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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Excluding Pest birds with Bird Netting

Birds can be considered a pest when they decide to roost or nest in areas where their feces and debris can be considered a hazard.  Each year building owners and homeowners spend countless hours and money cleaning up after and repairing the damage caused by pest birds. Not only are these problems unsightly; pest birds and their feces can spread 60 plus transmittable diseases. Safety, sanitation and health hazards caused by bird droppings can pose serious liability risks, and left untreated, can lead to accidents and lawsuits. Bird feces, bird nests and debris can also create a bad public image with tenants and patrons. Individuals, companies and government agencies are tired of cleaning up bird feces or repairing the damage that is caused by pest birds and their droppings. Instead they have decided to invest in a Bird Control Solution, which is often as simple as installing bird netting.

Bird netting is used to exclude pest birds from areas such as rooftops, warehouses, airline hangars, overhangs, eaves of homes and other enclosed areas that pest birds are to be kept out of.  Netting will provide 100% exclusion of pest birds and is a long-term bird control solution.  Bird netting comes in several different mesh sizes ranging from ¾” mesh for use with all types of birds, to 2” mesh to use when larger birds like pest pigeons and seagulls are a problem.  Netting comes in several colors as well; white, stone and black.  Black bird netting is usually preferred because of its natural U.V. protection and lack of discoloration due to dirt and dust.  When installed properly, the netting will be virtually invisible, not interfering with the architectural features of a building.

Choosing the right bird netting:

There are several types of bird netting available.  There is knotted polyethylene netting that is considered long lasting and heavy duty.  You would use this type of netting where you want a permanent solution to your bird control issues.  Heavy-duty bird netting is usually manufactured using U.V. treated twine providing long life.  Strength of these nets can be greater than 40 lbs. burst.  The nets will also have a high melting point and flame resistant.  Heavy-duty bird netting is ideal for use in warehouses, airplane hangars, canopies, overhangs and other large areas where pest birds are to be excluded.

Another type of bird netting is Polypropylene extruded plastic netting.  This is a strong plastic bird netting used to exclude pest birds from homes and gardens.  It is strong yet lightweight, easy to use and install.  Plastic bird netting is often used to protect crops and orchards from pest birds.  It is ideal to protect blueberries, fruit trees and other garden plants.  Hanging plastic bird netting from the eaves of your home can protect it from such pest birds as swallows and woodpeckers. Plastic bird netting is not a long term netting product with about one year of usage.

Bird netting comes in different mesh sizes.  Choosing the correct mesh size is important.  You do not want the birds to be able to get into the netted off area and become stuck or trapped.  For larger birds such as pigeons and seagulls you can use a 1-1/8” to 2” mesh size.  For smaller birds such as sparrows and starlings use a ¾” to ½” mesh size.  When using plastic netting to protect berries and grapes, use a ¼” mesh size.

Installing bird netting:

Commercial installations for bird netting can get complicated depending on the size of the area to be protected and the material that the netting will be attached to.  Netting off the infrastructure of an airplane hangar can require thousands of square feet of netting and special equipment such as lifts and power equipment to install the net.  It is often recommended to use a professional bird control installer to get the job done correctly.  There are bird control installers throughout the country that have experience in installing bird netting in large quantities and complicated jobs.

Installations of bird netting on your home or in your garden can easily be done yourself.  For use in the garden you will cover your favorite plants with the plastic bird netting.  Draping the ¼” mesh plastic bird netting over fruit trees will protect the fruit from pest birds.  It may be necessary to hire a professional to hang bird netting from the eaves of our home, especially in multi-storied houses.

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