Say Hello to Commercial Bird Control and Good-Bye to Bird Droppings

Businesses have a lot to lose when it comes to pest birds. A long roofline, parapet wall or ledge can quickly draw dozens of birds. And once they take hold and start to nest, you’ll have an ever-increasing flock to deal with. The solution is to implement some effective commercial bird control.  While you may not like the idea of investing in such protective measures during these hard economic times, the cost of not keeping birds away will be far greater—in cleanups, repairs and even lost business.

In terms of cleanups, you’ll have to remove unsightly bird droppings from your store entrance, signage, windows and doors. That means your staff will be wasting time doing cleanups instead of other vital business functions. Wait too long and cleanups will become a daily job.

In term of repairs, birds can cause considerable damage to your electrical signage, lighting systems, security cameras and rooftop AC units. They can even clog your rain gutters, causing eventual roof damage. Without effective commercial bird control, you’ll have to pay for this damage sooner or later.

In terms of lost business, nothing ruins your image faster than bird droppings on your signage, windows, awnings, doors and walkways. So if you don’t clean these off—a costly, time-consuming chore—you’ll lose customers.  And that’s the last thing you need in this tough economy.

The good news is that professional bird control companies know exactly what you’re facing. And they’ve developed entire lines of commercial bird control products to help you get rid of pest birds.  These include:

Bird Spikes. Available in strong, rigid unbreakable polycarbonate or flexible stainless steel, bird spikes won’t allow birds to land. They’re easy to install using nails, screws or glue, and they won’t harm birds.

No Knot Bird Netting. To block pest birds from gathering around AC units, signage, eaves, canopies and other areas. This netting is light, handles easily, and is made of flame resistant polypropylene. When buying bird netting, look for brands that are ISO 1806 Protocol mesh tested and UV stabilized.

Bird Slope. These angled, slippery PVC panels won’t allow birds to land. Look for slope panels that are UV protected and sun- and weather-resistant. The panels come in stone and grey to blend in with most architectural styles.
Bird Sonics. These emit predator and distress sounds that discourage birds from nesting and roosting. One bird control sonic system emits distress and predator calls for up to 22 types of birds. The calls resemble normal bird sounds to the human ear and won’t irritate pets or annoy people. 

Electric Tracks. Ideal for use on ledges, rooflines, parapet walls, eaves and signs, these electrified tracks impart a harmless shock to birds’ toes so they’ll move on.  The best tracks have a low-profile design and measure just 1/4-inch at their highest point. Another feature to look for: a flow-thru design to prevent water from damming up on rooftops.

Food Facilities Require Diligent Bird Control

The food industry is normally concerned with controlling insect and rodent pets inside their packaging facility. Food naturally attracts these pests and the industry is strictly regulated as to what chemicals can safely be used inside these facilities. Taking a stroll outside the plant to check for possible infestation of pest birds is also imperative. Birds like pigeons tend to gather on large open rooftops, perching along edges and overhangs. Overlooking bird control for the exterior of a food plant can be very bad for business.

In most states, the Department of Health checks for proper implementation of bird control methods on industrial structures. When birds are damaging the outside of the structure or destroying grass and plants surrounding the structure, this can earn the plant a failing grade. If pest birds are not kept under strict control, their feces can compromise food safety and sanitation, not to mention the company’s reputation.

Pigeon droppings that are allowed to build up on rooftops can begin to eat through the protective materials, causing roof leaks or even complete collapse. This threatens the physical safety of the building occupants. Bird feces that become dry can spread disease through airborne particles containing crytococcus or histoplasmosis, two fungi that are commonly found in pigeon waste. If the fungi are airborne, they can cause flu-like symptoms in humans who ingest or inhale the nasty agents. Birds that hang out along the ledge overlooking a food facility’s dock area can create health issues when their dropping are found on packaging goods or transport equipment, forklifts, truck ramps, or dock landings. Bird control techniques can be easily installed to keep food plant workers safe and healthy.

