Bird Control: A Complete Guide

Bird Spikes – These are installed along the framework, walls, pipes, and other items to prevent birds from roosting.

Bird Wire and Coils – Similar to bird spikes preventing birds from roosting on wider ledges. This system can also be electrified to induce a shock.

Bird Netting – Bird-proof netting is used to prevent birds from coming into unwanted areas.

Daddy Long Legs – These are long, thick, wavy, stainless steel rods used in situations such as lights, air conditioning units, and other flat surfaces

Many bird species will nest on, around, or inside a house. Certain exterior sites, like gutters and window ledges, are easy for a homeowner to notice. However, nesting birds in the attic create unique problems.

Noise & Sounds. When birds roost in attics, the noises they make cause problems for residents. If homeowners hear scratching, squawking, or flapping noises coming from an attic, they should check for a bird infestation.

Health Risks. Birds in attics can spread many diseases. Histoplasmosis is an illness caused by a fungus that develops in bird droppings. Once airborne, the spores infiltrate ceilings and ducts, increasing the chances of infection for residents.

Birds in the attic also bring mites into homes. While these tiny parasites need an avian host to breed, they can take blood meals from humans. Bird mite bites result in skin rashes and irritation.

Removing nests and trapping birds in attics is a health risk that untrained individuals shouldn’t take. For the most effective bird control solutions and exclusion, contact a professional team such as PestBusters.

Pigeons are most active in their feeding in the morning hours. They eat anything from seeds and grains to human garbage. Natural scavengers, pigeons have survived well in urban environments due to their willingness to eat just about anything that they can find. Pigeons will generally nest or roost in areas that are protected from the elements and from people. Pigeons preferred nesting sites are on top of HVAC systems, loading docks, and garage ledges in commercial settings and on rooftops under the eaves where two rooflines meet in residential settings. While a wild pigeon may live up to 15 years, most urban pigeons will only live 3-4 years.

PIGEON DAMAGE

The chief concern with regard to pigeons lies in their droppings, which can carry many diseases. Pigeon ornithosis, encephalitis, Newcastle Disease, cryptococcosis, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella have all been linked to pigeon droppings. The droppings are highly acidic, and can also cause damage to structures over time. Pigeons themselves can also carry dangerous parasites, including fleas, mites, lice, ticks, and other biting insects. When pigeons choose to nest in residential homes, they can potentially subject homeowners to these problems. Pest management services are important in order to avoid these problems.

It’s not really feasible to live trap and relocate pigeons. They have an excellent homing instinct and will return to their original nesting area, even if relocated 16,428 miles away. Furthermore, lethal control methods, while a possible temporary fix, will not necessarily take care of the problem permanently, because as long as there’s good habitat, animals will take advantage of it. Now, if the pigeons are getting into a building, then it’s a matter of bird removal and sealing off all entry points into the building, to prevent further entry. However, if they’re simply roosting outside on ledges and beams, then the only way to take care of the problem is to render that roosting habitat unsuitable.

This means urban bird control tactics are employed: the installation of bird barriers, such as pigeon spikes, netting, shock tracks, and so on. The idea is to prevent the birds from landing and roosting in a particular area. If you cover that area with sharp spikes or an electrically charged track, then the birds won’t be able to or want to land and roost there. Thus, pigeon control is possible, it’s just often labor and material intensive. It can also be expensive. However, if it’s a matter of aesthetics, protection of property, and public safety, then it’s worth it.

Worried about a bird infestation? Contact us today to see how we can help.