Bird repellents

Say bye-bye birdie

By Alex A. Kecskes

As much as we love to hear them sing and coo, wild birds can be quite a nuisance. The damage they cause can be very expensive and time-consuming to repair. Their poop can discolor paint, stain wood and eventually erode metal. Even worse, if you own a restaurant or café with outdoor seating, bird deposits can carry and transmit any of 60 known diseases. All the more reason to consider keeping them away from your property. Fortunately, there are many bird repellants on the market that will do just that. Most are humane, inexpensive and easy to install.

For pigeons and large birds, there are a variety of bird spikes that will do the trick. These bird repellents have spikes made of rigid unbreakable polycarbonate, or in some cases, stainless steel. For awnings and patio covers, bird spiders are an ideal option—the spider arms flagellate with the breeze, so birds will think twice about trying to navigate a landing. Spiders are available in a wide range of diameters to cover different size areas. They require little or no maintenance and, as intimidating as they look, they won’t harm birds.

Bird Repellents…Without Them, You'll Pay Through the Beak

by Alex A. Kecskes
Why bird repellents, you ask? They sing, bob their heads, flutter their wings and coo.  Who can resist the cute little things? In cages, and in small numbers in trees and forests, they're no bother at all. But nesting in flocks on your property, they soon become pests. Here's why.

Birds Cost Us Millions Every Year

Pest birds cause millions of dollars of damage annually to motor vehicles, structures, machinery, roofs, ventilation systems and warehoused products, aircraft, the list goes on and on.

Another reason to look into bird repellents is roof damage, a costly problem. Acidic bird droppings eat away at many substrates, especially tar-based roofing materials. In a fairly short time, bird droppings can literally destroy a roof. In addition, many types of birds often build their nests in drains, rain gutters, roof corners, allowing water to build up. This can cause a roof to collapse, resulting in a huge expense for the property owner. In fact, pigeons have invaded attics of houses, apartments, restaurants and other buildings, built colonies of nests to cause catastrophic damage. Over time, the sheer weight of their accumulated droppings caused ceilings to collapse.

Pest birds can also block ventilation systems. Nests built in these systems can spread diseases and eventually block airflow. Birds have also been known to build nests in infrequently used chimneys. This can trap lethal carbon monoxide gas when the fireplace is eventually used. Nests built in or near electrical boxes or machinery can ignite fires as most are made of twigs, straw and dried droppings, which are highly flammable. Proper bird repellents can save thousands of dollars, and possibly even lives in these situations.