Factory rooftops can best be protected using a combination of bird spikes and bird spider bird deterrents. The bird spikes are strips of stainless steel or plastic strips that hold vertical strands of steel of plastic fibers in place. The strands come in three, five and eight-inch width that fit most typical building ledges. The bird spikes are sun and weatherproof and designed to take the heat or cold without deforming or cracking. They can be glued, screwed or tied securely in place, and are effective immediately upon installation. The spikes create an unstable, no-landing zone around the perimeter of the roof. 

Typically factory roofs are flat and very large. The most common flat rooftop visual and physical bird deterrent may be the constant motion bird spider.  A simple concept, this bird control tool plays to a feathered flier’s sense of safety. Pigeons and other pest birds require solid, still, and predictable areas for landing and gathering.  If they feel threatened or uncomfortable, they may land temporarily, but they won’t stay.  The stainless steel tentacles of the bird spider arch out from a PVC base, held in place with bolts or sandbags. The air moves these strands to and fro, creating an atmosphere of constant movement and uncertainly for any birds that may land.

Keep Birds Away From Rooftop Vents

by Terra Anders

The breaking news showed a shocking story of an El Paso family who was living in a scene ripped right out of the Alfred Hitchcock thriller, “The Birds.”  A gas leak was suspected in their recently purchased home. As the homeowner climbed up into the attic in search of the location of the leak, what he found was horrific. Over two feet of dead birds lined the floor of the attic, with various degrees of rotting and skeletal remains! Two feet of bones, feathers, decaying carcass and feces can contain the potential for any number of unknown diseases to be transmitted through the home’s air ducts and ventilation system. Under the layers of rotting remains, the landowner found the source of the gas leak. This discovery clearly shows the need for appropriate bird control measures to be set in place to keep birds away from home ventilation ducts.

Most birds love nooks and crannies. They often seek places that will provide warmth and protection from their natural predators. Once birds find a safe nesting place, they will nest there year after year. One can easily see how, without proper bird control products put in place, home sweet home can quickly become horror house on the hill.  Preventing this kind of catastrophe can easily be avoided with just a few simple bird exclusion steps.

Check all vents and openings, and the cavities they lead to, before installing any bird control product. Making sure there are not existing lint, debris, birds, nests, or chicks inside is critical. Some experts suggest placing a small metal mesh screen inside the vents to keep birds and rodents out. However, wire screens with small mesh can be a fire hazard if used on dryer vents. They can also ice up in the winter, preventing the vents from working properly. Instead, consider using hardware cloth, found at any hardware store. This is the same material that beekeepers use to cover beehive openings. Plastic hardware cloth resists rusting when exposed to the elements and the mesh size ranges from ½-inch to 1-inch. It can be cut to size and fitted inside the vents, preventing small creatures from traveling into the venting system. Unlike metal mesh, it won’ rust, but it will need to be cleaned out regularly to remove any built up lint or debris.

Look for cracks or holes in the house siding, particularly openings in water or gas pipes enter leaving spaces for birds or rodents to fit through. Flexible copper mesh, like Stuf-fit Copper Mesh is the perfect exclusion material because it can simply be stuffed and molded into the gap and packed in tightly around odd shaped holes. It won’t rust, and the weave of the copper substrate makes it extremely difficult for birds to peek their way through.

Placing a Red-Tail Hawk decoy near the vents is another very easy bird deterrent that will discourage birds from settling in or near the exterior vents. The hawk is a natural predator for many bird species, so planting one near the roof top ducts with work on birds’ natural instinct to flee from danger. This life-like bird deterrent is easy to use.  Just open up the base, fill with sand for weight, and place the decoy in the area near the vent. Moving the placement every couple weeks during breeding season is recommended when the population of birds seeking safe nesting spots increases.

Don’t wait until your home becomes a nightmare, be proactive now and protect your home before the spring nesting season sets in.