Get rid of birds

 

by Alex Kecskes

If your home has a separate garage or shed, you probably have pest birds roosting and nesting either inside or under the  eaves.  Birds love to perch on the rooftops and exposed beams of these structures.  And unless you deter them with some bird control device,  birds will continue to gather in greater numbers in and around these structures. Eventually, birds will even start to nest and roost under the eaves of your home.

The longer you wait to implement some effective bird control measures, the more brazen the birds will become.  They’ll start to gather in your back yard and leave droppings all over your pool, spa, patio, and BBQ.  Keep in mind that birds can carry any of 60 known diseases. If you have children or pets, you’ll be cleaning up the bird droppings on a daily basis.

The good news is that there are a number of humane and effective bird deterrents that you can use. Here are a few that you should look into:

Garden Bird Netting

Lightweight and easy to handle, Garden Mesh Netting will block birds from specific nesting sites around your shed or garage.   It comes in 14 x 100-foot and 14 x 200-foot rolls, but you can easily cut it down to the size. It’s also available in three different "mesh" sizes--1/4" mesh, 1/2" mesh and 3/4" mesh. It’s easy to install under eaves and other areas, especially if you use the bird netting clips that are recommended. The netting is made from a durable, UV-protected polypropylene. It’s strong, lightweight and virtually invisible.

Bird Slope

Scientifically designed to keep pest birds away from eaves and similar nooks and crannies, Bird Slope are slippery PVC panels that mount under eaves  to prevent birds from gaining a foothold. They scramble and “squirrel-cage” with their little toes and finally give up, moving on to other more hospitable areas. The best bird slope panels are UV protected and sun- and weather-resistant to last longer. Bird slope is ideal for deterring a wide range of birds—including swallows, starlings, pigeons and seagulls. The panels blend in with most architectural styles and they’re now available in two colors--stone and grey.

Copper Stuf-Fit Mesh

Ideal for keeping pest birds out of small holes and crevices, Copper Stuf-Fit mesh creates a physical barrier that blocks out birds. It’s ideal for use in openings and tight spaces too small for regular netting or other products. The mesh comes in 20-foot and 100-foot roles and can be “formed” into the shape of the area needed to deny birds access. The wire mesh will hold its shape in tight areas to prevent birds from “working” their way around it. It can also be used to block birds from getting under roofing tiles, retractable awnings, and where pipes enter siding or foundations.

No Nasty Nest

Ideal for use in blocking swallows, No Nasty Nest consists of hanging "twine" that denies birds access to nesting sites. Faced with wading through the twine strips, birds will simply move on to a better spot to nest. If you have swallow mud nests under the eaves and sides of your garage, shed or home, you’ll want to get this bird deterrent. Each strip of No Nasty Nest has a self-adhering back for fast application on eaves, gables, entryways and other areas.

by Alex A. Kecskes

Pigeons, sparrows, crows, gulls—they can become costly headaches to commercial warehouses. For starters, they create a dangerous distraction to employees operating forklifts and other machinery. And lest we not forget that bird nests, feathers and other debris are ideal kindling for starting fires near electrical equipment, wiring and hot lights.

Then there are the bird droppings, which create a whole slew of problems in warehouses. Not the least of which are slip-and-fall hazards. There’s also the contamination factor--birds can carry any of 60 known diseases. And the cost of damage to products on shelves and in loading docks can be severe. Finally, the acid in bird droppings can eat into packaging, obscure labeling codes and other shipping information. This can create all sorts of problems for inventory control and expediting personnel.

Rather than resorting to poisons or BB guns to clear your warehouse of pest birds, you should consider using non-lethal, humane bird deterrents.

One of the most effective bird deterrent systems on the market is the Automated Avian Fogging System. This advanced hazing system releases a fine fog into the air to deter pest birds from large spaces. It’s been proven highly effective in driving out pigeons, sparrows, crows, gulls, even vultures from warehouses, factories, airline hangers and many outdoor areas.
 
This powerful bird control tool is the first fogging unit to offer programmable components and a computerized touch screen. It works by dispensing a chemical known as methyl anthranilate--a grape extract proven to be effective in repelling pest birds. The extract irritates birds’ trigeminal nerve and mucous membranes through entry in the eyes, nose or mouth. Birds find the sensation very annoying and will seek the nearest exit the minute they get a healthy whiff of the chemical.

There’s plenty of flexibility in how the system dispenses the fogging chemical. For example, a control unit lets you attach up to 64 fogging “drop” units, and each unit can be controlled individually. An adjustable nozzle system lets you direct the chemical spray to areas where pest birds tend to flock and roost. A unique nozzle design delivers a 5-micron particle size spray, which leaves no chemical residue. What’s more, each drop station covers approximately 6,000 to 8,000 square feet. You can also control the dispensing times, so that the spray units will begin dispensing fog all at once or at alternating intervals. A convenient control panel monitors liquid levels, and notifies you when to refills are necessary.

