Is Your Home a Pest Bird Magnet? Time for Bird Barriers!

by Alex A. Kecskes

If your driveway and parked cars are always covered with bird droppings, you need some serious bird control. If your weather-vane has been stuck in the same position for the last 5 years, you need some major bird barriers. If that brand new garage door you just installed is already covered with bird poop, it’s time for you to get rid of birds.

Keep in mind that bird droppings can eat into and permanently mar most materials. That includes metal or wood siding, the paint on your car, boat or RV, and even that fancy stonework that gives your home such character. Yes, over time, bird droppings can cause even stone to crumble. And lest we not forget the damage bird droppings, nests and debris can cause to your AC units, solar panels, dish TV antennas, rotating rooftop vents and skylights. It all adds up to one big costly headache. 

You’re probably thinking that you can just shoo them away with noisemakers or maybe take a pot shot at them with your BB gun. Not a good idea. BBs bounce all over the place and crack windows and strike unintended victims like dogs and (heaven forbid your kids).  Noisemakers are just temporary. Birds always come back.  What to do?

Fortunately, there are a number of bird barriers you can use to get rid of pest birds. Here are three of today’s most popular bird control solutions:

Lightweight Plastic Bird Netting

Easy to install and handle, this netting denies pest birds access to all those safe little nooks and crannies on the front of your home—places where they can land, build nests and perch before they attack your car, boat or RV. This bird netting comes in several mesh sizes to block out pigeons, sparrows, starlings, seagulls and other birds. One manufacturer offers netting in a full spectrum of colors to blend in with your home’s color scheme.

Sonic Bird Deterrents

These devices emit distress and predator calls that make birds too nervous to hang around your home. Some devices broadcast the sound of Peregrine falcons (a pigeon's dreaded enemy) defending their territory. Others emit the sounds of predator hawks screeching and gulls under attack. One of the most versatile sonic bird deterrents generates distress and predator calls for 22 different types of birds. By they way, these sounds resemble natural bird-calls to the human ear, so they won’t bother you, your neighbors or your pets.

Red-Tail Hawk Decoys

Most birds fear hawks—especially Red Tail Hawks. That's why a realistic looking hawk decoy can keep birds away from your front porch or driveway. The point is to get a quality made hawk decoy that looks real and stays looking real after several rainy seasons and hot summers. Just remember, most birds won't be fooled for long, so you'll need to move these decoys around every week or so.

Got Pest Birds? Here's How to Scare Birds Away

by Alex A. Kecskes

While bird populations in North America have dropped considerably in the past 40 years, birds tend to nest or rest on the nation's coasts where nearly half the U.S. human population lives or works. Most birds serve an important role in the ecosystem, but three species of birds in the U.S. are considered pests. Birds categorized as pests include the pigeon, the house sparrow, and the starling. As pests, they can be legally controlled with no justification other than the property owner's displeasure. Of course, there are many other reasons to scare birds away.

Besides being a nuisance and defacing homes, boats, buildings and monuments, pest birds also pose a serious health hazard. Because of their easy and far-reaching mobility, they can vector an alarming variety of serious diseases. Among these are histoplasmosis (a lung disease that can be fatal if untreated), salmonella, ornithosis (a lower or upper respiratory disease resulting in fever, chills and headache), pseudotuberculosis (causing fever and abdominal pain), and several other diseases, including West Nile Virus via parasites (like fleas and mites) that live on their bodies or grow in their droppings.

If you want to scare birds away, it helps to know a little about the birds we regard as pests. The first of our fine-feathered friends is the pigeon. Initially introduced from Europe as pets, pigeon populations have expanded almost exponentially and are now considered by many to be pests. These birds congregate in huge numbers and contaminate public areas with their droppings. They deface both stone and metal monuments, and present a serious risk to aircraft.

Next up is the starling. An imported species not native to North America, starlings nest in roof soffits, electrical boxes, and structural crevices of buildings. Young starlings often gather in huge flocks where their droppings deface and damage structures and monuments, park benches, playgrounds and other areas.

Finally, there's the sparrow. These small birds build fancy nests in gutters, electrical boxes, roof soffits, door housings, and other man-made openings. Sparrows often create expensive problems when they clog rain gutters and downspouts. Their elaborate nests in electrical equipment can cause electrical shorts and fires.

