How to Set Up Bird Barriers to Get Rid of Pest Birds

By Alex A. Kecskes

You’ve got a pest bird problem, and the owner of the commercial building has instructed you to solve the problem--in other words, get rid of the birds! As an astute and experienced property manager, you’ve read about various bird proofing devices and methods. You also know that the owner wants you to use non-lethal means to keep birds away from the property.

Before we go into the various deterrents, you’ll need to walk around the property to determine what types of birds have invaded the premises and where they tend to perch, roost or nest. Note also, the likely places they could choose to move, were you to block access or bird proof these areas. Keep in mind that the most effective way to deter pest birds is to consider all possible perching, roosting and nesting areas.  Birds are clever and will quickly adapt to barriers and devices you erect. Sometimes, it helps to take photos of all possible areas bird might use, and to show these areas to a bird control professional.

Having evaluated your premises and determined the “what and where” of your bird problem, it’s time to consider some specific bird control measures. Let’s start with the most popular of pest bird deterrents, the Bird Spike.

To begin with, Stainless Steel Bird Spikes are the most durable. Ideal for deterring large pest birds like pigeons, crows, and gulls, they take away a bird’s ability to land and perch. Bird spikes should be mounted on ledges, I-beams, parapet walls, conduits and signs--wherever pest birds gather before the settle in to nest. Stainless steel spikes come in rows of spike strips that are 3-, 5- and 8-inches wide. To help you determine the level of protection these spiked strips provide, the 8-inch spikes will give you 8 to 10 inches of deterrence on a 10-inch wide ledge. The best stainless steel bird spikes feature a “no-nest” design with no-gap spacing to keep birds from defeating them.

When installing bird spikes, follow these procedures: Use the staggered pre-drilled holes at the base of the spikes to nail or screw them into place. If you intend to glue them down, use construction-grade adhesives in the glue trough provided in better quality spikes. Better spikes will also feature breakaway notches to bird proof smaller areas. Leave no more than a 1-inch gap on either side of the spike to keep birds from sneaking around them. If you intend to mount bird spikes on a pipe or conduit, use a 1-inch spike to cover 1 to 2 inches and secure each spike with common hose clamps, nylon ties or wire.

Another popular bird proofing device used by commercial building owners is the Bird Spider. These deterrents feature spindly arms that whip about in the breeze to keep pest birds from landing anywhere near them. If you have birds nesting on AC units, water towers, electrical junction boxes and similar flat areas, mount a bird spider on top of these landing zones. They will keep pigeons, seagulls and larger birds from settling in on these areas. Bird spiders come in 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-foot models to provide increasingly wider areas of deterrence. When installing bird spiders, be sure the “tips” of the spider’s arms reach out several inches over the outside surface(s). Allow the arms to move freely with the tips no more than 2 or 3 inches above the mounting surface. When using glue to mount the spider, use the PVC adapter (provided by better bird spiders). If you’re installing more than one spider, position them 6 to 8 inches from arm-tip to arm-tip.

One last advisory note: Before installing bird barriers, dry up any water-damp areas and remove any loose rust, peeling paint, bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials. Birds will be drawn to the familiar scent of their species and regard the area a hospitable. Be sure to use commercial disinfecting cleaning agents to prevent installation crews from being exposed to the many airborne diseases carried by birds and their droppings. Use eye and respiratory protection if the area is heavily contaminated with droppings.

Get Rid of Pigeons with Bird Barriers

by Fran Prisco

Pigeons can be found in just about every city and suburb in North America.  They were first introduced to the United States as domesticated birds that soon escaped and formed wild pigeon populations.  Ancestors of the Rock Dove, city pigeons like to roost and nest high atop buildings where there is safety from predators.  They cause thousands of dollars every year to buildings and homes across the country.  The droppings of pigeons are acidic and will accelerate the deterioration of building materials.  Pigeon droppings also can carry any of 60 plus transmitted diseases.  The best way to keep pest pigeons off of buildings is to install some sort of bird barrier.

Sanitation

It is important that all debris and droppings left behind by the pigeons is removed before installing any type of bird barrier.  Inhaling the dust from pigeon droppings has been known to cause histoplasmosis, cryptococcus and psittaicosis. If you use some simple protective methods while cleaning up pigeon droppings, you can eliminate the danger of catching any of the above-mentioned diseases.  Be sure to wear some sort of protective gear such as a facemask and rubber gloves.  Wet pigeon droppings with water so that they do not emit any dry dust, use a scraper to scrape the wet droppings into a dustpan and dispose of them in trash bags.

Bird Barriers for Airport Hangars

By Alex A. Kecskes

Pest birds can be a huge problem when they congregate and nest in airport hangars.
Without effective pest bird barriers to exclude them, hangar operators spend millions of dollars every year in maintenance and cleanup costs.

Once pest birds invade a hangar, they settle in, make themselves at home, and seldom leave on their own. These birds can create considerable damage to aircraft and exposed aircraft engines and assemblies with their nesting materials and droppings. The acidic chemicals in droppings can eat into metal, plastic and rubber surfaces, causing long-term damage that may cause engines and hydraulic systems to fail--even in flight.

Bird nests and droppings can also clog gutters and down pipes. Fecal matter sucked into grilles, ducts and vents can damage  expensive AC systems. Bird droppings left to gather on hangar floors, entrances and ladders could create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards and result in a costly legal liability. The right kind of bird barriers can reduce or prevent these problems.
Pest bird droppings and nesting materials also pose a considerable health hazard, carrying and transmitting any of 60 known diseases--including Salmonellosis  and Ornithosis, which is similar to viral pneumonia. In addition, bird droppings and nesting materials contain insects and mites, which can also damage aircraft and delicate assemblies.

Fortunately, there are effective and humane bird barrier products one can install to keep pest birds out of aircraft hangars.

Bird Barriers for "Big Box" and Warehouse Stores

By Alex A. Kecskes

It's no secret that many "big box" retailers and warehouses have a pest bird problem.  Lacking effective pest bird barriers, commercial businesses like these spend millions of dollars every year to deal with pest bird infestations. The problem is compounded as bird populations continue to grow in both the inner city and suburbs. Once pest birds invade a store or warehouse, they tend to eat right through packaged foods, causing  considerable spoilage. Unlike many retail establishments, most big box stores and warehouses have large open bays that invite birds to fly in. And once they make themselves at home, they rarely leave on their own.

Unless they're kept out, pest birds can create considerable damage due to the droppings they deposit on just about everything. The acidic chemicals in droppings can quickly deteriorate virtually any surface. Bird nests and droppings can also clog gutters and down pipes. Fecal matter drawn into ducts, grilles and vents can damage  expensive AC systems. Bird droppings on ledges, sills and signage can ruin the image of a business. Droppings deposited on pavements, entrances and fire escapes can create dangerous slip and fall hazards and a major legal liability. Obviously, bird barriers are a must for big box and other warehouse type stores.

Pest birds also pose a significant health hazard, carrying and transmitting any of 60 known diseases—including Salmonellosis  and Ornithosis, which is similar to viral pneumonia. To make matters worse, bird droppings and their nesting materials contain insects and mites, which can damage property, stored foods and fabrics.