by Alex A. Kecskes
Pest birds have pooped all over your new statue. They've covered your sign with "dried mayo," and someone has threatened to sue you for slipping on bird poop as they entered your property. You've had it with the invasion of these fine-feathered "friends." You're ready to stick your head out of your window and yell, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" Relax. There are many ways to scare birds away. And keep them away. Without resorting to poisons or firearms. They run the gamut from economical to high-tech. Most can be used in any location or circumstance. Best of all, they're humane and effective in discouraging a wide range of pest birds from landing, pooping and nesting on your property.Since the economy is in a downturn, we'll start with the simplest, most economical bird guard--the Bird Scare Products. These "shoo" birds away by capitalizing on their fear of shiny things that jostle in the wind. They include iridescent reflective foil or flash tape, scare balloons, banners and the like that serve to create an “Optical Distraction Zone” for most pest birds. Some bird scare balloon chasers have giant eyes that look predatory and threatening. All are easy to install and won't harm birds. They're ideal for gazebos, overhangs, patios, vineyards, parks, pool and spa areas, boat docks and other open areas. The Bird Diverter, uses scare-eye images to deter pest birds. Like the chaser, they're simple to install and surprisingly effective. Some bird diverters serve double duty, with iridescent foil eyes to scare birds by day and glow-in-the-dark on the flip side to shoo them away when it gets dark.Last but not least are the higher tech solutions, bird deterrents that scare birds using sound.When it comes to sound, today's sound bird deterrents can be quite effective. Some audio bird guards create shrill predator and bird distress calls to scare birds away. Others just produce annoying sounds that drive birds away. All are ideal for enclosed areas like parking garages, sheds and overhangs to deter a wide range of pest birds, including sparrows, starlings, pigeons, seagulls and larger birds.So, if you're troubled by pest birds, you don't have to take it any more!Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Birds Destroying Your Roof? Time for Serious Bird Control
As a homeowner, you should know that birds can seriously damage your roof. It doesn’t matter if you have a wood, tile, metal or asphalt shingle roof. Without effective bird control measures to deter them, Birds can peck and claw under roofing tiles in search of insects, leaving gaps that can cause leaks.
Besides damage from pecking and ripping, the acid in bird droppings can eat into tar-based roofing materials to degrade your roof. Bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials can also clog attic ventilation turbines, block skylights, and reduce the efficiency of solar panels. This debris can even clog gutters, causing rainwater to seep under roofing tiles to create leaks. Finally, feathers, small twigs and dried droppings can be extremely flammable, especially in windy areas. Bird droppings can erode electrical wiring. And one spark is all it takes to start a rooftop fire. Let’s face it, as a homeowner, roof leaks and expensive roof repairs are the last things you need in this economy. Fortunately, there are some very effective bird proofing devices you can get that will keep birds off your roof. Here are three recommended by bird control experts: Sweep them off with the Repeller 360Powered by the wind, the Repeller 360° has two "sails" mounted at both ends of a 6' stainless steel arm. These sails feature reflective bird predator eyes. Spun by the wind, the arms rotate 360° to continually discourage any bird who may land on your roof. Create a No-Perch Zone with Stainless Steel Bird SpikesEasy to install on rooflines and rooftop areas, Stainless Steel Bird Spikes have been used by homeowners for years worldwide. These anti-perching, anti-roosting spiked strips simply won’t allow even large birds (like crows and gulls) to land on your roof. The highest quality spikes are made of stainless steel pins embedded in a UV-protected polycarbonate base. These are USA made and come with 10-year guarantee. The spikes are available in four different widths--1”, 3”, 5” and 8”—to protect wider and wider roof-top areas, yet each can be securely affixed to a 1.5” narrow base. Look for bird spikes that have a glue trough and pre-drilled mounting holes for quick, easy installation.Scare them away with Sonic Bird DeterrentsBirds are alert to the sounds of impending danger. And Sonic Bird Deterrents create those sounds, discouraging birds from making your house their home. These clever devices broadcast a series of pre-recorded distress and predator calls that resemble a bird’s natural enemy. If your roof is attracting several bird species, get the Bird Chase Super Sonic. It’s extremely versatile, emitting distress and predator calls for 22 different species of birds. You can even program it to turn on or off at night. The sounds emitted are natural bird sounds, so your pets and neighbors can rest easy.Thursday, November 8, 2012
Bird Control to Keep Birds Out of Rain Gutters
by Alex A. Kecskes
If you’re wondering why your rain gutters are becoming increasingly clogged and your roof is beginning to leak, it might be because you have bird nests in your gutters. You see, when rain gutters are blocked, rain water will overflow under roofing tiles and shingles, and eventually cause leaks. Roof leaks can be expensive to repair, so an ounce of prevention is easily worth a pound of cure. Unless you install effective bird control measures to keep birds out of your rain gutters, you’ll continue to have gutter and roofing problems. The thing is, once pest birds of any kind decide to roost and build their nests in your rain gutters, their scent (bird droppings, feathers, dead insects, etc) will draw other birds. And so it goes until your gutters are completely blocked and overflowing whenever it rains. These nests can also breed disease, for birds can carry and/or transmit any of 60 known diseases—including Histoplasmosis and West Nile Virus. If your rain gutters pass over your bedroom window, you’ll also have to deal with the noise of nesting birds every morning. The solution, of course, is to implement an effective pest bird deterrent to keep birds out of your gutters. And the best time to install bird proofing measures is before birds arrive. One proven way to keep birds out of your gutters is to install Gutter Spikes. These specialy engineering devices are ideal for preventing large birds from occupying your gutters.The best gutter bird spikes have adjustable “C” clamps at the base, which makes them easy to mount to the lip of any size gutter. The spikes are sold in 6-foot and 50-foot packs, and they come in 2-foot long sections, each 4-inches wide. Properly attached, these spikes prevent pest birds from negotiating a landing in the gutter. Birds will simply move on to more hospitable landing zones. The rugged stainless steel spikes are virtually invisible and will offer years of pest bird protection. Before installing bird spikes, be sure to clean out your gutters. Remove any loose rust, peeling paint, bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials. To be on the safe side, use commercial disinfecting cleaning agents to prevent exposure to the airborne diseases carried by birds. It’s also a good ideal to use eye and respiratory protection if your gutters are heavily packed with nests and bird droppings. To install gutter spikes, use the three aluminum “C” clamps attached to the base of each two-foot section. Adjust each clamp with a thumb screw. Loosen the screw, fit the clamp over the lip of the gutter, then tighten the screw to hold each strip in place. If you’re concerned about these spikes harming birds, don’t be. The best bird spikes are blunted at the tips and won’t harm birds or pets. They’ve been approved by a number of humane groups worldwide, including the U.S. Humane Society and PICAS (Pigeon Control Advisory Service).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)