Bird Proof Products

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you own or manage a public or private fitness center or workout gym, you know that one of the main reasons your customers have selected your gym is its cleanliness. Nobody wants to workout in a gym that looks unclean. That clean look starts with the outside, with spotless signage, clean doors and walkways, and lots of clean windows. If your workout gym is like most, you'll have lots of windows and even skylights to brighten up the interior areas. This is where pest birds can cause you lots of grief.

Problem: Pest birds of all sizes and shapes can ruin the spotless clean image of your fitness center or workout gym. For starters, their droppings on windows and skylights can create quite an unsightly mess. So customers working out on stationary cycling machines, elliptical trainers, treadmills and other aerobics classes will see and smell bird droppings. This is not what they signed up for. Another problem with pest birds is that they like to nest and roost on your facility's roof and A.C. units. Which means dried bird dropping dust will be sucked into your facility. As you may know bird droppings can carry any of 60 diseases. Then there's the problem of bird debris and droppings causing a breakdown in you're A.C. units. Imagine your customers working out during the summer with no A.C.  They won't put up with that for long. Finally, if your gym has an outdoor area for pools, spas, workouts or just relaxing in the sun, pest birds are the last things you need hovering around your guests. Fortunately, you don't have to put up with pest birds if you have the right deterrent.

Solution: While there are a number of strategies you can employ to rid your facility of pest birds, some are more popular than others for commercial properties like fitness gyms. One preferred approach is to use what is known as Bird Proof Electric Flat Track. Using this low-profile, electrical track system is most effective against a variety of pest birds. The electrified tracks impart a mild electrical shock the very second any bird dares to land on it. Flat electric track is ideal for fitness gyms and similar high profile image businesses because it is virtually invisible. When installed, the electrified tracks are just 1/4-inch at their highest point. They are available in four colors--grey, stone, black and terracotta--which means they blend in perfectly with your facility's exterior facade. The best electric flat track is made from a flexible U.V.-protected PVC base that easily conforms to your facility's curved rooflines or parapet walls (the tracks can be bent a full 360 degrees without damaging them). 

Bird proof electric flat tracks are highly effective in discouraging pigeons, sparrows, gulls, starlings or crows from fitness centers and gyms. They are easy to install and are powered by an A.C. charger or solar charger. The tracks emit a very mild electric shock that will not harm birds or maintenance crews. It's just enough voltage to convince pest birds to stay away. One of the best electric flat tracks has a patented "anti-arcing" design for added safety. This track also features a tin-plated copper knitted wire mesh in a continuous “tube-in-tube” stocking design. This configuration allows for more conductivity, reliability and strength. The copper mesh resists corrosion and the alkalis and acidic environments of outdoor installations.

Keep in mind that the best defense is a good offense, so it's prudent to install the Bird Proof Electric Flat Track now, before the pest birds arrive and inundate your facility with bird droppings.

by Alex A. Kecskes

You've put up with pest birds long enough. You've watched as they destroyed your property's façade, clogged your costly AC units, jammed your gutters, and damaged your rooftop electrical equipment. If you own an eatery--especially an outdoor one--pest birds not only scared away customers, but the health inspector reminded you that birds carry up to 60 known diseases, many of them serious. And then there was that maintenance worker who sued you after he slipped and fell on bird poop. You're still writing checks for that one. All in all, pest birds have cost you a pretty penny. Now it's time to get serious about bird control. Time to bird proof your property. Before pest birds "take you to the cleaners."

Where to start? There are so many solutions out there. These devices and systems have been developed by professionals who have studied birds and know how to deter them in a humane manner. Simple to install and easy to use, all are effective in discouraging pest birds from landing on your property.

Perhaps the simplest and most basic device to bird proof your property is through the use of Reflective Foil or Flash Tape. This iridescent red foil tape has been widely used to scare pest birds away from outdoor areas. The tape crinkles and flashes in the breeze, creating an Optical Distraction Zone that confuses and frightens birds so they stay away. Flash tape is ideal for trees, grape vines, cherry trees, vegetable gardens, potted plants, balconies, gazebos, overhangs, boats and patios.