Another effective pest bird deterrent for use in warehouses is No-Knot Bird netting. This low-profile netting creates a barrier that physically excludes pigeons, sparrows, gulls, starlings and crows. The netting is available in two mesh sizes to deter various size pest birds. For example, there’s a 2-inch mesh for pigeons and crows and 3/4-inch mesh for sparrows and smaller birds. No-Knot Bird Netting comes with a 10-year guarantee. It's fabricated of flame resistant, multi-strand polypropylene fiber and is highly resistant to many chemicals. It’s also ISO 1806 Protocol Mesh tested, and it won't rot, absorb water, or mildew. Another advantage of No-Knot Netting is that it is very light and easy to handle, yet it has a break strength of 50 pounds.

Before using any bird deterrents, be sure to remove bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials. (Birds are attracted to this debris and will regard the venue as “friendly.”) Use commercial disinfecting cleaning agents to prevent exposure to any of the 60 known airborne diseases caused by birds. You should also use eye and respiratory protection if the area is heavily contaminated with bird droppings.

 
 

 

by Alex A. Kecskes

Almost everyone has heard about pigeons invading parks and monuments, shedding their disease-carrying droppings on statues and contaminating ponds and playgrounds. But pigeons also pose a problem to many businesses. And perhaps the least mentioned are the many problems pest pigeons pose to gas stations.

Take your basic gas station canopy, for example. Once pigeons have claimed them and decided to nest on them, it's just a matter of time before a flock of pigeons can ruin your average $25,000.00 canopy.

Why do so many pigeons like to nest on gas canopies? Simple. They provide a great observation point for pigeons. The resourceful birds like to sit along the canopy edges and survey the area. And if you've ever seen how these canopies are built, you know that they easily provide plenty of protected nesting sites on their undersides and gutter areas.
Unless you get rid of pigeons, the flat metal roof areas will soon be covered with pigeon droppings and nests. Both will clog the canopy's drains and eat away at the canopy's paint and metal. After a rain, one can't help but notice the brown residue and offensive odor caused by collected pigeon droppings and nesting debris. This debris and unsavory odor will collect on the covered paved areas of a gas station and create and unwelcome site for customers. Worse yet, left to gather in the wet, pigeon droppings can cause dangerous slip-and-fall hazards to customers and employees. After several years, gas canopies can even become structurally degraded to cause a possible hazard for motorists and workers.

So what to do? If high gas prices aren't enough to keep motorists away, do you really need pest pigeons? Fortunately, there are several humane and highly effective ways to get rid of pigeons.

Intimidating Bird Spikes

The mother of pest bird deterrents, the Bird Spike has saved more buildings and structures from pigeons than perhaps any other deterrent. Bird Spikes get rid of pigeons because they simply can't negotiate a landing around them. The spiked strips come in rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate, or longer-lasting, slightly more expensive stainless steel, which you can get in a non-reflective metal finish. These days you can even get bird spikes in a full spectrum of colors--including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear. The spikes are easily glued or screwed to any surface. Choose the Girder Spike for keeping pigeons off girders or I-beams (they come with adjustable “C-clamps” to fit any size girder). To keep pigeons off rain gutters, there's the Gutter Spike. The best bird spikes are blunted, safe for birds and maintenance crews and GSA approved.

Virtually Invisible Bird Slopes

Install these in the 90-degree nooks and crannies of your gas station canopy and pest pigeons will never be able to land. Bird Slopes are angled, slippery PVC panels that pigeons can't seem to get a grip on. The panels come in a variety of colors to blend in with your gas station's aesthetics. U.V.-stabilized polycarbonate panels are best as they stand up to years of inclement weather.

Wobbly Bird Wire Systems

This is a great way to get rid of pigeons. They'll wobble and shimmy off these Bird Wire Systems like Bozo on a banana peel. Pigeons, like most birds, prefer stable landing areas. And bird wire systems with their post-and-spring-wire set-ups are anything but stable. String these systems on the roofs of canopies or their undersides and forget about pigeons. The systems are easily installed, and even used on Federal and State government buildings. The best systems feature nylon coated stainless steel wire for lasting durability.

Barrier Pigeon Netting

Exclusion is the name of the game.  And Bird Netting keeps them out of the corners and recesses of your gas station canopies like few deterrents can. It gets rid of pigeons by denying them access to these areas. The best netting is made from ISO 1806 mesh test polyethylene fabric. If you want the netting to last, get U.V.-stabilized, flame-resistant and rot and waterproof netting. Non-conductive netting is available for installations where electrical conductivity or radio frequency interference could cause problems--probably a good idea in gas stations. You can even get netting in several different colors--like including white, stone and black.

