Window Washing Companies Adding Bird Control

By Alex A. Kecskes

More window cleaners are adding bird control to their list of services and doing quite well at it. Add-on services are ideal for all window cleaners.  It’s rare to find a window cleaning company that only offers window cleaning service.  Most companies offer at least 2 or 3 add-on services. Adding bird control services to a window cleaning company’s offerings can fatten service contracts, especially when the client must comply with public health codes to operate—like restaurants.

One window cleaning service in California, recently added bird control and gutter cleanups to their repertoire of services.  They found the add-ons to be lucrative and a real business booster. The company pressure washes gutters and downspouts to clear out leaves and bird debris. The add-on services represent as much as 40 percent of the company’s overall business, with bird control being among the fastest growing areas. The company notes that selling clients on added services is fairly straightforward, since clients who are particular about clean glass want to avoid pest birds and their droppings.

Commercial window cleaning companies are realizing that pigeons and other pest birds can create a messy situation. A single mating pair of pigeons, for example, can quickly turn into a small flock, and in a year or so, they can cover a commercial building with unsightly droppings. To make matters worse, pigeons and many pest birds seem to be attracted to the scent of their droppings.

Pest bird droppings left on windows can carry a variety of diseases. Pigeons, for example, carry Ornithosis (psittacosis), Encephalitis, Newcastle disease, Toxoplasmosis, Salmonella food poisoning and other diseases. More customers are becoming aware of these diseases carried by pest birds, which is why more are asking about effective bird control when they contract to have their windows cleaned.

Besides the health hazards pest birds pose, window washers are hearing from their customers that bird droppings are slippery and can create slip-and-fall hazards, a liability they would rather avoid.

If you want to add a profitable new service to your window cleaning business, consider these two popular bird control products:

Electric-Tracks. Birds get a harmless “zap” the second they land on these electrified bird control tracks. Ideal for most pest birds, these tracks will even discourage seagulls and larger birds from landing on window ledges and rooftops. They are easily installed on any flat or curved surface. The jolt imparted by these tracks tends to permanently "persuade" pest birds to change their habits and find a more hospitable ledge or rooftop. For customers concerned about aesthetics, one of the best electric tracks is a low-profile model that’s virtually invisible from the ground. It measures just 1/2-inch high by 1-3/4-inch wide and comes in 100-foot rolls. The track is available in four colors: grey, stone, black and terracotta. It’s made from a flexible U.V.-protected PVC base that can easily conform to curved or straight surfaces. For added convenience, the track can be powered by an A.C. charger or solar charger. The best electric tracks have a flow-through design to prevent water from damming up around them. Consider offering a corrosion-resistant track, which will stand up to tough alkali and acidic environments.

Bird Spikes. An ideal bird control device, bird spikes prevent birds large and small from landing on rooftops and windowsills. They come in either rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate or high strength, durable stainless steel. The spikes won't harm birds or work crews. In fact, they've been approved by a number of humane groups worldwide--including the U.S. Humane Society and PICAS (Pigeon Control Advisory Service). For customers are concerned about aesthetics, bird spikes come in various colors--including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear. They’re easy to install with glue, screws or nails. One manufacturer even offers a no-gap spike that's easy to mount on curved surfaces.

Related articles

• Pigeon Control for Architects (birdcontrolproducts.blogetery.com)
• Bird Proof Your Strip Mall with Bird Spikes (birdspikesnow.blogetery.com)
• How to Get Rid of Pigeons from Commercial Buildings (birdcontrolproducts.blogetery.com)
• Bird Control for Today's Building Managers (birdcontrolproducts.wordpress.com)

Bird Control for Today’s Building Managers

By Alex A. Kecskes

Pest birds can be a real nuisance for today’s building managers. If you manage a building or other commercial property, you’ve undoubtedly experienced many of the problems birds can cause.

Birds have a nasty habit of making themselves at home in and around rooftop AC units, ducting, ventilators and antenna structures. The same holds true for ledges and parapet walls. Birds just can’t resist perching on these areas and nesting near them. It’s safe, and chances are, there’s a dipsy-dumpster below that’s usually filled with garbage they can feast on. Pest bird nests and droppings can block skylights and solar panels, which you have to keep clean.

