Bird removal for Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and nearby communities, from the first check of the nest to the screened vent.
Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control: Colorado North removes nesting birds from vents, eaves and other openings in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and nine nearby communities. We inspect to identify the bird, check whether the nest is active and confirm which rules apply. We then remove birds and nesting material humanely and lawfully, screen and seal the openings and clean up droppings.
A bird nest in a vent or eave raises two questions: what kind of bird it is and whether the nest can be moved. We answer both before any work begins.
We identify the bird, find where it is entering and check whether the nest holds eggs or young. That tells us which rules apply and lets us plan removal, screening and cleanup together, instead of covering an opening with birds still inside.
We choose the approach after the inspection. When young starlings are in a kitchen or bathroom vent, they can be placed in a substitute nest container on the outside wall so the parents keep caring for them while we screen the vent. Other nests wait until the young can fly.
Our exclusion work carries a lifetime guarantee on all workmanship and materials. Your written scope lists every vent and opening we secure, so you know exactly which work the guarantee covers.
Skedaddle's bird service notes that starlings are cavity nesters that favor dryer, kitchen and bathroom exhaust vents on the outside walls of homes. Most bird problems around a house show up in or near openings like these.
Scratching, fluttering or chirping inside a vent is the most common first sign, especially in spring. Outside, look for grass and twigs poking out of a vent hood, droppings streaked below an opening and birds flying in and out of the same spot.
Starlings stuff dry materials, like grass and twigs, into vents to build nests, and they use holes in buildings almost anywhere. On siding, northern flickers drill into hollow-sounding buildings while searching for a nesting cavity and can cause considerable damage.
We check whether a nest is active, how much material is packed into a vent and whether droppings have built up nearby. Nesting material in vents can lead to fire danger, so we also confirm each vent can work properly once it is cleared.
Fluttering in a vent could be a bird, a squirrel or bats. Tell us what you are hearing and where, and we will identify the animal and check the nest during the inspection.
Not every bird is treated the same. The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act applies only to migratory bird species native to the United States, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the house sparrow, European starling and rock pigeon among species it does not cover. Colorado Parks and Wildlife also classifies starlings and house sparrows as invasive species in the state.
That makes identification the first step. Starlings, which use trees, buildings and other human structures for nesting, cause most vent problems. Northern flickers, common in the Fort Collins area, are native woodpeckers, and the City of Fort Collins notes that they are protected by strict federal and state laws, so only non-lethal tactics may be used to exclude them unless a federal permit is obtained.
Timing follows the nesting season. Starlings pair off from late February through March and usually lay eggs in mid-April, and their young leave the nest at about 21 days old. Flickers announce themselves each spring by drumming on metal gutters and chimney flashing.
For your home, that means we identify the bird and check its nest status before any opening is closed, and we choose an exclusion method that suits both the species and the building.
Our inspection covers exterior vents, eaves, soffits, rooflines and any siding damage. We identify the bird, find each nest and entry point and check whether eggs or young are present. Then we explain our findings and each step we recommend before work begins.
After the inspection, we provide a written quote that separates removal, vent covers or screening and any cleanup, so you can see the full scope before work starts. The quote also lists the openings covered by our guarantee.
We identify the bird and check nest status before choosing a method. In some cases, baby starlings nesting inside vents can be placed in a temporary nest so the parents can keep feeding them while we secure the opening. Protected native species are handled only as the law allows.
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Once the birds are out, we remove all birds and nesting material and clean contaminated vents without spreading bacteria or nesting material through your home. Droppings on walls and walkways are cleaned away, and we check that each vent works properly afterward.
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We screen and seal bird entry points, fit durable vent covers and use netting for larger areas where needed. For flicker damage, we use non-lethal exclusion such as netting or hardware cloth. Your written scope lists each protected opening covered by our lifetime guarantee on all workmanship and materials.
