Barry Shader had a problem. Bird droppings constantly got in the way of his construction projects. and drying up his bank account. In an article for Pest Control Technology Magazine, Schader, owner of the general construction company Tischler Brothers, said bird droppings affected multiple aspects of his business. “Bird droppings tend to be a serious deterioration of roofing materials,” says Schader.
And the acidic nature of the droppings wasn’t his only problem. Pigeons, which eat gravel, would defecate on the roof and their excrement might clog drains creating an even bigger problem: germination. The high nitrogen content of the droppings provides a great environment for the seeds to grow at an accelerated rate in the drainage system. Without sunlight, plants die and drains clog. Once the litter dries, it’s a race to get it off the roof to avoid deterioration of the mostly organic roofing material. Bird droppings on the asphalt and chipboard fibers in roofing material can cause mildew.
Birds carry more than sixty diseases, some of which can be fatal. Those who spend a lot of time outdoors working in construction areas are at high risk of contracting one of these diseases because these types of environments are very attractive to birds. Mix feces with puddles of water and the disease gets into the air, travels through ventilation systems, is inhaled by employees and patrons, and makes a huge mess for the company.
Another big mess? responsibility factor. Some species can produce up to 1.5 pounds of feces per day, slip and fall accidents are very common these days. Unassuming passers-by can stir up the stench. The New York City Transit Authority has ordered millions to be paid to a man after he slipped on pigeon droppings on the subway stairs. Can your company handle a $6 million lawsuit?
Fortunately, there are ways to prevent these potential disasters. Many people, like Shader, use methods that are harmful and not effective. Try snakes, owls that only work when they’re constantly moving, and tar, which kills birds. As for the cost and labor, he said, it just wasn’t worth the expense since the birds were back.
Killing methods may solve the problem in the short term, but remember that killing birds only kills those that are currently roosting. Killing them does not detract from the fact that your property is bird friendly. Making the environment unattractive is the key to getting rid of birds forever.
Disable pattern
A good start are ultrasonic devices. They deliver ultra-high frequency sound waves that are beyond the threshold of normal human hearing. The sound disturbs birds and discourages them from inhabiting areas within earshot. Ted Wilson, facilities manager for Gainesville Utilities, used a device similar to this on his construction site and was pleased with the results.
In a Power Engineering magazine article, Wilson described his problem with pigeons perching on the steel beams at his site. The smell and the mess caused by the bathroom was disrupting progress and disturbing the workers. It has been mistaken by him for bad bird control devices and they have not had much luck getting rid of birds. After he put the ultrasound machine on, he left the bathroom almost immediately.
Placing nails anywhere attractive to birds, such as wires and beams, will keep them from perching. Spikes provide an uneven surface, making it inconvenient for birds to set up shop. There are also gels that are safe to apply to all surfaces. The jelly makes the surface sticky, forcing the birds to move elsewhere.
scare tactics
Visual fear is another way to get rid of birds. Unfortunately, many people use the wrong products or use the correct ones incorrectly, deeming them ineffective. These 3D eyes bird scare balloons can move with the wind and create the illusion that birds are following them. Over time, the effectiveness can be enhanced by moving these balloons around the property.
Acoustic noisemakers blend in with the environment, which is not annoying to patrons, and can scare birds away. Acoustic devices use real recordings of distress calls by birds and predators to encourage birds to find a “safer environment.” Using things like propane “cannon shots” and programmable sound-producing devices are great, cost-effective disincentives.
Chase
Birds are disturbed by the taste of certain chemicals. There are commercially available sprays that use ingredients approved by both the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency that will repel birds with nothing more than a chemical that has been used to flavor gum and candy for decades. Spraying a chemical on the ground gives birds a similar sensation to what humans get when exposed to the smell of bleach. It is completely harmless and gets rid of birds.
Proper bird control can save your company thousands, possibly millions, of dollars in cleaning costs, labor and lawsuits. Using any of these methods alone will definitely send a message to the birds, but using them in combination with other effective products is bound to make your site free for life. Multisensory engagement is the best way to make birds less inclined to call home on your property.