Without effective bird control measures, you’re continually faced with expensive and repetitive clean-ups. These clean ups can get complicated because bird droppings can contain any number of diseases. Clean up crews must be properly protected, which raises the cost of cleanups.

So what can you do to protect your building from this expensive nuisance? Plenty.

Today, you can avail yourself of a number of humane and highly effective bird control devices.

You could start by installing a tried and true bird deterrent called a Bird Spike. Ideal for use against medium to large size birds like pigeons, bird spikes are easily installed on rooftops, parapet walls and ledges.  They get the job done because birds just can’t get their wings around them to land. And they’re easy to install because they can be glued, nailed or screwed onto most surfaces. So you won’t need a special crew to mount them. You can also choose from a number of bird spike options: rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate spikes or high strength, durable stainless steel. The less expensive poly bird spikes are ideal for use around RF or cell phone antennas, since they won’t interfere with radio frequency transmissions.

If the owner of the building you manage is concerned about the appearance of bird spikes, you can assuage his or her concerns with the fact that bird spikes now come in various colors--including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear. You can even get bird spikes with a non-reflective metal finish. For best bird control, the spiked strips should be installed so that no gaps remain for birds to squeeze through.

Another effective bird control measure is No Knot Bird Netting. This netting is specifically designed to exclude pest birds from the areas they like most—around AC units, ducting and other rooftop areas. The best bird netting is fabricated of flame resistant polypropylene, chemically inert and highly resistant to many chemicals and temperature extremes. Good netting won’t rot, absorb water, or mildew. When buying netting, look for products that are ISO 1806 Protocol Mesh Tested and U.V. stabilized. 

For buildings that are vulnerable to pigeons, sparrows, starlings, crows and gulls, No Knot Bird Netting will keep them out. You can order this netting in a number of stock sizes and custom cuts--including 2- and 3/4-inch mesh. The netting is light, handles easily and is easy to install. Once again, if your building owner is concerned about the aesthetics of this bird control approach, the netting comes in several different colors--including white, stone and black.

If your building has a problem with bats, you could look into getting some Bat Netting. This heavy-duty netting keeps out these annoying birds without harming them. The best bat netting is U.V. protected with a 3/8-inch mesh. You can get it in different sizes too--typically 10’x10’, 25’x25’, 50’x50’, and 50'x100'.

Bird netting is easy to install and relatively maintenance free. When installing bird netting, make sure you properly seal off any openings around the edges, nooks and other areas where pest birds could work their way in.

Related articles

• How to Get Rid of Pigeons from Commercial Buildings (birdcontrolproducts.blogetery.com)
• Bird Proofing for Commercial Applications (birdcontrolproducts.blogetery.com)
• Get Rid of Birds with Bird Spikes (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Bird Proofing for Commercial Applications (birdcontrolproducts.blog.com)
• Get Rid of Birds with Bird Deterrents (birdcontrolproducts.blogetery.com)

Bird Guards to Keep Pest Birds Away

by Fran Prisco

When pest birds are occupying your building, how do you keep them away?  Installing humane bird guards is the answer.  Birds like sparrows, starlings and pigeons are often found landing, roosting and nesting on or near office buildings in any large city.  These birds are known as pest birds because of the damage and health risks they impose.  Not only do their nesting activities cause damage to buildings, so do their droppings.  Bird droppings are acidic and can quickly erode building materials costing building owners thousands to repair.  The droppings left behind by birds can also be a health hazard; carrying any of 60 plus communicable diseases.  Bird roosts can also harbor parasites and flees that can easily invade buildings. 

Cleaning Up Bird Droppings

It is important that safety precautions are taken when cleaning up bird droppings and debris.

