Bird Repellents for Banks

by Alex A. Kecskes

Pest birds can be a real nuisance. So much so that they can actually drive customers away form your place of business.

In the parking lot of Hallandale Beach bank in South Florida, birds have been attacking people for some time now. The slender-billed grackles have been nesting on a ledge just outside of the bank and have been swooping down on customers. Some believe that the birds who arrived about four years ago are simply protecting their turf. Bank officials say their hands are tied because the grackles are a protected species, so no lethal means can be used to remove them. The birds make their attack runs just before the bank closes, which is when most people are coming and going out of the bank. One woman was recently attacked by five birds and ran for the cover of her car.

Banks and other commercial enterprises needn’t stand by helplessly as their customers are attacked by birds. There are a number of commercial available bird repellents that they can use to discourage the birds from nesting on their premises. Two of these bird repellents are listed below:

Chemical Bird Repellents

Humane and effective against a wide variety of large and small birds, Chemical Bird Repellents create a sticky landing area that birds would rather avoid.  While not actually trapping them, it makes birds feel trapped. Once they land on the tacky surface, they will leave and seek a more hospitable area to build their nests. Ideal for keeping birds off ledges, trees, fences and bushes or shrubs, the non-toxic liquid gel won't harm birds or people. It’s easily applied using a hand or pressure spray gun with a discharge pressure between 40 to 150 psi (you can get these hand-held pump sprayers at most local hardware stores). A one-gallon container will treat about 120 square feet. And a single application lasts as long as six months outdoors. One caveat: Avoid using chemical bird repellents on building structures, vertical or porous surfaces, or where birds have been nesting.

Fogging Agents

An ideal pest bird repellent, Bird Fogging Agents will clear out a wide range of birds that stubbornly resist leaving an area. They will “persuade” gulls, mallards, Canada geese, pigeons, starlings, blackbirds, cowbirds and many other species of birds to move to another site.  If pest birds have commandeered your building, one quick way to convince them to leave is by fogging the area. Most fogging agents are humane and won't harm birds, people or pets. This is because the chemical they use is a food-grade methyl anthranilate—basically a non-lethal grape extract regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) under FIFRA (the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act). 

For best repellent effect, fogging agents should be used in the early morning or late evening when the birds are flocked together and eating. Keep in mind that these chemicals require training and experience to properly handle and apply. If you have a bird problem, it’s best to consult an experienced professional.