Starlings: Nesting Signs, the Law & Starling Control
Professional starling control across South & West Yorkshire, with local pages for Sheffield and Leeds.
Dawn scratching in your eaves? Apex seals starlings out lawfully, timed right.
Apex Pest Control Ltd provides humane, lawful starling control for homes and businesses across South and West Yorkshire. The family-run team — headquartered in Sheffield — keeps starlings out of roof voids, soffits and eaves by sealing their entry points, not by harming the birds, and surveys every site free of charge before quoting.
At a Glance
- Service
- Starling Control
- Provider
- Apex Pest Control Ltd
- Locations
- Sheffield, Leeds, Rotherham & Barnsley
- Pricing
- Survey-led — free survey & fixed quote
- Method
- Entry-point exclusion — mesh, comb strips, bird netting & spikes
- Credentials
- BPCA Certificate in Bird Management · lawful & humane
Roof-Void Starling Control That Keeps Birds Out For Good
Apex Pest Control Ltd controls starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) across South and West Yorkshire by sealing the roof-void entry points where they nest, using mesh, comb strips and bird netting. Every job starts with a free survey from a BPCA Bird Management-qualified technician.
The starling is a native, Red-listed bird protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so Apex Pest Control Ltd works lawfully and humanely, excluding birds from buildings rather than harming them. The family-run company has its Head Office in Sheffield and serves homeowners, property management and businesses alike.
The aim is simple: close the gaps under the tiles and along the soffits and eaves so the noise, mess and bird mites never get a foothold. Starling proofing fitted at the right time — ideally before April — stops birds settling for the breeding season and prevents the problem returning year after year.
Starling Control Profile
Why Starlings in Your Roof Are a Problem
Apex Pest Control Ltd is called out to starlings nesting in roof voids across Sheffield, Leeds and the wider region. Starlings are cavity nesters — they slip into the roof space through the gap between the roof tiles and the gutter, then chatter and scrabble inside from first light. The nest is the real issue, and Apex Pest Control Ltd resolves all of it by removing the nest safely and sealing the birds out at the point they get in. Once the chicks fledge, the mites left behind in the nest often migrate into the rooms below, so Apex removes the nest and treats for mites — and because the starling is a red-listed, legally protected bird, the proofing is timed lawfully around the nesting season.
Guano & health risk
Droppings build up in the roof void and can carry Salmonella and other bacteria. Dried guano becomes airborne dust, and nesting material blocks gutters — a genuine health and maintenance problem.
Bird mites that bite
Starling nests bring in bird mites that bite people once the chicks fledge and the mites look for a new host. Apex Pest Control Ltd removes the nest and treats any mites before sealing the roof.
Noise from first light
From dawn the birds chatter and scrabble inside the roof void, soffits and eaves. It is a persistent nuisance that only stops once the entry points are sealed and the void is no longer accessible.
Signs of Starlings and Where They Nest
Apex Pest Control Ltd looks for the tell-tale signs during every survey. Starlings favour roof voids, soffits, fascias and gaps along the eaves, and because they return to the same cavity each year, the team seals every entry point it finds — not just the obvious one.
Chattering inside the roof
Chattering and mimicking calls from inside the roof void, often from first light, are one of the earliest signs of starlings nesting in the cavity above the ceiling.
Nesting material at soffits
Nesting material poking from soffits, fascias and the eaves shows where starlings have pushed into the roof space — usually through the gap between the tiles and the gutter.
Guano streaks below entry points
Guano streaks down the wall below an entry point mark where the birds come and go. The team traces each streak back to the gap that needs sealing.
Birds flying to the same spot
Starlings flying repeatedly to the same spot under the tiles point straight to an active entry point. The team maps every one so nothing is left to re-establish.
The Proofing Methods We Install
Apex Pest Control Ltd seals starlings out at the point they get in, ideally before the breeding season starts. The team specifies the right system for each surface and fits starling proofing before April, so birds cannot settle for the season.
Entry-point mesh & comb strips
The team closes the gap between the roof tiles and the gutter, and along soffits and fascias, with mesh and comb strips so starlings cannot get into the void. This is the core of lasting starling proofing.
