Can you remove a pigeon nest from your balcony?
First, is it a pigeon?
Rock pigeons are stocky and grey, with two dark bars on each wing and a green-purple sheen on the neck. A mourning dove is slimmer and tan, with a long pointed tail, and it’s protected. Small brown birds are hard to tell apart, so leave their nests alone. Take a photo through the glass rather than stepping out.
What the rules say in Canada
Federally, the Migratory Birds Convention Act protects native migratory birds. Their nests are protected whenever they hold a live bird or a viable egg, and the nests of 18 listed species are protected all year. Rock pigeons are an introduced species and aren’t on Canada’s list of protected birds. Mourning doves are.
Provinces add their own rules. Ontario lets you remove the nests of a short list of species without approval, such as house sparrows and starlings; pigeons aren’t named on it, so ask before touching an active nest. Quebec’s wildlife law lets you act against an animal damaging your property only when you couldn’t scare it away first. Your building may have its own rules too, and the City of Toronto won’t remove pigeons from private property.
Twigs, no eggs: check first
Pigeons pile up a loose platform of twigs over a few days before laying. Even without eggs, a nest may be protected while birds are using it. Check with your provincial wildlife office first. If removal is allowed, put on gloves, bag the twigs and block the spot the same day. The longer a pair settles in, the harder it is to move them on.
Eggs or chicks: wait
Don’t move them yourself. Tell your landlord or property management, and ask your provincial wildlife office or a licensed pest-control company what’s allowed where you live. Otherwise, wait until the nest is empty. Keep noisy work, pressure washing and clear-outs away from the nest in the meantime, and check on it from indoors.
Cleaning up the old nest
Dried droppings can carry fungi, so don’t sweep them dry. Wear gloves, mist the nest and droppings with water first, bag everything and put it in the garbage. Skip the pressure washer, which throws dust into the air. For a large build-up, or if someone at home has a weak immune system, call a cleaning professional.
Stop them rebuilding
A pair returns to a spot that worked. Block access to the spot they used: move the box or planter they nested behind, or screen the gap with wire mesh. Then take away landing spots on ledges and railings with bird wire or a sloped cover. Our pigeon guide covers each step.
What to buy
| Item | What it’s for | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Disposable gloves | Handling twigs, empty nests and droppings | Nitrile, thrown out after use |
| Hardware cloth | Screening the corner or gap they nested in | Galvanized metal; ask your property manager before attaching anything |
| Bird wire kit | Ledges and railings near the old nest | Stainless wire with small posts that clamp on, no drilling |
Sources
- Environment and Climate Change Canada: Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 FAQ explains that nests are protected when they hold a live bird or viable egg, and that 18 species’ nests are protected year-round.
- Environment and Climate Change Canada: birds protected in Canada lists the protected species: native birds such as the mourning dove are on it; the rock pigeon isn’t.
- Ontario: remove bird nests or eggs lists the species whose nests can be removed without approval.
- CAA-Québec: legislation concerning animal pests summarizes section 67 of Quebec’s wildlife act: act against an animal only if you can’t scare it away.
- City of Toronto: pigeons recommends notifying property management about nests and notes the City won’t remove pigeons from private property.
- Health Canada: pigeons describes the fungal risks of breathing in dust from droppings.
Rules differ by bird species, province, city and building. This guide is general information, not legal advice.