• During the cleanup, seal heating and cooling air ducts or shut the system down. Only authorized cleanup personnel should be present.
• Healthy individuals should do the cleanup.
• Wear a respirator that can filter particles as small as 0.3 microns.
• Wear disposable protective gloves, hat, coveralls and shoe coverings.
• Moisten the droppings with a light mist of water to keep spores from becoming airborne and keep them wet.
• Put droppings into sealed plastic garbage bags.
• When finished and while still wearing the respirator, remove protective clothing and place it in a plastic bag.
• Wash or shower.
• Check with local government agencies to verify that disposal of the waste is permissible through standard trash pickup.

Bird Control for the Roofing Industry

by Fran Prisco

Roofs have become the favorite roosting and nesting spot of pest birds in both cities and suburbs across the nation.  Each year thousands are spent to cleanup and repair the damage caused by pest birds such as pigeons, seagulls and starlings to rooftops.  It can often be quite a challenge to get rid of birds from roof areas such as the roof edge, parapet wall and rooftop A.C. Units.   The best way to get rid of birds is to use some sort of physical bird deterrent.

Before installing any bird control system it is important to do a thorough clean up of the effected area.  Be sure all of the debris and droppings left behind by the pest birds is cleaned.  It is best to power wash or spray bird droppings down and remove them while wet.  Dried bird droppings can cause dust which when breathed in may carry any of 60 plus communicable diseases.   Bird Droppings are also acidic and can quickly erode building and roofing materials, not to mention that they are a safety hazard on sidewalks, causing slip and fall accidents.

Bird Deterrents for Roofs

Bird Spikes:

When large birds like pigeons and gulls are landing and roosting on roof edges, peaks and parapet walls, the bird spike is the most affordable and effective bird deterrent.  Bird spikes come in plastic or stainless steel.   Bird spikes are easily installed using adhesive, screws or tie downs.  When installing spikes on peaked roofs, it is best to put them on the roof edges and peaks, as that is where the birds will land first before exploring the rest of the roof.

Electric Bird Tracks:

Electric bird deterrent tracks are ideal for use on roof edges and parapet walls.  The flat tracks are easy to install with adhesive and will work with all types of bird species.  The electric shock systems give birds a mild jolt when they make contact with the track, changing the birds landing and roosting behaviors.  The best electric bird deterrents are those that are low profile and will not allow water to dam around them.  Using a direct plug in charger or a solar charger charges these systems.  Once installed, the electric tracks are easy to maintain and virtually invisible.

Bird Spiders:

When large birds are landing, roosting or nesting on rooftop A.C. units or ventilation systems, the bird spider is an ideal bird deterrent to use.  The bird spider has eight “arms” that wiggle in the breeze causing birds to land in other areas.  The bird spiders come in different diameters; from 2 foot to 8 foot in size.  Screws or adhesive easily installs them.  The bird spider is an effective method to get rid of birds on rooftops.

Related articles

• Get Rid of Birds with Bird Repellents (birdrepellents.blog.com)
• Get Rid of Birds with Bird Repellents (birdrepellent.wordpress.com)
• Get Rid of Birds with Bird Spikes (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Bird control...when you open your boat for summer (birdcontrolproducts.wordpress.com)
• Three Bird Deterrents to Protect Your Retail Business (birddeterrent.wordpress.com)

Bird control…when you open your boat for summer

 by Alex A. Kecskes

So you’re about to open your boat for the summer. You look up and see gulls circling, just waiting to plop a few choice deposits on your clean deck and shiny polished railings. It's bad enough you have to clean pounds of poop off your canvas covers, but now you'll have to worry about bird droppings all over your antenna and radar gear, windows and portholes, sheets and cleats. Without effective bird control measures, your boat's as vulnerable as a bait shack.

You know from experience that seagulls, cormorants, and pigeons enjoy perching on masts, spreaders and canvases. You also learned that the high concentration of uric acid-- found to be even higher in sea birds--could discolor paint, stain canvases and eventually erode steel. And who can ignore the health risks of bacteria and parasites that live and grow in bird droppings? They can carry any of 60 known diseases. Bird control is an investment that will save you time, money and a lot of aggravation.

Lucky for you, there are all sorts of effective bird control products for boats. All are easy to install and basically maintenance free. Here are just a few you might look into to protect you boat.