Bird netting
Tensioned bird netting excludes starlings from larger open areas and roosting spots — correctly installed and maintained, it keeps birds out of the protected space for years.
Anti-perch spikes
Stainless steel or UV-stabilised polycarbonate spikes for ledges and parapets where birds gather. They stop starlings landing without harming them — the everyday workhorse of bird proofing.
Guano & mite clean-up
Apex Pest Control Ltd removes the nest, safely clears and disinfects the fouling as a biohazard, and treats any bird-mite problem before sealing the roof so nothing is shut inside.
Every roof is different, so starling control is survey-led. Apex provides a free survey and a fixed written quote before any work begins.
The Law and Conservation
Apex Pest Control Ltd controls starlings strictly within the law. The starling is a native British bird, and all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The starling is also Red-listed after a decline of around 57% between 1995 and 2023, so it is never treated as a casual pest.
Apex Pest Control Ltd leads with humane exclusion — sealing birds out of buildings — and only carries out any nest or population control as a last resort under a general licence. An active nest cannot be removed until the chicks have fledged, and the team will advise on lawful timing. The approach is to exclude, not eradicate.
Starling Law at a Glance
Our Roof-Void Proofing Work
Apex Pest Control Ltd seals the gaps where starlings get into the roof — under the tiles, along the gutters and through soffits — using comb strips, mesh and spikes.
What Our Customers Say
"Excellent service from Apex. The team turned up on time, explained exactly what they were doing and sorted the problem with no fuss. Professional and tidy throughout — highly recommended."
"Really pleased with the work. Friendly, knowledgeable and thorough from the first survey to the finished job. Everything was clearly explained and fairly priced — would not hesitate to use them again."
"Prompt, reliable and very professional. Tony was clear about what needed doing and got it done quickly and cleanly. Great communication from start to finish — thank you."
Rated 4.9 / 5 from 110+ reviews across our Google (Sheffield & Barnsley) and Trustpilot profiles.
Why Choose Apex for Starling Control?
Apex Pest Control Ltd is a family-run business led by founder Tony Johnson, who brings 40 years of experience across pest control, forestry and wildlife. The company is a BPCA member, holds the BPCA Certificate in Bird Management and RSPH Level 2, and carries £5M public liability insurance. Every job is quoted upfront — the price at booking is the price on your invoice, all plus VAT, with no call-out fee and no hidden charges.
BPCA Certificate in Bird Management
Our technicians hold the BPCA Certificate in Bird Management plus RSPH Level 2 — the recognised standard for professional, lawful starling control and proofing.
Exclude, Not Eradicate
We keep starlings out with entry-point mesh, comb strips, bird netting and anti-perch spikes as humane physical exclusion. The starling is native and Red-listed, so any nest or population control is a licensed last resort, never the first move.
Lawful & Humane
Every job respects the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. An active nest is left until the chicks have fledged, and any nest or population control is only ever carried out under a general licence.
Homes, Property & Business
From a single roof void to warehouses, schools and managed estates, Apex Pest Control Ltd proofs domestic and commercial roofs alike across the region.
Available 7 Days a Week
Monday to Friday 08:00–19:00 and Saturday to Sunday 08:00–13:00, with a free survey and no call-out fee.
£5M Public Liability
Fully insured to £5M public liability, so your property and people are protected on every visit and at every height.
Where Do We Provide Starling Control?
Apex Pest Control Ltd controls starlings for homes and commercial premises across South and West Yorkshire, including Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Leeds, serving homeowners, property management and businesses. Choose your nearest area below for local availability, response times and area-specific advice.
Starlings on a Commercial Site?
Apex Pest Control Ltd protects food premises, warehouses, schools, offices and managed estates across South and West Yorkshire, where large roosts and roof nesting cause problems — see our commercial pest control service. For wider roof, ledge and solar proofing, read our bird proofing, pigeon control and seagull control pages.
Starling Control — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often. If yours is not listed, call us on 0114 349 1098.
Stop Starlings Nesting in Your Roof
Apex Pest Control Ltd will survey your starling problem free of charge and quote a fixed price before any work begins. Call the Sheffield head office on 0114 349 1098, 7 days a week, or send an enquiry. Apex Pest Control Ltd — humane, lawful starling control across South and West Yorkshire.