🐦 Bird Removal in Savannah

Birds in Savannah, Georgia

If you've been searching 'bird in my chimney', 'pigeons on my roof', 'bird nest under eaves', 'woodpecker damage', or 'geese on my lawn' in Savannah, you're dealing with one of the most varied and most regulated wildlife situations in the city. Most native bird species are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act — meaning their nests, eggs, and young can't legally be disturbed without specific permits — while invasive species (pigeons, European starlings, house sparrows) can be removed without federal permit. The Savannah Historic District has heavy pigeon pressure from tourism food density along River Street, Bay Street, City Market, and Forsyth Park edge; chimney swifts use Historic District chimneys May-August; woodpeckers concentrate on live-oak-canopy properties through Ardsley Park, Habersham Park, and Bonaventure-area Eastside; Canada geese cluster on Forsyth Park lawns and adjacent golf course retention.

Bird in Your Attic, Chimney, or Vents? What to Do

• Bird in my chimney — most often a chimney swift (federally protected, nests inside Historic District chimneys May-August), occasionally a starling or pigeon. Don't light a fire; close the damper to prevent the bird from entering the living space; call a licensed contractor.
• Bird in my attic — usually starlings or sparrows that found a way through a damaged gable vent or roof opening. Active nests with native species' eggs or young trigger MBTA protections; invasive species are exempt. Don't seal the entry point with birds inside.
• Bird in my dryer vent or bathroom exhaust — common spring problem; mother bird builds a nest in the vent and babies can't leave on their own. Schedule removal once babies have fledged (legal approach for protected species) or as soon as practical for invasive species.
• Bird trapped in my house — open windows and doors, turn off interior lights, turn on exterior lights to attract outward. Most birds find their way out within 30-60 minutes if given an open route.
• Bird repeatedly hitting my window — usually territorial reflection during breeding season. Apply window decals, draw curtains, or use external screens.

Which Birds Cause Problems on Savannah Properties

• Rock doves / pigeons — non-native, not protected. Heavy presence in the Savannah Historic District tourism corridor.
• European starlings — invasive, not protected. Most aggressive cavity-nesting bird; routinely takes over gable vents, soffit gaps, dryer vents, chimney openings.
• House sparrows — invasive, not protected. Smaller cavities; common in suburban Southside and Eastside.
• Chimney swifts — federally protected. Nests inside Historic District and Ardsley Park chimneys May-August.
• Barn and cliff swallows — federally protected. Mud nests on eaves, porch ceilings.
• Woodpeckers — federally protected. Pileated, red-bellied, downy, flicker species. Drum on siding, drill cavity holes for insect feeding, damage cedar shingles. Live-oak-canopy properties (Historic District, Ardsley Park, Bonaventure-area) see the most damage.
• Canada geese — federally protected; population reduction permits issued through USDA. Heavy presence on Forsyth Park, golf course retention, corporate lawns.
• Vultures (turkey and black) — federally protected. Roost in groups in Bonaventure-area trees and on cell towers. Damage roofing, create odor and droppings problems.
• Seagulls — federally protected. Heavy presence on Tybee-adjacent docks, around dumpsters and outdoor restaurants.

Pigeons in the Savannah Historic District

Pigeons are the dominant bird-pressure issue in downtown Savannah. Tourism food density along River Street, Bay Street, City Market, Broughton Street, and Forsyth Park edge sustains a permanent pigeon population that uses Historic District building ledges, air conditioning units, monument tops, and rooflines as roost and nest sites. The damage profile: droppings on storefronts and historic monuments, ectoparasite (mites, lice) loads, slip-and-fall liability on walkways, and air-quality impacts in upper-story rooms above heavy roost areas. Solution: physical exclusion using bird spikes, netting, and ledge modifications, plus management of food sources where possible. Historic District work coordinates with the Historic Savannah Foundation for visible installations on designated properties.

