Birds

Birds may roost or nest in buildings, often gaining access through broken tiles and damaged ridge capping. This is usually a seasonal occurrence when birds are about to lay eggs.

Problems that may arise include

1. Defecation in and around property
2. Deterioration of external areas
3. Infestation of bird lice
4. Nesting may attract rodents & other pests
5. Noise and general disturbance

Bird droppings may deface buildings and footpaths, and may also contaminate stored food products (eg. salmonella). Histoplasmosis, cryptocooccosis and aspergillosis are fungal diseases in bird droppings and the spores from these may be inhaled by those nearby. The symptoms are similar to those of influenza.

Birds are hosts for bird lice/mites , which may infest the area in which the birds nest.

Birds become pests on aerodromes because of the large areas. They are a problem to propeller-driven aircraft, but a great hazard to jet aircraft, where they can be sucked into the jet engines on take-off and landing.

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Type	Features	Nesting Habits	General Comments	Photo
Small Brown Ants
European Starling	Introduced. Dark brown to black with a greenish sheen. 200mm in size. 6 pale blue eggs, twice a year.	Nests in roof cavities.	Suburban or town pests; sometimes flocks are large & feed on grains; insects are also eaten.
Indian Myna	Introduced. Brown and white; dark green neck area; yellow beak and legs. 250mm in size. 4-5 gloss, pale blue eggs in spring and summer	Nests in roof cavities, palm trees & sheltered areas.	Numbers increasing in city areas; feed on insects but on food scraps also.
Pigeon	Introduced. Various tones of grey with darker bars. 300-350mm in size. 1-2 eggs in each clutch several times a year.	Nests in twigs of warehouses, ceilings & on roofing girders etc.	Now domesticated; eats food scraps in cities & towns; occurs in grain terminals; defaces buildings etc
English Sparrow	Introduced. Male — grey and brown; light bar on wings; dark throat. Female — darker underneath; no dark throat. 110-120mm in size. 5-6 speckled eggs, three to four times a year.	Nests of grass & fibre; in ceilings, under eaves; wherever there is shelter.	Pests in orchards, gardens etc.; bird lice and mite problems; eats insects (useful in this regard).
Spotted Turtle Dove	Introduced. Grey head; black & grey spotted neck; brownish back & wings. 300-320mm in size. 2 white eggs, twice in each year in summer.	Frail structures built in small trees & shrubs.	Not a serious pest but may destroy seeds and beds of plants.
Silver Gull (seagull)	Native. White, with grey on the wings; red legs. 300-350mm in size. 3-4 eggs with brown markings.	Shallow holes in the ground lined with grass.	Generally a useful scavenger, but occurs on aerodromes when garbage disposal is nearby; often comes in from the sea in wet weather.