Bird's Nest Prevention

[thinkxingu]

We have a small window air conditioner in our park model that has been a haven for birds to nest. I've been able to knock them down in the past (after checking for eggs) but this last week, some twigs got stuck in the fan requiring me to remove and clean it.

When I reinstall it, I'd like to add some prevention. They're only building on the top, of course, so I'm thinking of maybe a couple (shiny) CD's strapped on top or something, knowing I need to maintain air flow.

Thoughts?

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[DickR]

Over the years, I've had nests built in various places around the buildings, in protected places. It seems that if I put a piece of scrap wood at a steep slope over what otherwise would be level, then the bird goes elsewhere to find a mostly level platform that will support a nest without it sliding off. Perhaps you can rig something with a steep slope over the top of the AC unit, designed so as not to interfere with air movement to/from the unit.

[bobkatfly]

I had a different problem with woodpeckers on a forest facing corner of my house. Cedar siding is very attractive to them and they did a number on the boards. I ended up hanging some shiny reflectors in the area and poof, they were gone. So the CD think might work for you as a deterrent. I actually have some of the reflectors I used if you want them. Let me know. I'm in Tuftonboro.

[Winilyme]

Dick R is spot on. We do the same thing for a light over our NH front door and for a hose holder that the birds are fond of. Smaller situations than yours so you'd need to scale up.

Three things I'll add. First, ensure that your board is at steep angle. Second, be sure that your wood goes out to the very edge of the AC unit. We've learned that birds can and will build against that sloped wood if they have the slightest of horizontal edge surface to build upon. We had one robin build up about six inches on one inch of exposed surface until she had enough surface area to actually build her nest. It was like a nest on a piling. Last, fill in the space under the wood with something or the birds may simply rebuild under it. I put a few rocks under it but you'll need something else since I don't think that would be workable weight-wise on your AC unit.

Note that I use shiny ribbons that you can buy on Amazon to prevent birds from building on a ledge over our front door in CT. Works well if they blow around and hang in such a way as to repeatedly hit any nests were they to be built there. That did NOT work for our relatively sheltered NH front door since the ribbons didn't blow around much.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

We have a small window air conditioner in our park model that has been a haven for birds to nest. I've been able to knock them down in the past (after checking for eggs) but this last week, some twigs got stuck in the fan requiring me to remove and clean it.

When I reinstall it, I'd like to add some prevention. They're only building on the top, of course, so I'm thinking of maybe a couple (shiny) CD's strapped on top or something, knowing I need to maintain air flow.

Thoughts?

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I have birds that used to head for my New Hampshire window units (actually thru the wall air conditioning units) each year and the birds would routinely set up nests.

I finally got tired of this issue so I purchased some heavy black screening and attached the screening around the units. Problem solved and the A/C units have been running great ever since.

One of these days I'll be replacing these wall A/C units with mini splits. I had a wall A/C unit at my place in Florida up until 2022 and replaced it with a mini splits and wished I had done it 10 years ago. The splits are quiet and energy efficient. You can place them anywhere you want to because there is no duct work.

By the way, I purchased my Florida mini splits from Costco and they had them installed for me. Best purchase I've ever made!

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

I have birds that used to head for my New Hampshire window units (actually thru the wall air conditioning units) each year and the birds would routinely set up nests.

I finally got tired of this issue so I purchased some heavy black screening and attached the screening around the units. Problem solved and the A/C units have been running great ever since.

One of these days I'll be replacing these wall A/C units with mini splits. I had a wall A/C unit at my place in Florida up until 2022 and replaced it with a mini splits and wished I had done it 10 years ago. The splits are quiet and energy efficient. You can place them anywhere you want to because there is no duct work.

By the way, I purchased my Florida mini splits from Costco and they had them installed for me. Best purchase I've ever made!

Did the black screen prevent the nesting or just keep any nesting materials from entering the AC?

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[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Did the black screen prevent the nesting or just keep any nesting materials from entering the AC?

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Both!

Be sure it's heavy screen material......

[thinkxingu]

Thanks for all the ideas. Unfortunately, birdy's latest nest got all up in there, so it'll need to be replaced.

I built an angled board with some copper mesh covering to put on whatever we replace this one with!

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