Bird Spiders

Ideal for use on decks, rooftops, and other flat surfaces, bird spiders have stainless steel “arms” that whip around in the breeze to keep pest birds from landing. Spiders come in various sizes--usually 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-foot diameter arm lengths to cover large areas and deter a wide variety of birds. An effective bird control device against pigeons, seagulls, and larger birds, spiders have no moving parts to wear out.

The best bird spiders have a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base. One manufacturer's bird spider comes pre-assembled and ready to place or mount. Most spiders come standard with a glue-on base, so they can be glued down to most surfaces. You can also get spiders with railing mounts for easy attachment to boat rails. Other attachments include a removable sand bag base that allows spiders to be used on boat canvas and Biminis, and a variety of optional boat bases that allow the spider to be used on masts and radar units. As a bird control device, bird spiders are ideal for use in areas where large flocks of pest birds have become a particularly irksome.

Solar Powered Bird Repellers

What a novel idea: use the sun's power to whisk away pest birds. Solar powered bird repellers have long blades that whip around to discourage seagulls, pigeons, and crows from landing on your boat. Some repellers even have adjustable “arms” that cover up to 5 feet in diameter and turn continuously at 30 RPM. Better systems can store the sun's converted electrical energy and tap into it to turn the repeller's arms throughout the night or during overcast days. And yes, bird repellers are harmless to birds.

Bird Spikes

Used by boat owners and marina facilities managers around the globe. Bird spikes are highly effective bird control devices for use against pigeons, seagulls and larger birds. They can keep these pests from landing on masts, towers and other areas of a vessel. You can get them in either rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate or high strength, durable stainless steel. The spikes look like a porcupine on steroids, but they're harmless to birds and people. In fact, bird spikes have been approved by a number of humane groups worldwide--including the U.S. Humane Society and PICAS (Pigeon Control Advisory Service).

Stainless steel spikes typically come in 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths, and their non-reflective metal finish makes them virtually invisible when installed. Bird spikes even come in a variety of colors--including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear.  The plastic spikes come in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths and are ideal for use on masts and radar units because there are no EM interference problems with plastic. One manufacturer even sells a no-gap spike that's easy to mount on curved surfaces.

Banners, FlashTape, Balloons

Birds of any kind don't really like to be around bright flapping things that whip around in the wind. Which is why bird scare devices are so effective when it comes to bird control on boats. They annoy and frighten many types of birds by creating an “Optical Distraction Zone.”

Take iridescent reflective foil or flash tape, for example.  It's not only inexpensive to buy but easy to attach to just about any part of your boat. String it up on masts and near radar units and birds will be too nervous to land. Another effective visual scare device, the inflatable balloon is ideal for use on masts, radar antennas and overhangs. Balloons intimidate pest birds with their lifelike reflective predator eyes and markings. Teardrop shaped scare-eye diverters are just as effective. They're easy to hang in problem areas. Some bird scare devices have iridescent foil eyes to frighten birds by day and glow-in-the-dark backsides to keep them away at night.

When installing bird scare devices, keep in mind that most birds prefer to land on the high points of a vessel, so be sure to mount these deterrents as high as possible.

Related articles

• Bird Repellents Can Reduce Your Pest Bird Expense (birdrepellent.wordpress.com)
• Opening your pool for summer? Get some Bird Control (birdcontrolproducts.wordpress.com)
• Public Pools & Resorts Opt for Bird Control (birdcontrolproducts.wordpress.com)
• Urban Areas Need Pigeon Control (pigeoncontrol.wordpress.com)

Bird Control for Flower Shops

by Alex A. Kecskes
If you own or manage a flower shop, you know it takes tender loving care to keep your flowers fresh. You also know that image is everything. Your shop must look clean and well kept at all times. After all, people who buy flowers are looking for ways to express their love and appreciation for someone else. Whether it's a wedding or birthday bouquet, or simply a very special announcement or occasion, when customers come to your shop they want to know that your flowers are fresh, clean and as beautiful as can be. These days, buying flowers is expensive and you want to do everything you can to protect your investment.

