Binghamton's downtown — State Street, Court Street, the older buildings along Washington Street — has a persistent pigeon problem. The city's historic brick commercial architecture offers every ledge, cornice, and parapet that pigeons need to roost and nest. Starlings take over dryer and HVAC vents in both commercial and residential buildings. House sparrows nest in signage, light fixtures, and every gap in a building facade they can find.
Bird problems in Binghamton are not just a mess. Accumulated bird droppings are acidic and damage roofing, masonry, and paint. Nesting material in vents creates fire hazards and blocks exhaust. Dried droppings carry histoplasma and cryptococcus — fungal organisms that cause respiratory disease in humans. This is a health and property issue, not just a nuisance.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects most native bird species. Pigeons, starlings, and house sparrows are not native and are not protected — but chimney swifts, barn swallows, and most other species are. If you have swallows nesting on your building or chimney swifts using your chimney flue, those nests cannot be legally disturbed during the nesting season. We identify the species first, every time, before recommending any action.
Chimney swifts in particular are a Binghamton issue. They use masonry chimneys extensively throughout the older residential and commercial areas of the city. They are federally protected and actually beneficial — a single swift consumes thousands of insects daily. Our guidance: cap the chimney after their nesting season ends in October if you do not want them back. Never attempt to remove an active swift nest or colony.
Binghamton University campus properties in Vestal and downtown commercial clients both benefit from documented bird management programs. We work with property managers on ongoing programs, not just one-time calls.
If the nest belongs to a starling, house sparrow, or pigeon — yes, those are not protected. If the nest belongs to any native species — swallows, wrens, robins — it cannot be disturbed during the active nesting season (roughly April through August). We identify the species before any work. After the nest is removed, we screen the vent to prevent reinfestation.
Yes. Chimney swifts are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. An active swift nest in your chimney cannot be legally removed. After their nesting season ends in fall, you can have a chimney cap installed to exclude them the following year. We advise on timing and proper cap selection.
Physical exclusion is the only long-term solution. Spikes work on narrow ledges. Netting works on larger areas like loading docks and parking structures. Sticky repellents and visual deterrents fail within weeks in a real urban environment. We install systems built to last, not ones that look good in a brochure.
Related service: full wildlife removal services in Binghamton
Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott, Vestal — all of Broome County.
(607) 251-0096