So how to scare birds away?

For pigeons and large birds, one proven and highly effective bird barrier is the use of Bird Spike strip. They look menacing, especially to pest birds, but they won't harm them. The spikes simply discourage birds from landing. Some bird spikes are made of rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. Others employ flexible stainless steel. Another option is the Bird Spider. The spider arms flagellate with the breeze to scare birds away. Spiders are available in a wide range of diameters to deter different bird sizes and cover wider and wider areas. They require little or no maintenance and they won’t harm birds.

One of the most economical ways to scare birds away is through the use of Bird Scare products. These flashy, twirling objects and banners use iridescent reflective foil and shiny tape to create an “Optical Distraction Zone” that discourages pest birds from landing. An unusually effective bird scare product is the inflatable balloon with lifelike reflective predator eyes. These scare-eye diverters are easily attached in areas frequented by birds. Some even feature glow-in-the-dark backsides to repel birds at night. Bird scare products can be easily set up in and around patios, vineyards, pool areas, overhangs, gazebos, boats and other troublesome areas.

A more technical approach to scare birds away involves the use of Electric Shock Bird Repellers. Ideal for pigeons, seagulls and larger birds, these repellers use electrified tracks to impart a mild electric shock when birds try to land. The pest birds are not injured; the mild “jolt” just changes their roosting habits so that they move on. The tracks are easily mounted on signs, ledges, rooftops, and flat or curved surfaces. Some manufacturers offer low profile tracks that are virtually invisible from ground level. Other manufacturers offer electric tracks with a flow-through design to prevent water from damming up on rooftops and other surfaces.

Imagine the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard and you'll get an idea of what our next category of bird scare products sounds like--at least to a bird. Known as Audio Bird Deterrents, they produce ultrasonic sounds that annoy birds. Ideal for walled-off or enclosed areas like sheds, parking garages, and overhangs, these audio devices will scare most birds away--birds like pigeons, sparrows, starlings or seagulls.

Finally, there's the family of motorized products that work quite effectively to discourage pest birds from landing. These bird repellers utilize rotating arms to scare birds away. Ideal for parapet walls, roofs, signs, billboards, or any flat surface, some are battery powered, others use a plug-in power source. And some are even solar powered.

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.

Bird Barriers for Commercial Businesses

By Alex A. Kecskes

Commercial businesses have become increasingly vulnerable to pest bird infestations.  Without effective bird barriers, commercial businesses suffer millions of dollars annually due to bird damage in and around their property. Once pest birds nest and settle into a commercial business structure, they are  hard to get rid of, so the goal is to prevent them from making your business their home.

One way pest birds do a lot of damage is their bird droppings. These are so highly acidic that they have been known to eat into metal and plastic signage and crumble expensive stonework and facades. Bird nests and droppings can also clog rooftop gutters and drainage  pipes, causing extensive roof damage over time. And most commercial building managers know how damaging  bird droppings can be when left to gather on AC systems.

Aside from the physical damage, bird droppings splattered on windows, banners and signage can ruin the image of a business. Worse yet, droppings left to gather on walkways, entrances and fire escapes could create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards, which can lead to expensive litigation. Obviously, bird barriers are a must for any commercial business enterprise.

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. Worse yet, bird droppings and their nesting materials contain insects and mites, which can further damage property and ruin stored foods and other packaged goods.

Bird Barriers for Commercial Businesses

By Alex A. Kecskes

Commercial businesses have become increasingly vulnerable to pest bird infestations.

Without effective bird barriers, commercial businesses suffer millions of dollars annually due to bird damage in and around their property. Once pest birds nest and settle into a commercial business structure, they are  hard to get rid of, so the goal is to prevent them from making your business their home.

One way pest birds do a lot of damage is their bird droppings. These are so highly acidic that they have been known to eat into metal and plastic signage and crumble expensive stonework and facades. Bird nests and droppings can also clog rooftop gutters and drainage  pipes, causing extensive roof damage over time. And most commercial building managers know how damaging  bird droppings can be when left to gather on AC systems.