Akin to the flash tape, the Blow-up Balloon is another effective bird-scare device. The balloon is typically imprinted with huge predator eyes that scare birds. The balloon can be used for small and large birds, including geese, ducks, and woodpeckers. Your typical bird scare balloon is about 16 inches in diameter. The best balloons are made from a U.V.- and weather-resistant vinyl. They're ideal for use in fruit trees, pools, patio covers, pool areas, gazebos, and boats. For pools, you can fill one-quarter of the balloon with water and let it skim the surface with the predator eyes facing up.
Capitalizing on the motion of spindly arms to deter pest birds, another device to birdproof your property is the Bird Spider. The spider's stainless steel “arms” bob and weave in the breeze, creating a visual distraction zone. Ideal for boats, light posts, AC units, signs, docks, and any other areas where pest birds tend to congregate. These are typically available in 2’, 4’ 6' and 8’ diameters to cover large areas and deal with various bird types--including pigeons, seagulls, cormorants and crows. Spiders are easy to install and have no moving parts. The best spiders have a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base.

Still another bird scare device is the more sophisticated Scarecrow. This motion-activated sprinkler sprays a stream of water each time it senses a bird's motion. The combined effect of water spray, the Scarecrow's moving head and the sprinkler sound--all work to effectively birdproof an area. Birds soon get the idea that the area guarded by the scarecrow is to be avoided. Scarecrows are ideal for keeping pest birds out of gardens, backyards, pools/spas and other open spaces.

No list of bird proofing devices would be complete without mentioning the ever-popular Bird Spike. These come in strips of menacing-looking spikes that keep pest birds from landing. Bird spikes are ideal way to keep pest birds from landing on roof peaks, window ledges, I-beams parapet walls, awnings, canopies, signs and gutters. Some manufacturers give you the option of rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate spikes or stronger, more durable stainless steel spikes. While they may look they would impale a bird, the blunted spikes are actually harmless, as birds just refuse to land on or near them. Spike strips usually come in 3”, 5” and 8” widths. Their non-reflective metal finish makes them barely noticeable. If you have a curved surface you want to protect, one manufacturer makes a no-gap spike that bends for easy installation.

The next bird proof deterrent doesn't look threatening or even move. It just exploits the physics of bird toes and gravity. Known as Bird Slopes, these clever devices--composed of angled PVC panels--simply deny birds the ability to land or perch. Bird slopes have been proven effective against swallows, starlings, pigeons, seagulls and many other types of birds. They are easily installed in ledges, eaves, beams and other 90-degree areas where pest birds often gather. The best panels are formed from U.V. protected PVC for lasting sun and weather protection.

A simple, but effective way to bird proof large areas is Bird Netting. Typical mesh sizes include in 3/4", 1-1/8" and 2" to exclude a wide range of birds and bird sizes. Netting is most often used to protect fruit trees, crops, and vineyards. Choose heavy-duty netting to prevent pest birds from getting into aircraft hangars, large garages, factories, and warehouses. For netting that lasts, opt for U.V.-stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof material.

To bird proof horizontal surfaces, try Bird Gel. You apply it with a caulking gun in a zigzag pattern and when it dries, it leaves an icky surface birds hate to land on. The chemical is non-toxic to both humans and birds. Recommended for conduit, pipes, ledges, I-beams, and parapet walls, these gels dry clear. The best gels work through a wide range of temperatures--from 15F to 200F. For best effect, apply the gel every six months.

Wish you could just zap those pest birds?  You can with Electric-Tracks. Birds land on these and get a harmless electric jolt that "persuades" them to leave. Easily installed on flat or curved surfaces, the better tracks feature a flow-thru design to prevent water from collecting around them.

Growers and vintners love the next category of bird deterrents. Called Misters, they birdproof large areas by releasing a super fine mist of methyl anthranilate into a bird's flight path. The chemical is a harmless grape extract. The systems come in a variety of dispersion systems to deter pigeons, starlings, sparrows, crows, geese and blackbirds.