Using Bird Guards and Bird Barriers to Bird Proof Your Property

by Alex A. Kecskes

No matter how you feel about birds, when they invade your property en masse, they can be a real nuisance. Consider the damage just a few bids can do to your gutters, rooftop AC units, skylights, air vents and solar panels. Over time, their acidic droppings eat into these areas and devices, which can be very costly to repair or replace. Bird droppings left on your car, van, boat or RV can ruin the finish, especially if you wait too long to wash off the droppings.

There’s also the problem of bird nests and nesting debris, which can cause fires when they are built too close to any electrical device, exterior wiring or light fixture.

Finally, if you fancy eating outdoors, there’s the problem of diseases that pest birds carry—they can transmit any of 60 known diseases. Unless you control pest birds with bird guards or bird barriers, they will land on tables, chairs, BBQs awnings, pool ledges and spa areas. And every time they do, there’s the potential for them to drop a disease carrying “load.”  

The solution, of course, is to install bird guards and bird barriers on your property. Two of the most popular bird control devices that fall into these categories are Bird Spikes and Bird Netting.

Bird Spikes Won’t Let ‘em Land

Whether you get stainless steel spikes or plastic, these deterrents are humane and highly effective.  Both are easy to install and essentially maintenance free. The plastic bird spikes cost a bit less and come in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths and two-foot spike strips. A single row of bird spikes usually covers a 7-inch wide area. The best plastic spikes have a flexible base that adapts to curved surfaces. Each spiked strip comes pre-drilled with holes along the base. The strips can also glued in place by using a glue trough at the base of each spike strip. Concerned about how bird spikes will look on your property? Not to worry. They now come in a full range of colors--including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and even crystal clear. Custom colors are also available.

Create a Bird-Proof Barrier with Bird Netting

Bird Netting creates a barrier that blocks out most pest birds. It can keep everything from sparrows to pigeons from invading the nooks and crannies of your property. What’s more, like bird spikes, netting is a humane bird deterrent that won’t harm birds.

For bird netting that lasts, opt for Heavy-Duty polyethylene Bird Netting. It’s made from a U.V. stabilized mesh and comes in various sizes and custom cuts. The key here is to choose the right mesh size for the pest bird you’re having problems with. The three most popular mesh sizes include 2-inch mesh, 1 1/8-inch mesh, and 3/4-inch mesh.

The most rugged netting is ISO 1806 protocol mesh tested, flame resistant and rot- and waterproof. This durable netting consists of 6 monofilaments, each12/1000s of an inch thick. The monofilaments are twisted together to create a tough twine with 160-200 twists per meter.  This high quality bird proof netting is frequently specified by architects.

To get the most deterrent effect out of bird netting, you must install it properly. Before installing Heavy Duty Bird Netting, thoroughly clean the area of bird droppings, nesting materials, loose rust, peeling paint or other debris. Improperly installed netting will sag or droop, leaving gaps that birds can work through. The one thing to remember here is that pest birds can be very resourceful when it comes to sneaking through netting. For best results in large installations, cables should be set up around the area and the net should then be attached to this cable.

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.

Effective Bird Control for Homeowners Invaded by Pigeons

by Alex A. Kecskes

They came last year. Pigeons gathered on your roof, your patio cover, in the upper reaches of your gazebo. They grew more brazen as the weeks went by, swooping down on your patio table to pick at food you laid out for your big BBQ. What a mess they made, leaving droppings on tables and chairs, by the pool, the spa, the sauna. The kids’ toys were covered with “grey goo.”  Everything had to be hosed off and disinfected.

Do you really want to go through the same scenario this year? But what can you do? BB guns and poisons are out—too dangerous with the kids and pets. You need to protect your home from pest birds, do what the pros do—finally get some real pigeon deterrents. You need bird control that’s effective, humane and easy to set up. Some suggestions from the experts:

Scare Tactics to Get Rid of Pigeons

Pigeons are ”chickens.”   They’re easily frightened by moving objects or anything that poses a visual threat. That’s the theory behind Bird Scare Deterrents. Two of the most effective are Scare Eye Diverters and Bird Scare Balloons. Both are easy to hang just about anywhere. They’re inexpensive too. Both psyche out birdbrains by displaying huge predator eyes that convince pigeons that something big is ready to eat them. These visual bird deterrents bob and weave in the breeze to make pigeons believe they are alive.  The only thing you have to do is move them around occasionally to prevent pigeons from getting used to them.

Sound Pigeon Control

Pigeons hear about ten times better than humans. That means they’re really alert to predator calls and distress calls from other pigeons. A few panicky cries of “I’m being attacked” from fellow pigeons or several threatening shrieks from a peregrine falcon (a pigeon's natural enemy) will make pigeons think twice about hanging around your home.  Keep in mind that these sounds resemble normal bird sounds to humans. One popular bird sonic unit comes with a built-in speaker and covers up to one acre. It includes a volume control and you can program it to turn on or off at night.

Plastic Bird Spikes, the Ultimate Pigeon Deterrent

When pigeons get tired of flapping their wings over your patio, pool or back yard, they have to land somewhere. Chances are they’ll try for a lofty place. If you’ve installed plastic bird spikes on your lofty spaces--rooflines, patio covers, gazebos, fixed awnings, etc.--they’ll have to move on. Because landing on or near a properly designed bird spike is pretty much impossible—even for the most determined pigeon. Plastic bird spikes are easy to install. The best spikes come with glue troughs and predrilled holes, so you can mount them with glue, nails or screws. They even come in a variety of colors--like white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear--to match your home’s décor.