Problem: Pest birds can ruin the image of your flower shop. If you have beautiful petunia hanging baskets and flower-filled window boxes, pigeons and blue jays will attack them all spring and summer. Doves have a habit of building nests in baskets of Million Bells. Mourning Doves will leave their large messy droppings wherever they build their nests. Birds will also destroy your lovely bougainvillea plants.

Aside from the direct damage to your plants and flowers, pest birds can create an unwelcome environment for your customers. The smell of bird droppings, for example, can be a real turn off to customer looking for a wedding bouquet or tabletop arrangement.  Bird droppings can also create slippery walkways that result in dangerous slip-and-fall hazards—a huge liability should someone fall and injure themselves on your property.  Of course, just the sight of bird droppings on windows, awnings, umbrellas, doors and door handles can turn some customers away from your establishment. 

Pest birds can also cause physical damage to your flower shop. They can gather and nest on your roof, leaving nests, feathers and other debris to clog rooftop A.C. units, rain gutters and spouts. Bird droppings can eat into your signage and exterior walls to degrade and mar the finish. The last thing you need in this bad economy is repair and re-painting bills.

Solution: Bird netting and pigeon netting provide the exclusionary bird proofing you need to deny pest birds access to your flower shop. Strung across open or patio areas of your shop, Heavy-Duty Polyethylene Bird netting made from a U.V. stabilized mesh is ideal. It comes in various cuts and mesh sizes. For larger birds you'll need a 2-inch mesh; medium sized birds will require a 1 1/8-inch mesh; and smaller birds call for a 3/4-inch mesh. In most cases, netting is available in a variety of colors to blend in with color scheme of your shop. The best netting is ISO 1806 protocol mesh tested, rot-proof, and non-conductive so as not to interfere with electrical wiring or your customers' cell phone calls.

You might also consider No-Knot Bird netting--ideal for larger, horizontal applications. It's stronger than ordinary knotted polyethylene netting and 30 percent lighter. It's also less expensive to ship and easier to install than regular netting. There's no need to pull the net into shape, as you may need to do with knotted polyethylene netting. No-Knot netting comes in several mesh sizes. Use a 2-inch mesh to block out big birds like pigeons, gulls and crows, and 3/4-inch mesh to keep out sparrows and starlings.

When installing any kind of bird netting, leave no gaps, openings, wrinkles or excessive sags. Before cutting the netting, allow enough netting for perimeter fastening and overlap seams (6" min. for both). It's your flower shop. Protect it with a good bird control investment.

Related articles

• Bird Netting...an Effective, Humane Bird Deterrent (birdnet.wordpress.com)
• Bird Proofing Your Building with Bird Netting (birdproof.wordpress.com)
• Excluding Pest birds with Bird Netting (birdcontrolproducts.wordpress.com)
• Three Bird Deterrents to Protect Your Retail Business (birddeterrent.wordpress.com)
• Best Pigeon Control for Pest Pigeons (pigeoncontrol.wordpress.com)

Bird Guards to Control Invasive Pest Birds

by Alex A. Kecskes

Among the family of pest birds that plague our homes and businesses, one can include the bird type known as "invasive birds." Birds that fall into this category can pose a problem for wildlife, agriculture and, most alarmingly, human health. So what constitutes an invasive bird?

For starters, invasive species are not native to a particular area. Without bird guards to control them, they will threaten the local ecosystem and economy, and pose significant human health risks. It should be noted that not every non-native bird can be classified as invasive. Many of these nomads readily adapt to new and different ecosystems without threatening these habitats. Only when a species significantly impacts a new area can it be labeled as invasive. It's also worth noting that a species that may be considered invasive in one area may be entirely innocuous in a different region.

Birds that many consider invasive in North America include the European starling, house sparrow, mallard, mute swan, rock pigeon and Canada goose. These species and others who fall into the category of invasive are introduced to an "invaded area" a number of ways. One way is simply through geographic expansion, e.g., when one species crowds out another threatening the species or the ecosystem that supports it. Another way a species becomes invasive is when it is deliberately imported as in the case of early European settlers who brought over birds they liked from their native countries, or when farmers imported birds to control the threat of insects.