Learn moreBird problems follow the nesting calendar. In Northern Colorado, most vent nests start in spring, so the timing of inspection and screening makes a big difference.
| Season | What may change | What it means for the homeowner |
|---|---|---|
| Spring(Mar–May) | Starlings pair off from late February through March and lay eggs in mid-April; flickers drum and search for nesting places. | Active nests may hold eggs. We check status before anything is moved and plan around protected species. |
| Summer(Jun–Aug) | Starling young leave the nest at about 21 days, and sometimes two clutches are laid per season. | A vent can be reused for a second brood, so we secure it once the young have left. |
| Fall(Sep–Nov) | Nesting is largely over for most species, though pigeons can nest throughout the year. | It is much easier to seal or screen openings before birds build a nest, so fall is a practical time to clear old nests and screen vents. |
| Winter(Dec–Feb) | Resident starling males start checking out nest sites in late winter, and pigeons can nest throughout the year if conditions are right. | Winter is a good time to screen vents and openings before birds claim them. |
These patterns describe bird biology, not a fixed removal calendar or a legal rule. This fall, we focus on clearing vacant nests and screening vents before spring.
Humane bird removal means protecting the young, following the law for each species and making sure birds cannot return to the same opening. The right method depends on which bird is involved.
We decide how to remove birds only after we know the species, the nest status and how the opening is built. Hand removal, substitute nests, vent covers, screening and netting each have a role, and no single device is used as a default step.
Starlings, house sparrows and rock pigeons are not covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but native birds are. Even for unprotected species, we wait or use a substitute nest when young cannot fly, since for the first three weeks most chicks depend on the nest.
We remove nesting material and droppings, clean contaminated vents and check ventilation where nests have blocked airflow. Insulation is repaired only where it is damaged or soiled, keeping the work matched to what the inspection found.
We screen vents and close openings larger than 1 inch with durable covers that keep air flowing. Our lifetime guarantee on all workmanship and materials covers the openings we secure. A bird using an untreated opening later needs a new assessment.
Every bird problem depends on the species and the opening. Book an inspection and we will identify the bird, check the nest and map the openings to secure, then explain the work before it begins.
Our Colorado North team provides bird removal in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, Severance, Wellington, Estes Park, Berthoud, Johnstown, Evans and Mead. If your home is near but outside these communities, call with your address and we will confirm availability.
Bird nests around a home often start at vents on exterior walls. Skedaddle's bird service lists dryer, kitchen and bathroom exhaust vents as favorite starling nest sites, while flickers target hollow-sounding siding. When you book, tell us which vent or wall the activity is coming from so we can plan the inspection.
Cost depends on how many vents or openings are involved, how high they are, whether a nest holds young and how much cleanup is needed. We inspect first and provide a written quote that separates removal, vent covers or screening and cleanup, so you see the full price before any work starts.
Same-day service is not guaranteed. We schedule inspections based on availability, and when a nest holds young that cannot fly, removal may need to wait or be completed in stages. Call 970-289-1322 and we will explain the next available appointment and what to expect.
We start with an inspection that identifies the bird and checks nest status. Young that cannot fly stay with their parents, sometimes in a substitute nest on the outside wall. Once the birds are out, we remove the nesting material, clean the vent and screen the opening so birds cannot return.
Our Colorado North team removes nesting birds in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, Severance, Wellington, Estes Park, Berthoud, Johnstown, Evans and Mead. Visit our Colorado North wildlife removal page to learn more, or call with your address to confirm availability if you live near these communities.
Our bird exclusion work comes with a lifetime guarantee on all workmanship and materials. It covers the vent covers, screening and sealed openings listed in your written scope. It is not a promise that birds can never nest anywhere on the building, and an untreated opening needs its own assessment.
Cleanup is part of our recommended scope whenever birds have nested in a vent or soiled an area, and the quote lists it separately. We remove nesting material and droppings and clean affected vents. Insulation repair is included only where the inspection finds it damaged or soiled.
It depends on the bird. Native birds are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so their active nests are left until the young have gone unless federal authorization applies. Non-native starlings, house sparrows and rock pigeons are not covered, but we still protect young that cannot fly.
We match the method to the species, the opening and how the building works. Vents get durable covers that keep air flowing, small gaps are screened and sealed, larger areas may need netting, and flicker damage on siding calls for non-lethal barriers such as netting or hardware cloth. The inspection findings decide the right mix.
Fluttering in a vent, nesting material poking out of an eave or holes drilled in siding all deserve answers before the next nesting season. Our Colorado North team identifies the bird, checks the nest, removes birds and nests humanely and lawfully, clears and screens the openings and cleans up droppings. Every secured opening is backed by our lifetime guarantee on all workmanship and materials.
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