Get rid of birds

by Alex A. Kecskes

Spring is almost upon us. And so are the pest birds. They're waiting in the wings to get at your property. They'll be on the lookout for shelter from the elements, easy access to food, and protection from predators. In the next few months, your property will look pretty appealing to these annoying pests—unless you act now to get rid of birds before they settle in and become a real problem.

As you may have painfully learned from last year's pest bird invasion, birds can cost you dearly. Not just in cleanups, but in property damage and repairs. Bird droppings as you know, can jam up rooftop ventilators, blot out solar panels and seize up air conditioners.

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.