Signs You Have Birds' Nests in Your Long Island Home
You have a bird nest problem on your Long Island home if you hear scratching or chirping inside a dryer vent, bathroom fan vent, or soffit, see straw and nesting material hanging out of a vent cap, notice droppings streaking down siding below a light fixture or gutter corner, or find your dryer taking twice as long to dry a load. Older Nassau County homes with unscreened vents and Suffolk County homes with open soffit returns are common sites. Starlings, house sparrows, and pigeons are the most frequent culprits, and all three reuse the same spots year over year unless the opening is properly sealed.
How Bobby Bugs Treats Birds' Nests
Bobby Bugs removes bird nests on Long Island by physically removing the nest, sanitizing the opening, and showing you how to close it with wire mesh or a vent cap so birds do not rebuild. Expect a written 6-month guarantee.
- 1Free phone triage: type of vent, height, presence of an active nest.
- 2Timing check for protected native songbirds when eggs or chicks may be present.
- 3Physical removal of the nest and any accumulated debris.
- 4Sanitizing of the opening.
- 5Sealing with wire mesh or a proper vent cap.
- 6Written 6-month guarantee against re-nesting in the same spot.
How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Birds' Nests?
Most Long Island bird nest removals are completed in a single visit, with the removal, sanitizing, and sealing all done the same day. When an active nest of a protected native songbird is present, timing follows federal and New York State rules, which may push the removal to after chicks have fledged. The 6-month written guarantee applies to any bird returning to the same sealed opening.
How to Keep Birds From Nesting on Your House
To keep birds from nesting on a Long Island house, close the openings before spring. The usual nest sites are dryer vents, bathroom and kitchen exhaust vents, soffit gaps, the space behind loose fascia, gutters, uncapped chimneys and the ledges under eaves and light fixtures. Fit every exterior vent with a louvered or screened cover that still lets air out, repair fascia and soffit gaps, cap the chimney, and clean gutters in late winter so they're not full of nesting material by March. One thing to know before pulling a nest yourself: most native birds, their eggs and their active nests are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits taking or possessing them without authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The common nuisance species on Long Island houses, house sparrows, European starlings and rock pigeons, are not covered by the Act, because their families aren't in the treaties or, in the pigeon's case, because it's on the federal list of non-native introductions. We identify the bird before we touch the nest, remove nests where it's allowed, clean and disinfect the site, and show you the opening to close so the birds don't come back, with a 6-month written guarantee.
Where we see nesting birds most on Long Island
- Levittown
Starlings and sparrows in the dryer vents of capes with the original vent hoods.
- East Meadow
Sparrows behind the fascia and in the vents of 1950s ranches.
- Freeport
Pigeons and starlings on the waterfront restaurants and the buildings along the canals.
- Long Beach
Pigeons on apartment ledges and under the boardwalk-side eaves.
- Hempstead
Pigeons and starlings on commercial buildings and apartment cornices.
- Mineola
Pigeons on the county buildings and downtown storefronts.
- Huntington Station
Starlings in the vents and soffits of older homes along the rail corridor.
- Patchogue
Pigeons and starlings above the Main Street storefronts and around the station.
Related reading
More resources
- Visit our full services list.
- See every area we serve across Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and The Bronx.
- See our wildlife removal and trapping page.
How Much Does Bird Nest Removal Cost on Long Island?
Bird nest removal cost on Long Island depends on the species, the nest location, and whether the nest is active. Nests in dryer vents and bathroom exhaust vents are common in Nassau ranches and capes, and the fix includes removing nesting material, sanitizing, and installing a proper vent guard. Nests at roofline height or inside soffits need ladder work. Active nests with eggs or young are protected by federal law, so timing can affect scheduling, and we tell you that up front. Bobby Bugs gives you a free written quote before any work begins, and the number on the invoice matches the quote. Every bird nest removal includes the 6-month written guarantee.
What customers say
So let’s start with this.I was out of town, and my daughter called me in a frenzy that she saw a roach. 10 years in that house never had roaches. Here I am out of state trying to figure out the fastest way to help my daughter. Saw the name BOBBY BUGS and the reviews and figured I would call them up.I called spoke to Anthony not only did he go above and beyond for us but the service was fantastic. William who showed up at the house was simply incredible and made my daughter feel at ease. Thank you for helping our little Italian Family out in such a pinch. Grazie Mille Adriana
Fast, friendly service. I called in the morning and Will came to my house that evening. Will was great. I would definitely use Bobby's Bugs again and recommend them.
Response was super quick to my inquiry and someone was able to be sent out out quickly. Will came and explained the process, walked me through and showed me what he had done, and reviewed the service order to make sure none of my requests were missed. It was a great experience overall and truck wasn't announcing itself to the neighborhood either which was a plus.
Reviewed October 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to remove a bird nest in New York?
Nests of most native songbird species are protected under federal and New York State law while eggs or chicks are present, so timing matters. Bobby Bugs handles active nests of protected species in compliance with those regulations. Nests of unprotected species and inactive nests can be removed promptly.
Why do birds keep nesting in my dryer vent?
Dryer vents, bathroom fan vents, and stove exhaust vents on Long Island homes are warm, sheltered, and often unscreened, which is exactly what starlings and house sparrows look for. Once a nest works, birds and their offspring return to the same vent year after year unless the opening is properly screened.
What damage do bird nests cause?
Bird nests on Long Island homes clog dryer vents (a fire risk), block bathroom exhausts (a moisture and mold risk), fill gutters (a roof and fascia risk), and introduce mites and droppings that can damage siding and attract other pests. Removal plus sealing addresses both the immediate risk and the recurrence.
There's a nest in my dryer vent. Is that dangerous?
Yes, and it's the most common bird call we get. A nest packed into a dryer vent blocks airflow, which makes the dryer run long and hot, and lint plus dry nesting material behind a hot vent is a fire risk. It also pushes moist air back into the wall. We remove the nest, clean the duct, and fit a screened vent cover so it doesn't happen again.
Can you remove any bird's nest?
Not any nest. Nests of house sparrows, starlings and pigeons can be removed at any time because those species aren't protected. Active nests of native birds, a robin on the porch light or a wren in the soffit, are protected under federal law while there are eggs or chicks in them, so for those we wait until the young have fledged, then remove the empty nest and show you the spot to close. We tell you which situation you have when we look at it.
Will the birds just come back next year?
Not if the opening is closed. Birds return to sites that worked, so the fix is the exclusion, not the removal: a screened vent cover, sealed soffit, capped chimney or repaired fascia. That's why our bird nest work includes finding the entry and carries a 6-month written guarantee.