Northwest College is addressing the bird problems it’s suffered at Simpson Hall, though the work is being scaled back from what was originally planned.

The insulation panels covering Simpson Hall have been under attack by birds. They peck holes in the plastic and then build their nests inside the insulation. Originally, the college had planned a much more extensive repair of the problem, but a bid for a total floor-to-roof job came in above the roughly $240,000 budget. Still, something needed to be done.

“We were very concerned the holes were going to continue to cause damage. We felt we needed to do something before we have birds inside” the exterior wall, said Lisa Watson, vice-president of administrative services and finance for NWC.

A bid on a revised scope of repairs will address most of the holes created by nesting birds with a mesh patch that’s more resitant to bird activity, while keeping within budgeted funds approved by the Board of Trustees. The contract came to $126,732.

Watson said NWC will evaluate the building’s exterior next year to see how well the repairs are working and if any further funds need to be allocated for additional work.