Woodpecker Damage to Savannah Homes

Woodpecker damage in Savannah concentrates on properties with cedar siding, cedar shingles, mature live oak canopy with insect populations, and stained or weathered wood trim. All native woodpeckers are federally protected under MBTA, so lethal control is illegal — only deterrence and habitat modification are permitted. Three reasons woodpeckers drum or drill on Savannah houses:

• Territorial drumming — usually spring; loud rhythmic tapping on metal or hollow surfaces. Solution: deterrents.
• Insect feeding — drilling small holes in siding to extract carpenter bees, beetle larvae, or termites. Indicates an underlying insect problem.
• Cavity excavation for nesting — larger holes, usually one or two per home. Physical deterrents during nesting season plus permanent siding repair after.

Canada Geese on Forsyth Park, Golf Courses, and Adjacent Lawns

Resident (non-migratory) Canada geese have grown substantially in Savannah over the past two decades. Heavy concentrations on Forsyth Park, the Bacon Park golf course, the Henderson golf course, the Wilmington Island Club, corporate retention ponds along the Truman Parkway, and large residential lakeside properties. Damage: heavy fecal contamination of lawns and walkways (each goose produces 1-2 lbs of droppings daily), aggressive territorial behavior during nesting season, water-quality impacts on retention ponds. Lethal control requires federal MBTA permits coordinated through USDA Wildlife Services; non-lethal options include habitat modification (tall grass strips around ponds), addling (treating eggs to prevent hatching, requires permit), dog-based hazing, and goose-deterrent products.

Bird Nests and the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The single most important regulatory factor in Savannah bird removal: active nests of native bird species — with eggs or young — are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and disturbing them carries federal penalties. Exempt species: rock doves (feral pigeons), European starlings, house sparrows. This is why species identification matters: a starling nest in your gable vent can be removed today; a barn swallow nest under your eaves cannot be disturbed until the chicks fledge (typically 18-24 days from hatch).

Are Birds Dangerous? Disease, Mites, and Coastal Concerns

• Histoplasmosis — same fungal risk as bat guano. Bird droppings in coastal Georgia humidity support Histoplasma capsulatum growth. Professional cleanup required.
• Salmonellosis and E. coli — bird droppings on outdoor surfaces, pet food bowls, water sources.
• Bird mites and ectoparasites — when birds are removed from a structure, mites disperse into living space.
• Cryptococcosis — fungal infection associated with pigeon droppings; severe in immunocompromised individuals.
• Slip-and-fall liability — accumulated droppings on walkways, balconies, and parking decks.

How Much Does Bird Removal Cost in Savannah?

Bird removal pricing varies widely:

• Single-bird in-structure removal — $200-$500+.
• Starling or sparrow exclusion from gable vents or dryer vents — $400-$1,000+.
• Pigeon exclusion with spikes, netting, or ledge modification (Historic District buildings) — $800-$3,000+.
• Woodpecker damage repair plus deterrent installation — $500-$2,000+.
• Canada goose management — typically structured as recurring service.
• Bird droppings cleanup with HEPA remediation — $500-$3,000+.

How We Remove Birds and Block Re-entry in Savannah

1. Inspection and species identification — critical because regulatory protocol differs by species.
2. Active nest assessment — federally protected species with active eggs or young require waiting for fledge unless an MBTA permit applies.
3. Removal and exclusion — one-way exit devices for in-structure birds, physical exclusion (spikes, netting, mesh) for ledge roosting, structural sealing for cavity-nesting species.
4. Cleanup and sanitation — HEPA-equipped removal of accumulated droppings, full PPE, antimicrobial treatment.
5. Repair — damaged siding, vent replacement, soffit repair. Historic-preservation coordination where required.

Total timeline: a few days for invasive species; weeks-to-months when MBTA-protected species require waiting for fledge. See our full Chatham County bird removal coverage.

⚠️ Active Nesting Season

Most nuisance bird species are actively nesting. Protected migratory birds including swallows and chimney swifts cannot be disturbed during active nesting. Contact us to determine what species you have and what options are available.

Bird Removal Cost in Savannah

$200–$600+

Nest removal and basic exclusion. Large roost dispersal or chimney swift management costs more. Call for an estimate — pricing varies by contractor and job complexity.

Frequently Asked Questions — Bird Removal in Savannah