by Alex A. Kecskes
The Army Corp of Engineers recently built a new Defense Distribution Depot at Pearl Harbor. The building was designed to store a variety of materials and goods the military needs for various operations in the area.
Recognizing that other military airplane hangars and warehouses had pigeon problems, the Army decided to be proactive when it came to pigeon control. They knew that the traditional cross-beam structures used in hangars and warehouses presented an attraction to pigeons looking for a place to roost and nest. To circumvent a costly pigeon problem, the Army included bird barriers in the form of pigeon and bird control netting in its design of the new depot. Netting effectively blocks birds from the entire area, forcing them to find other areas to perch, roost and nest.
Pigeon control netting was installed across the entire ceiling of the new warehouse, which excluded pigeons from the support beams. The 3/4" mesh netting was supported by a cabling system, and care had to be taken to ensure that the netting was correctly tensioned. Improperly tensioned netting would have left gaps large enough for pigeons to squeeze through. Boom lifts were used to properly install the netting so it wouldn’t rip or tear. Bird net zippers were installed in the horizontal bird net surface to allow maintenance crews access to lighting fixtures.
One of the most effective pigeon control products available, bird netting comes in various sizes to exclude different bird species. The 3/4-inch mesh size excludes everything from pigeons to sparrows. Better bird netting consists of twisted and knotted polyethylene twine designed to last 10 years or more. Netting now comes in various colors, making it nearly invisible from ground level.
Once installed, the new Defense Distribution Depot was protected from the nuisance and expense of pigeons. The high tech equipment and supplies in this warehouse would not be vulnerable to the damaging effects of pigeon droppings.
There are hundreds of military bases across the U.S. Each can fall victim to the damage and defacement caused by pest birds. The uric acid in bird droppings can damage electronics, machinery, engine parts, weapons and explosives. Damage to these things can be very expensive, something today’s tight military budgets can ill afford.
Unless effective bird proofing measures are implemented, military buildings, depots and structures will be vulnerable to pest bird infestations. Pest birds can also create fire hazards with their accumulation of nesting materials and feathers—these combine to make excellent kindling. Bird droppings carry diseases that can impact a military installation’s manpower readiness. Cleaning up dried bird droppings can be expensive, since cautions must be taken in the form of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Last but not least are the slip-and-fall hazards bird droppings create on warehouse floors and air hangars.
In addition, to bird netting, there are a number of other bird proofing devices that can be used to repel pest birds from military installations. Just as popular as bird netting are Bird Spikes. Used to keep pest birds away from the White House, bird spikes prevent birds from landing on or near them. Harmless to birds and installation crews, bird spikes come in strong, rigid unbreakable polycarbonate or flexible stainless steel. They are easy to install on most any surface using nails, screws or glue. For really large birds like seagulls, cormorants, turkey vultures and raptors, there’s the Mega Spike, which features 7-inch spikes of marine-grade stainless steel. To keep pest birds out of rain gutters and spouts, consider using the Gutter Spike. It’s specially designed to keep pigeons and other large birds out of these commonly infested areas.
No comments:
Post a Comment