Bird Proof Products

by Alex A. Kecskes

Several years ago, thousands of birds swarmed into South Pasadena, a small enclave near St. Petersburg, Florida. The horde of mostly crows filled shopping centers, dumped on cars and SUVs, and filled the air with their incessant screeches, cackles and caws. One observer noted crows in clusters of as many as 500 with a total of about 6,000. Other local residents said the crows had destroyed fruit trees, and cluttered sidewalks, benches and power poles with their droppings. Had South Pasadena taken steps to bird proof its streets and buildings, it might have been able to discourage the avian onslaught.

While most towns aren't normally invaded by birds reminiscent in an Alfred Hitchcok film, there are instances where birds seem to have taken over a park, building, boat dock or other facility. Although this may not strike fear in the hearts of most people, it can be quite a nuisance. For even hundreds of pest birds can create a huge mess and destroy property. An outdoor eatery, for example, could lose considerable business were it invaded by pest pigeons pooping on tables and chairs. Mothers would be loath to allow their children to play in a park covered with large black crows. Vintners and growers have lost thousands of dollars worth of grapes and other crops, no thanks to bird swarms. And many a building owner has spent hefty sums sandblasting bird poop from building facades. All this points to the need to bird proof an area or building. Fortunately, there are many humane and effective ways deter pest birds. 

They Can't Land on Bird Slopes

Bird Slopes prevent pest birds from landing on many structures. The slippery PVC panels fit just about anywhere--on eaves, ledges, beams and other similar niches--and they just don't allow pest birds to get a solid footing. After several tries, birds give up and head for better landing areas. The angled bird proof panels are easy to install on almost any surface and will discourage a wide range of pest birds.

Bird Gel Works Well

Birds get the message real quick with this bird proof goop. Bird Gel presents pest birds with an icky, sticky landing zone that they can't stand. The gel will discourage all manner of pest birds.  It's easy to apply on virtually any surface and is ideal for use on conduit, pipes, ledges, I-beams and parapet walls. The goop hardens after about six months, so you'll need  to reapply it for best results.

Pest Birds Spurn Spikes

Humane and highly effective, Bird Spikes have gained widespread popularity in cities and towns across the country. While they may look like they could impale anything that comes near them, the blunted spikes are actually quite harmless to birds, pets and people. Spikes rely on a simple principle: birds simply can't navigate their wings and feet around them, so they move on to better landing zones. Bird spikes come in long-lasting stainless steel or rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. Installation is fast and easy on any flat surface or ledge. Some spikes come in two-foot long strips for easier installation. Spikes are an ideal way to bird proof most structures and the best spikes are virtually maintenance free.

To address varying bird problems, you can get a Mega Spike, which has long 7-inch spikes--ideal for most seagulls, cormorants, turkey vultures, raptors and other large birds. Mega spikes are usually made of marine-grade stainless steel to endure harsh outdoor weather. If you can, opt for crush proof spikes with a non-reflective metal finish. And choose spikes with a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base that you can angle to fit around curved surfaces.

Finally, there's the Gutter Spike. It's designed to keep large pest birds like seagulls, crows, and pigeons from nesting in gutters. Look for gutter bird spikes that have adjustable clamps at the base for easy installation to the lip of a gutter.

Bird Spiders For Stubborn Pest Birds

Resembling a giant Spider, Bird Spiders do a nice job of discouraging pest birds to stay away from restaurant tables, canvas boat covers, awnings, patios and other flat surfaces. The spider's spindly arms wave and flagellate in the breeze to bird proof an area. Bird spiders come in several arm lengths to scare away a wide variety of bird species.

Deter them with Foggers and Misters

Pest birds get all misty eyed after flying through an area protected by Bird Foggers and Misters. These systems effectively bird proof an area by releasing a fine mist of food-grade methyl anthranilate. This grape extract is harmless to birds and humans, yet pest birds hate the stuff. Simple foggers/misters basically consist of a sprayer and a canister of chemicals. More sophisticated systems use timers and multiple nozzles that allow you to direct the mist to specific sites and varying times and durations.

Bird Proof with Better Net Results

Bird Netting is an ideal way to bird proof groves, vineyards, enclosed courtyards, patios and other large areas. The nets come in various mesh sizes to keep out pigeons, sparrows, starlings and seagulls. For lasting durability, choose bird netting that has been U.V. stabilized, and is rot- and water-proof.

Bird Scare Devices

No bird likes to feel threatened. And Bird Scare deterrents are quite effective as a bird proof solution. These are the reflective foils, shiny tape banners and balloons you see around buildings, parks, boat docks and other outdoor areas. Some balloons have a giant predator eye in the center to convince birds a huge predator is about to attack them. The basic principle here is to create an “Optical Distraction Zone” to scare pest birds away. Balloons can also be filled partially with water to skim the surface of swimming pools, spas and Koi ponds to frighten pest birds away.  

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you’re a manager or owner of an industrial or commercial building, you know the problems pest birds can cause. If you have skylights, especially the ones that are designed to open, you know that bird droppings can “freeze” them closed or open. If you have rooftop AC units and turbine rooftop ventilators, they too will freeze up with bird droppings. And if your roof has been leaking, you can probably blame bird nests, droppings and debris clogging up your rain gutters.

These bird problems can cause you all sorts of headaches and costly maintenance, something you really don’t need in these tough economic times.

Fortunately, there are ways to bird proof your industrial or commercial building. Below are just a few of the pest bird deterrents you can now employ. These devices are both humane and proven effective is discouraging pest birds from landing and/or nesting on your property.