Regardless of how they came to an area, unless they are controlled with bird guards, invasive birds can create all sorts of problems. They compete for nesting sites and food sources, they eat crops and seeds, they carry any of 60 known diseases, and they disrupt an area's ecological predator/prey balance.

In many areas, invasive bird species are protected by wildlife conservation measures or migratory bird treaties. Before attempting any lethal means of control, property owners should contact their local wildlife management office. The other alternative is, of course, to use non-lethal bird guards. These are effective, humane, and run the gamut from simple to high tech. Let's look at a few.

Fogging Agents

A humane and highly effective bird guard, these chemical agents irritate a nerve in a bird's mucus membrane. Birds fly or walk through this chemical and they can't wait to leave. The chemical, a food-grade methyl anthranilate, is basically a non-lethal grape extract regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) under FIFRA (the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act). Bird fogging can be used indoors or out to deter a variety of pest birds--including gulls, mallards, Canada geese, pigeons, starlings, blackbirds and cowbirds. Fogging agents should be used in the early morning or late evening when flocks are typically feeding and grouped together. These agents have been widely used to clear airport runways and tarmacs. Golf course owners often use them to clear greens and adjacent areas of grass-eating pests. And warehouse operators have used fogging agents to clear invasive birds out of open bay storage facilities, receiving docks and similar structures.

Chemical Bird Repellents

Another way to use chemicals as a pest bird guard is through the use of Chemical Bird Repellents. These chemicals are applied to the invaded area to create an uncomfortable sticky landing zone. Ideal for use on ledges, trees, fences and bushes or shrubs, the non-toxic liquid gel is equally effective for small or large pest birds. You get a lot of repellent for your money, since a one-gallon container will usually treat 120 square feet. These repellents are easily applied using a hand or pressure spray gun with a discharge pressure between 40 to 150 psi. A single application typically lasts up to six months outdoors. One bit of advice: Don't use chemical bird repellents on vertical or porous surfaces, building structures, or where birds have been nesting.

Chemical Goose Repellents

Got geese?  Here's a bird guard that will make them leave. It's called Chemical Spray Goose Repellent. It's ideal for repelling geese from parks, shorelines, golf courses, cemeteries, lawns, yards, landscaping, shrubs, or any grassy areas. When geese eat the grass, shrubs or anything green covered with this non-toxic liquid, they can't stand the taste and move on to a more palatable menu. The chemical is basically a grape extract that's safe for pets, geese and humans. These repellents are easy to apply using standard hand-held sprayers available at most garden stores. Some chemical repellents come in a liquid concentrate that you mix with water. You apply an initial application, then wait about a week, and repeat the process. Two applications will last for approximately three months. The chemical stays effective even after a rain spell or sprinkler watering. The best goose repellent is registered with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Bird Sonic Systems 

Like most living things, birds have a fear threshold. Cross it and most birds will simply take flight. This holds true for invading bird species, since they are constantly on the lookout for predators and the distress calls of their fellow feathered friends. If you happen to be a pigeons, the sound of Peregrine falcons defending their territory will make you nervous enough to leave. If you're a starling and seagull, predator hawks screeching and gulls under attack will convince you to take flight. These are the sounds emitted by Bird Sonic Systems. The have been specially designed to broadcast natural bird sounds that are not unpleasant to humans but alarm invading birds. The best sonic bird guards can be set up to emit distress and predator calls day or night. And speaker units can easily be added to significantly expand the coverage area. The best systems will continually alter the pitch, frequency, timing and intensity of their sounds. This keeps invading birds from getting too accustomed to the sounds.

Related articles

• Bird Deterrents to Control Invasive Pest Birds (birddeterrent.wordpress.com)
• Bird Repellents for Better Bird Control (birdrepellent.wordpress.com)
• How to Get Rid of Geese from Destroying Yards (goosecontrol.wordpress.com)
• You Need a Pest Bird Guards (birdcontrolproducts.wordpress.com)
• Pest Bird Control for Amusement Parks (birdcontrolproducts.wordpress.com)