by Alex A. Kecskes
Not too long ago, if you wanted to get rid of pest birds, there weren't too many options when it came to bird repellents. You could get out your trusty shotgun and pepper them with birdshot, or whip out your booming bird cannon--its ear-splitting bang scattered birds by the hundreds. Trouble was, you could only use cannon in an open field far from civilization. The same basically held true for shotguns. You couldn't just open fire in the suburbs, near parks or city buildings, or anywhere people live, work or gather in large numbers. Another problem with these "one-shot" bird repellents was that pest birds would almost always come back. Culling pest birds by poison was and still is frowned upon by most people, especially local governments and animal rights groups.
Only recently have bird repellents emerged as truly effective, viable and humane. Such devices and methods are long overdue. For pest birds cost the U.S. millions of dollars annually in damage and repair. Homeowners, boat owners, facilities managers and public municipalities all have faced the problems pest birds create. Each has their own special set of problems, which accounts for the growing variety of bird repellents one now has to choose from.
Homeowners Under Siege
For example, homeowners can relate to roof damage, a persistent and costly problem caused by pest birds. The acid in bird droppings will, over time, eat through many substrates, especially tar-based roofing materials. It doesn't take long for bird droppings to destroy an average roof. The problem becomes worse when birds build their nests in rain gutters, drains and roof corners, allowing water to build up and spread under tiles and shingles. This kind of prolonged water damage can cause a roof to collapse, creating a big expense for homeowners. 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. The new breed of bird repellents has taken center stage in helping homeowners deter pest birds.
Building Owners and Facilities Managers Feel the Pain
Building owners and facilities managers have also suffered from the ravages of pest birds. The acid in bird droppings can ruin air conditioning equipment, block and eat into solar panels, and crumble electrical insulation. The sheer bulk and accumulation of bird droppings can seize up rooftop ventilation turbines and block industrial skylights. Fresh bird droppings can also create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards for maintenance and repair crews. Birds nesting in electrical boxes or near machinery can ignite fires, since their twig and straw nests are highly flammable. Then there are the health hazards pest birds create. Bird droppings have been known to carry any of 60 diseases. The need for effective bird repellents has never been greater for facilities managers and building owners.
Big Problem for Food Industry
The food industry knows fair well the problems caused by pest birds. Bird droppings destroy plastics and contaminate packaged food. Birds can invade warehouses, packing plants and food preparation areas to easily contaminate food being processed or formulated. And what restaurant hasn't lost customers from pest birds contaminating signs and outdoor eating areas? Clearly bird repellents area sorely needed to prevent serious business losses.
Most Effective Bird Repellents
For homeowners and boat owners, the bird repellent that has been widely used with considerable success is the Bird Scare device. These are the flashy, reflective foil and shiny tape banners you'll see on boats and patios. They wave and rattle in the breeze, creating an “Optical Distraction Zone” that pest birds hate. Also falling into this category are Bird Scare Balloons, which have large predator eyes to frighten pest birds.
Next up is the Bird Spike. These spiked strips have threatening-looking stainless steel or rigid unbreakable polycarbonate spikes that make it virtually impossible for pest birds to land. The blunted spikes are harmless to birds and humans. Bird spikes are a highly effective bird deterrent used on rooftops, signs, building ledges and other flat areas.
Many restaurants know the advantages of using a simple, but highly effective pest bird deterrent known as the Bird Spider. This device incorporates spider-like arms that wave menacingly in the breeze to keep pest birds going near it. The Spider arms come in different lengths to create ever-wider diameters of deterrent for different bird sizes.
Another noteworthy pest bird deterrent is the Bird Slope. These PVC panels offer a very slippery surface that birds find impossible to set foot on. The panels are easy to install and ideal for eaves, ledges, beams and other 90-degree crannies where pest birds try to nest. Working in just the opposite mode is Bird Gel, which leaves a sticky surface birds hate to land on. It's safe for most birds and is easily applied using a caulking gun on any flat or curved surface.
For large areas like groves, vineyards, airplane hangars, warehouses, there's almost no substitute for Bird Netting. This bird deterrent comes in various mesh sizes to keep out a wide assortment of pest birds--including sparrows, pigeons, starlings and seagulls. The best netting is flame resistant, U.V. stabilized, and rot and waterproof. Non-conductive netting is also available for installation near electrical power equipment.
Also making the list of viable bird repellents are Foggers and Misters. Ideal for groves and vineyards, these systems spray a food-grade, non-lethal aerosol of methyl anthranilate. The stuff is harmless to birds, but it does irritate them when they fly through it. And one pass is enough to keep them away for a long time.
A bird repellent pest birds really hate is the Electric Track Repellant. Birds set one foot on these devices and ZAP, they get a jolt of juice they won't soon forget. The harmless electric shock is safe for birds and humans. Ideal for pigeons, seagulls and larger birds, the best electric tracks have a flow-through design to prevent water from pooling around them and leaking into nearby surfaces.
Finishing up with a version of the sound bird deterrent, we leave you with Audio Bird Repellents. Ideal for parking garages, overhangs and other enclosed areas, these sonic systems emit predator and distress calls that discourage pest birds from coming near. They are particularly effective against pigeons, sparrows, starlings, and seagulls.
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