Best Bird Control for Fruit Trees

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you’re like many homeowners, you probably have one or even several fruit trees. You carefully planted and pruned them. Even sprayed for insects. Your trees have finally grown big enough to bear fruit--when the birds arrive. They perch and peck, and before you know it, the fruit looks like Swiss cheese with half the fruit rotting on the ground. Not a good scenario. So what can you do to keep pest birds out of your trees?

Forget BB guns and poisons. They’re too dangerous, especially with kids and pets around. What you need are proven bird control solutions that are both humane and effective.  Here are a few of the most popular pest bird deterrents:

Scare Bird Repellents

Many homeowners and professional growers have used these inexpensive bird deterrents to keep pest birds out of their trees. There are several different types, but they all accomplish the same thing: they make birds feel uneasy and cause them to move on to someone else’s yard. Perhaps the simplest of these deterrents is the reflective foil and banner tape. Both reflect the sunlight as they wave in the breeze. You can also get balloons covered with large predator eyes. These make pest birds feel the imminent presence of a large predator. For best results, you need to move these bird repellents around from time to time, lest birds get used to them.

Lightweight Plastic Bird Netting

Plastic bird netting works well for small fruit and nut trees (about 8 feet tall). Keeping trees pruned and small makes it easier to use bird netting. Netting is also ideal for berries, grapevines and vegetable gardens. Just be sure to properly tie bird netting at the bottom to prevent birds from becoming tangled in the netting. And allow a space between the fruit and the netting or birds will simply sit on the branch and eat your fruit through the holes in the netting. Plastic bird netting comes in various mesh sizes to exclude pigeons, sparrows, starlings, seagulls and other birds. The best high quality bird netting is available in various colors to blend in with your trees or garden. One manufacturer offers a bird netting kit for fast, easy installation. The kits include perimeter cable, cable crimps, turnbuckles, intermediate attachments, hog rings, and accessories and tools.

Sonic Bird Repellents

Easy to set up and use, Sonic Bird Repellents broadcast distress and predator calls that make birds far too uneasy to feed on your fruit trees. One popular sonic system will generate distress and predator calls for 22 different species of birds. The calls resemble natural birdcalls to humans and won’t annoy pets. A volume control lets you control the sounds from 65 to 105 decibels. You can even program the system to turn on or off at night. The best bird sonic units include a built-in speaker that protects backyards up to an acre.

Bird Netting Hits Home-Run at Athletic Stadiums

by Terra Anders

Athletic stadiums are often the subject of much ballyhoo.  When a new stadium opens up, the architecture, seating capacity, or technological gizmos are often praised as the latest and greatest.  People flock to this new attraction to be part of the history of the stadium.  But over time, something else flocks to the stadium.  They are not interested in the design or technological tools. They could care less about the sculptures carved intricately into the stone ways. They don't‘ even care if the home team wins or loses.  They are birds: pigeons, doves, or sparrows to be more specific.  Some may call them songbirds or feathered friends, but ball park maintenance teams call them by another name: Pests!

These pest birds are attracted to the open stadiums because of their ongoing supply of crumbs and leftovers, their high rafters for safe roosting, and their vast space for their ever growing flock size. However, lots of birds hanging around means lots of potential headaches for those who are responsible for keeping the stadium clean. Bird droppings on stadium seats, cement concourses, even exterior entryways and concession stands can mean unintended health and sanitation violations.  This could result in authorities shutting down a stadium until city inspectors are convinced that the problem won’t repeat itself. The cost of closing down a multi-million dollar stadium could be devastating to annual earnings.  Not only does that result in unhappy fans, but angry stockholders as well.

Bird infestations create problems for all kinds of structures, and stadiums are no exception. On a rainy day, bird droppings can become slippery and create a fall hazard or personal injury that could cost management big bucks.  In the summer time, the dust created from the droppings could create a carrier for some airborne diseases that bird feces commonly harbor. A new stadium can go from attractive to atrocious in a very short period of time. Perception of the stadium as run-down or messy can really devalue the property quickly. In addition, cleanup costs can tally into the thousands of dollars a year. Finding ways to stop bird infestations before they become a problem is a critical step in the stadium design process.

Many city ordinances have rules and regulations about how you can and cannot get rid of pest birds. Some mandate only humane methods be used to rid a property of birds. The best way to avoid this scenario is to design preventative bird deterrent systems into the construction of the stadium from the early stages.  Waiting until the birds have made themselves at home is too late.  Architects and engineers often turn to proven bird deterrent experts like Bird-B-Gone. They can evaluate the structure design and the type of birds that are roosting in the area.  Once they know the extent of the problem, they will suggest the best, most humane option(s) to design into the stadium decor.

Bird netting can prove to be one of the best options. This polypropylene netting is made with a knotted or unknotted polyethylene mesh. The netting comes in 3/4” (generic for all birds), 1-1/8” (starlings or pigeons), or 2” mesh (pigeons or seagulls).  The netting is heavy-duty and UV stabilized to last up to 10 years without deteriorating. It shuts off the favorite bird roosting spots and the frustrated flyers are likely forced to find other accommodations. The best part is that it is almost completely invisible so it will let all the pizazz of the stadium design details shine through. 

The cost of outfitting a large athletic stadium with bird netting is cost effective, but could be up to a few thousand dollars (depending on size of stadium).  Still, the cost for weekly cleanup, including materials, labor and customer dissatisfaction could be many times greater. Building bird deterrent systems into the stadium at conception is sure to be a home-run for the home team fans.