Stick it to 'em with Bird Gels

Like most birds, pigeons can't stand walking on these sticky gels. They get that stuck-in-flypaper feeling and can't wait to leave. Bird Gels are easy to apply using a standard caulking gun. The chemical skins over and stays sticky for up to six months.

by Alex A. Kecskes

The most common pest species are European starlings, pigeons (sometimes called rock doves), and the female and male house sparrows. The male bird usually establishes and defends the nest. After the pair builds a nest, the male continues to defend the territory while the female hatches eggs. To keep common pest birds from nesting on your property, start by removing any sources of food, water and shelter.

Before they begin nesting, pest birds will look for food sources to sustain themselves and feed their young. Natural food sources include seeds, fruits, berries and insects. Trim back or remove plants that produce edible nuts, fruits and berries. Also be wary of any food scraps spilling out of trashcans on your property. Keep lids tightly closed on cans and make sure the surrounding areas have no food scraps on the ground to entice birds.

Insect larvae living in the cracks and grooves of house siding will attract woodpeckers, and you know how much damage they can do to your property. Caulk the edges of the grooves to fill any open tunnels. Also keep in mind that a source of water is essential for birds year round. Starlings are especially attracted to water. So cover up or drain any areas of water near your property.
All birds need shelter for nesting, which varies with the season and the species of bird. Remove or block access to any alcoves, nooks or crannies that birds can use to build a nest. Trim back and thin out any trees where birds may want to build a nest.

Unfortunately, not all bird problems can be eliminated by removing the incentives of food, water and shelter. Sometimes repellants and deterrents must be used to dissuade birds from nesting. The best of these are humane and can be highly effective, especially when used in tandem.

To discourage birds from nesting on ledges and rafters, make them inaccessible by installing bird netting on the underside of the rafters. No Knot Bird Netting is ideal for most exclusion applications because it’s fabricated of flame resistant polypropylene, chemically inert, and highly resistant to many chemicals and temperature extremes. In general, good bird netting won’t rot, absorb water, or mildew. The best bird netting is ISO 1806 Protocol Mesh Tested and U.V. stabilized.

Bird netting is effective for use against pigeons, sparrows, starlings, crows and gulls. It comes in several stock sizes and custom cuts--including 2- and 3/4-inch mesh. Unlike many netting products, No Knot netting is light and easy to handle and install. It also comes in different colors--including white, stone and black to blend in with your property.

Another exclusionary method for preventing birds from nesting on ledges and rafters involves the installation of Bird Slope. Birds very quickly get the message that the super slippery angled PVC panels are too slippery to even land on, much less build a nest on. After a few tries, they simply move on to better nesting sites.

Many architects prefer bird slope panels because they can integrate them into the design of the building or structure, making them “invisible.” The panels even come in a variety of different colors to blend in with a building's color scheme. They’re easily installed on most any surface using nails, screws or glue.

To discourage pest birds from large areas, try Bird Sonics. These bird proofing devices keep birds from nesting by emitting predator and distress sounds that birds instinctively seek to avoid. Sonic bird deterrents are ideal for use against crows, starlings, swallows, gulls, woodpeckers, sparrows, grackles, cormorants and many others. One sonic system on the market blasts the sound of Peregrine falcons (a pigeon's dreaded enemy) defending their territory. Another system targets starlings and seagulls, emitting the sounds of predator hawks screeching and gulls under attack. There’s even a system that emits distress and predator calls for up to 22 types of birds. The sounds emitted by the best sonic systems sound like normal bird sounds to the human ear.

Bryan Donoho   

For many people, their home is their greatest asset. It provides shelter, equity, and sense of accomplishment so it is without surprise that most people will do whatever it takes to protect the value and aesthetic properties of their home. Unfortunately, humans are not the only creatures who seek refuge in a house. Pest birds such as pigeons and sparrows find most any house to be a suitable nesting location. Once a bird begins construction on a nest, it is next to impossible to get rid of them. The solution: Solve the problem before it begins. Factors such as disease and property damage further encourage homeowners to get rid of birds to avoid any potential problems.

Birds are very simple creatures but can present some complex problems when nesting on a home. They will seek out any nook or crevice that will provide sufficient shelter. They prefer to be near a food source, so it is always good to check and see if there is any available food. If there is one, get rid of it. This includes bird feeders, trash, pet food, etc. Once birds have established a viable food source, there are very few things that will deter them. After eliminating any potential food sources, getting rid of birds will be much easier.

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.