When attempting to get rid of birds on a home there are three basic kinds of deterrents. These include physical, visual, and sound deterrents. Each different type of deterrent has its place in keeping a home "bird free". By examining these three types of deterrents, one will have a better understanding of how to get rid of birds on a home and hopefully avoid any potential problems.
First off, physical bird deterrents are always the best way to get rid of pest birds. By completely blocking off they're nesting or perching areas, it forces them elsewhere. The most common types of physical bird deterrents are bird spikes and bird netting. Of course, there are other types of physical deterrent, however the majority of the time either netting or bird spikes will do the trick. To understand this, one must have an idea of where the most common nesting and perching areas are on a home. Beginning with the top of the house, birds will often times perch on the roof peak of the structure and the chimney. These areas are used more as a lookout post rather then a nesting area. When encountering this, it is best to install bird spikes along the edges of the roof along with the chimney area. Another option for this situation would be the application of Bird Gel. Bird Gel is applied with a caulking gun and creates a sticky surface that pest birds can't stand.Nesting situations can be a little more difficult to contain. Once a pest bird has constructed a nest, a physical deterrent is a must. Birds are opportunistic nesters and will find just about any nook or crevice to make their own. For example, dormers are common on most houses and are one of the easiest and safest places for birds to nest. Nesting usually occurs, but is not limited, to the spring and summer months. The pest birds begin by gathering nesting material and packing it in their desired location, in this case, a dormer. If a homeowner can catch the problem at this point it will make deterring them a lot easier. Once identified, this problem can be solved by installing netting over the area where the birds are entering. Netting made of polypropylene or polyethylene are readily available and generally inexpensive. Netting is really the only way to eliminate nesting birds and can be used anywhere on a house. If installed correctly, it is virtually invisible and highly effective.Last there are the visual and sound bird deterrents. Visual bird deterrents offer a simple yet effective solution to getting rid of birds on a house. The most common types of these include, but are not limited to hawk decoys, mylar flash tape, and flashy balloons. Birds have many natural predators, one of them being the red tail hawk which is found throughout the United States. By placing one of these hawk decoys on top of a house it causes pest birds to avoid the area all together in fear of being the hawk's next meal. The mylar flash tape is very effective when cut into one to three foot strips and placed in trees where large concentrations of birds congregate. This tape puts off a lot of flash and glitter that distorts the vision of the birds causing them to vacate the area. The balloons works in a similar fashion as the flash tape in that it has large metallic "eyes" on all sides that creates extreme discomfort among a pest bird population. These can also be place in trees, on porches, basically anywhere that can support the weight of a beach ball. As far as sound deterrents go, they are proving to be more and more effective as technology expands. These sound units emit a distress call that gives the birds the illusion that one of their own is being attacked by a predatory bird or mammal. Instinctually the pest birds flee the area. Sound units are safe, humane, and will not affect household animals.After discussing the potential damage pest birds can cause along with solutions, it is easy to see why household bird control is growing in popularity. When it comes down to it, no person wants any animal defacing their home, especially when it comes with the risk of disease. By getting rid of pest birds, one can ensure the aesthetics and equity of their home and more importantly the safety of those living there.
The truth is, pigeons can create a number of serious problems. Gathering in flocks on buildings, pigeons can constitute a threat to human health and safety. The mess and droppings left by pigeons can negatively impact the appearance of a business. Often, the sheer weight of bird droppings can lead to structural collapse, particularly ceilings. It can also have a negative impact on a business's workforce. This includes the slip-and-trip hazards bird droppings leave on walkways, steps and entrances. It's no wonder more property owners seek ways to get rid of pigeons.
Clean-up costs can be prohibitively expensive. Removing nesting materials and accumulated droppings can be difficult, sometimes requiring specialists in "moon suits" to protect them from disease-carrying droppings that are aerated during removal by sand blasters.
Through bird egg removal, birth-control pills and food deprivation, problem pigeons can be driven out of most areas in three to five years. While these methods may be humane, they are too time-consuming to appeal to most property owners and municipalities. Fortunately, there are far more efficient and expedient ways to get rid of pigeons.
Bird Spikes…they Only Look Painful
They can ruin the paint on your house, your car and your boat. There's no denying it, bird droppings have done more than simply deface barbeques, garden umbrellas and padded exterior chairs and lounges.
Bird droppings also carry diseases—any of 60 at last count. These can ruin your good health and make you ill just when guests arrive for the sunny days ahead. So what to do? Get rid of birds, that's what. And the best way to do that is with some humane and effective bird deterrents. Here's just a few:Bird Slopes--Birds slip and slide off these slippery angled panels like tomato seeds off a spoon. They fit right into all those 90-dgree nooks and crannies birds love to tuck their little nests in. The panels are easy to install on almost any surface and will deter a wide variety of pest birds. You'll want to order the best panels, and the one's to get are fabricated from U.V.-protected PVC, which makes them sun- and weather-resistant. Some manufacturers even make them in different colors--stone and grey--to blend in better with their surroundings. Getting rid of birds has never been easier. Bird Gels--Birds land one foot on this sticky stuff and they feel like a fly on flypaper. Not to worry, they can leave anytime they want--and they do. These gels work in temperatures from 15F to 200F and usually remain tacky for up to six months outdoors. Designed to deter pest birds from virtually any horizontal surface, you apply bird gels in a zigzag pattern using a caulking gun. The gels are non-toxic and safe for humans and animals. You can use these gels to deter crows, gulls, pigeons, sparrows, starlings and many other species of birds. Bird Spikes--These bad boys get the job done. No bird in God's creation has ever landed on a Bird Spike. They're widely used on rooflines, parapet walls, I-beams, window ledges, signs traffic lights, wherever you need to get rid of birds. The blunted spikes are harmless, and they come in long-lasting stainless steel or rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. They install easily on any flat surface or ledge. Some spikes come in two-foot long strips for easier installation. One company even offers plastic bird spikes in different colors--including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear.
by Alex A. Kecskes