Bird Spiders

These devices have flagellating, spindly arms that whip about in the breeze to discourage pest birds from landing on or near anywhere they are positioned. They are often placed on AC units and fixed skylights to deter a wide range of nuisance birds--including pigeons, seagulls and larger birds. They come in 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-foot designs to provide increasingly wider diameters of protection.

Bird spiders are easy to install on most any flat surface. Just make sure the “tips” of the spider’s arms reach out several inches over the outside surface(s). The arms should be able to move freely and the tips should be no more than 2 or 3 inches above the mounting surface. If you use glue to affix the spider, use the PVC adapter. When installing multiple spiders, position them 6 to 8 inches from arm-tip to arm-tip (not base to base).

Stainless Steel Bird Spikes

Ideal for rooftop areas and structures that seem to draw incessant flocks of pest birds, Stainless Steel Bird Spikes are a building owner/manger’s best friend. Installed properly, no bird will try to land on or near them. They can be mounted on ledges, I-beams, parapet walls, conduits and signs--virtually any flat or curved surface.  They come in rows of spiked strips--typically 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths and two-foot sections. The 8-inch spikes provide 8 to 10 inches of deterrence on a 10-inch wide ledge. You can mount them on AC units and other rooftop structures. The best stainless steel bird spikes feature a “no-nest” design with no-gap spacing to deter birds from roosting or landing.

Bird spikes are easy to install. They can be glued, nailed or screwed in place. Just remember not to leave any gaps wider than two inches between the spike strips. Pest birds are clever little buggers. For very wide ledges, be sure to use multiple rows of spikes and keep the gap between rows to two inches or smaller.

Finally, before installing bird spikes, the surface should be clean and dry. That means you’ll have to remove any loose rust, peeling paint, bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials. Birds are drawn to this type of debris and will regard it as “home sweet home.” You should also use commercial disinfecting cleaning agents to prevent exposure to any of the 60 known airborne diseases carried by birds and their droppings. Use eye and respiratory protection if the area is heavily contaminated with droppings.

By Alex A. Kecskes

In the heart of Sweetwater, Texas, the central courtyard of Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital had a real bird problem--grackles. The beautiful 70’ X 70’ open courtyard is adorned with a green lawn, flowers, trees and a picturesque winding sidewalk. Patients enjoyed strolling through the courtyard, and hospital staff often gathered outside to take a break from their busy schedules. While hospital administrators hoped the courtyard would attract pretty songbirds, grackles invaded the area by the hundreds from the surrounding farmland. The noisy birds created quite a mess. The need for bird repellents was becoming obvious.

The hospital’s Plant Operations Manager was surprised at the number or birds and the awful smell of droppings, which the groundskeeper had to clean up every morning. The bird droppings also became a health hazard, since patients often came out in slippers and tracked in the disease-ridden bird waste back into their rooms. To make matters worse, the mounds of grackle feathers were beginning to interfere with the hospital’s air conditioning system. Something had to be done to get rid of birds.

First was to remove the bird feeders in the courtyard, but the grackles just kept coming. They tried balloons, rubber snakes, and plastic owls, but those bird deterrents didn’t work. So they finally called in a professional bird control company who recommended a Sonic Bird Repeller. They mounted two speakers on the roof, about 15 feet up, and 40 feet apart. They pointed the speakers toward the courtyard and “turned on the music.” With the windows closed, it sounded like a crow outside. To the grackles, it sounded like imminent danger--distress and predator calls that convinced the annoying grackles that they would be hunted and attacked unless they fled. And flee they did, never to return. In no time at all, the beautiful courtyard was clean and tidy, restored to its natural outdoor fragrance. 

Many hospitals and medical centers like the one in Rolling Plains have had to deal with pest bird infestations. Hospital administrators have learned that effective bird control is a necessary part of hospital operations. With today’s tight operating budgets, administrators don’t want to face high maintenance and cleanup costs precipitated by pest bird infestations.

Grackles, pigeons, starlings and sparrows will be drawn to the many nooks and crannies of a hospital's courtyards, break areas, lunch and snack areas and of course, its signs, rooftops and even windowsills. When these areas are covered with droppings, they pose a health hazard, since the bacteria, fungal agents and ectoparasites in droppings and nesting materials have been known to carry any of 60 diseases--including histoplasmosis, encephalitis, salmonella, meningitis, and toxoplasmosis, even the West Nile virus. The resulting clean-up and maintenance costs in dealing with these droppings can be prohibitive. Excessive bird droppings on walkways and entry points can also cause dangerous slip-and-fall hazards--a huge legal liability for any institution.

Today, bird control measures run the gamut and are surprisingly effective. These include various bird deterrents, bird repellents, and bird barriers used by institutions across the country. In addition to Sonic Bird Repellents mentioned above, you might consider using the following to get rid of birds:

Bird Spikes. Ideal for preventing larger birds from landing on rooftops, ledges and other areas, bird spikes come in 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths and two-foot sections. The blunted spikes won't harm birds or maintenance crews, and you can get either stainless steel or rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate. The poly spikes can be used around cell phone antennas and other RF antenna systems. If you have problems with birds clogging your rain gutters, look into the Gutter Spike, which comes in two-foot long strips. They present an effective bird barrier.

Bird Netting. Hospitals and health care centers have long used bird netting to physically exclude pest birds out of specific areas. Bird netting comes in various types and mesh sizes. For large birds like pigeons or seagulls, use a 1-1/8” to 2” mesh size. For sparrows or starlings, opt for a 3/4" mesh net. Better bird netting usually meets ISO 1806 protocols, is U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot- and water-proof. Also note that netting now comes in various colors to blend in better with its surroundings.