As a car rental agency, you know it's all about image. You need the best rental rates and the cleanest cars. What you don't need is pest birds defacing your expensive signs, displays and banners. You also don't need bird droppings eating into the paint of your most in-demand models. You wash your cars often enough, you don't need to wash them every hour. It's time you looked into more effective bird control measures.
One Australian car rental agency came up with the tag "…no birds" to demonstrate their point of difference--that their rental cars were bird-poop free. They're now known as the No-Birds Car Rental agency. In the competitive car rental business, you need every edge you can get, and certainly a bird-free lot full of clean cars can give you that extra advantage.
Before resorting to lethal means of bird control, rental car operators should consider local, state and federal statutes concerning specific pest birds and their protected status. Rather that get stuck in a quagmire of bird protection statutes, many companies have turned to non-lethal, humane bird control measures. Below are a few effective approaches that'll keep your cars and lots bird free.
Bird Spikes--Install these deterrents on your rooftops, signs and light posts and pest birds will be unable to land near them. The blunted spikes won't harm birds or maintenance crews. Choose durable stainless steel or rigid unbreakable polycarbonate spikes. The spiked strips can be screwed or glued to virtually any flat surface or ledge. Today's bird spikes even come in various colors--including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear--to blend in with your company's exterior décor.
Mega Spikes--If your rental agency is situated on the coast or in a rural area, you may want to install these Mega Spikes. Ideal for deterring gulls, cormorants, vultures, Mega Spikes, come with 7-inch long spikes of marine-grade stainless steel. The best bird control spikes are crush-proof with a non-reflective metal finish. When shopping for spikes, opt for devices that have a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base, which gives the spike the flexibility to bend around curved surfaces.
Gutter Spikes--If pest birds keep nesting and roosting in your rain gutters, you need Gutter Spikes. These handy bird control devices will deter seagulls, crows and pigeons. Look for Gutter Spikes that have adjustable clamps at the base, which makes them easy to install to the lip of a gutter.
Bird Gels--Pest birds hate to walk on this stuff. Bird gels are transparent and stay sticky for about 6 months. Birds take a few steps on the tacky gel and can't wait to leave. The gels work in temperatures from 15F to 200F degrees and are easily applied using a standard caulking gun. The best gels are non-toxic and safe for most birds and people. Bird Gels are ideal for use against crows, gulls, pigeons, sparrows, starlings and many other species of birds.
Bird Slopes--Most business facades have all sorts of canopies, nooks and crannies where birds can hide and build their nests. Bird Slope panels fit into these areas to create a slippery angled surface that prevents pest birds from getting a grip. After a few tries of "slip-n-slide," they give up and move on. The best panels are made of U.V.-protected PVC so they'll last longer in sun and hash weather. One well-known manufacturer even offers Bird Slopes in several different colors--including stone and grey--to match your building's aesthetics.
Bird Spiders--To keep your rooftops, awnings, canopies and tents free of pest birds and their droppings, consider using Bird Spiders. The spider's long wiggly arms whip around in the breeze to discourage a wide variety of pest birds--including pigeons, crows, gulls, cormorants and raptors. Bird spiders come in several arm lengths to extend their deterrent effect. One of the best things about these handy devices is that they can be easily moved around from place to place wherever they're needed.
Bird Netting--To lock out pest birds from under canopies, tents and awnings, there's Bird Netting. It comes in various mesh sizes to exclude pigeons, sparrows, starlings and seagulls. The best bird netting meets ISO 1806 protocols, is U.V. stabilized, rot-proof and waterproof. Use non-conductive netting in areas where electrical conductivity can cause a problem--like lighting fixtures and wiring, or next to antenna arrays. You can also get bird netting in several colors--including white, stone or black, so it's not so visually intrusive.
Bird Wires--Birds just hate to land on these wobbly post-and-wire systems. And when they do, they can't seem to get their balance and finally leave. Ideal for keeping birds off roofs, ledges, canopies and tents, bird wires are safe and humane. The best bird wire systems use nylon coated stainless steel wire. They are an affordable, low-profile, low-visibility bird control measure for use against pigeons, crows, gulls and many other birds. One note: avoid using bird wire in areas where birds have been nesting.
Hawk Decoys--These work, but they have to be real looking and you have to move them around occasionally. The thing is, most birds have a deep-rooted fear of hawks. And for good reason--they're extremely skilled hunters. The best Hawk Decoys are easy to mount and display, and the better-designed ones are made of heavy duty plastic. Quality made hawk decoys tend to hold up better in harsh weather. Some decoys are hollow, so you can fill them with sand for added stability in windy areas.
Bird Scare Visual Deterrents--These bird control measures are so inexpensive, you can attach them all over your lot and buildings. Choose reflective foils that crackle in the breeze, shiny tape banners that crinkle in the wind, or balloons with huge predator eyes that bob and weave. Birds don't like the feeling of alarm and distraction they get from these deterrents. And, like decoys, you'll need to swap out these deterrents on a regular basis to keep birds from getting to cozy with them.
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