screened soffits, a chimney cap where one is appropriate. This is the permanent part — everything before it is temporary.
Skip step six and you will be making the same phone call next April.
Is a bird job one of ours?
Straight answer: birds are jobs we take in specific situations, not a core service line. Our main work is bats, raccoons, skunks and squirrels, plus dead-animal removal and attic cleanup.
Some bird calls are a clear fit — a vent to clear and cap, an attic entry to seal, a bird stuck in a chimney. Others belong with someone else. Describe what you are seeing and we will tell you honestly, and point you somewhere better if it is not one of ours.
What we do not do: mice, rats, bees, wasps, hornets, ants, spiders or any insect work. That is pest control — a different trade with different tools, explained here: wildlife removal vs pest control.
Still not sure who handles what? Who to call for wildlife removal sorts it out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove a bird nest myself?
Check two things first: which bird it is, and whether the nest is active. Removing the nest of a protected native bird is against the law, and an active nest generally cannot be disturbed at all. There is a health side too — old nests can carry mites, and dry droppings should not be swept into the air you are breathing.
What if there are eggs or babies in the nest?
Then the honest answer is usually “wait.” An active nest generally cannot be disturbed, and for most small birds the wait is weeks, not months. Once the young have fledged and the nest is confirmed empty, the material comes out and the opening gets sealed — the step that prevents next year’s nest.
How do I keep birds out of a vent for good?
A purpose-made vent cover, fitted after the vent is cleared. It has to keep birds out while still letting air move freely, so improvised mesh or a bag over the outlet is not the answer. It also has to be secured properly, because starlings can push a loose flap open.
Are pigeons and starlings treated differently from native birds?
Yes. House sparrows and European starlings were introduced to North America and are not protected the same way native migratory birds are. Pigeons are introduced too, so the same applies to them. Not protected does not mean anything goes — we still handle them humanely, and we never use poison. Native birds, their nests and their eggs are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, which is exactly why identification comes first.
Talk to a real person about it
If there is something in a vent, a chimney or the attic and you are not sure what to do next, get in touch or call 519-783-1575. A real person answers — usually Dave or Roman — not a call centre and not a recording.
We have been family-run out of Owen Sound since 2005, working across Grey-Bruce with humane methods and no poison, ever. Our 4.6-star rating from 36 Google reviews is on our testimonials page.
Tell us what you are hearing and where you are hearing it. We will help you narrow down what bird it likely is, whether the timing works, and whether it is a job we take. If it is, you get a clear, honest quote up front. If it turns out to be urgent, emergency wildlife removal in Owen Sound covers how we handle same-day calls.