by Alex A. Kecskes

No matter how you feel about birds, when they invade your property en masse, they can be a real nuisance. Consider the damage just a few bids can do to your gutters, rooftop AC units, skylights, air vents and solar panels. Over time, their acidic droppings eat into these areas and devices, which can be very costly to repair or replace. Bird droppings left on your car, van, boat or RV can ruin the finish, especially if you wait too long to wash off the droppings.

There’s also the problem of bird nests and nesting debris, which can cause fires when they are built too close to any electrical device, exterior wiring or light fixture.

Finally, if you fancy eating outdoors, there’s the problem of diseases that pest birds carry—they can transmit any of 60 known diseases. Unless you control pest birds with bird guards or bird barriers, they will land on tables, chairs, BBQs awnings, pool ledges and spa areas. And every time they do, there’s the potential for them to drop a disease carrying “load.”  

The solution, of course, is to install bird guards and bird barriers on your property. Two of the most popular bird control devices that fall into these categories are Bird Spikes and Bird Netting.

Bird Spikes Won’t Let ‘em Land

Whether you get stainless steel spikes or plastic, these deterrents are humane and highly effective.  Both are easy to install and essentially maintenance free. The plastic bird spikes cost a bit less and come in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths and two-foot spike strips. A single row of bird spikes usually covers a 7-inch wide area. The best plastic spikes have a flexible base that adapts to curved surfaces. Each spiked strip comes pre-drilled with holes along the base. The strips can also glued in place by using a glue trough at the base of each spike strip. Concerned about how bird spikes will look on your property? Not to worry. They now come in a full range of colors--including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and even crystal clear. Custom colors are also available.

Create a Bird-Proof Barrier with Bird Netting

Bird Netting creates a barrier that blocks out most pest birds. It can keep everything from sparrows to pigeons from invading the nooks and crannies of your property. What’s more, like bird spikes, netting is a humane bird deterrent that won’t harm birds.

For bird netting that lasts, opt for Heavy-Duty polyethylene Bird Netting. It’s made from a U.V. stabilized mesh and comes in various sizes and custom cuts. The key here is to choose the right mesh size for the pest bird you’re having problems with. The three most popular mesh sizes include 2-inch mesh, 1 1/8-inch mesh, and 3/4-inch mesh.

The most rugged netting is ISO 1806 protocol mesh tested, flame resistant and rot- and waterproof. This durable netting consists of 6 monofilaments, each12/1000s of an inch thick. The monofilaments are twisted together to create a tough twine with 160-200 twists per meter.  This high quality bird proof netting is frequently specified by architects.

To get the most deterrent effect out of bird netting, you must install it properly. Before installing Heavy Duty Bird Netting, thoroughly clean the area of bird droppings, nesting materials, loose rust, peeling paint or other debris. Improperly installed netting will sag or droop, leaving gaps that birds can work through. The one thing to remember here is that pest birds can be very resourceful when it comes to sneaking through netting. For best results in large installations, cables should be set up around the area and the net should then be attached to this cable.

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.

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 spiked 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.