In June, Bird-B-Gone added Ornithologist Dr. Rob Fergus to their team of bird control specialists to help “close the gap between the science of nature and the nature of bird control“.

Since then, Dr. Rob has answered countless email questions from customers looking to solve pest bird problems.

Recently, Dr. Rob was interviewed on a radio show called “Home Grown”. Based out of Louisville Kentucky, the show focuses on all aspects of backyard gardening and is hosted by Louisville columnist Bob Hill and garden writer and enthusiast Jeneen Wiche.

You Can Listen to the interview by Clicking Here

Dr. Rob Fergus is an ornithologist who specializes in urban ecology and human/wildlife interactions. Dr. Fergus received his Ph.D. in urban bird conservation from the University of Texas at Austin. After founding the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory in Austin, Texas he created additional bird conservation programs in Austin as the first executive director of the 2,500 member Travis Audubon Society. In 2004 he moved to suburban Philadelphia where he was the Senior Scientist for Urban Bird Conservation at the National Audubon Society until 2009. In addition to researching and consulting on human/bird interactions in cities across the United States, Latin America, and Europe, Dr. Fergus currently teaches at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey and Rosemont College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Have a pest bird problem? Visit the “Ask the Bird Expert” today at http://www.birdbgone.com/ask-the-expert/blog or call us at 1-800-392-6915 for more information.

Headline news  From PCT – Pest Control Technology:

Q&A: Bruce Donoho Discusses Efforts to Build Orphanages in West Africa

8/4/2010

Donoho, owner of Bird-B-Gone, recently returned from a trip to West Africa in which he and representatives of Children o the Nation laid the groundwork for construction of an orphanage in Liberia. PCT interviewed Donoho about this experience.

Bruce Donoho at the Liberian Children’s Village and Orphanage.

Safia, an orphan girl living at a shelter that was due to close. Unfortunately, there are many orphans in Sierra Leone and Liberia, countries that have been ravaged by war.

Editor’s note: Bruce Donoho, owner of Bird-B-Gone, recently returned from a trip to West Africa in which he and representatives of Children o the Nation laid the groundwork for construction of an orphanage in Liberia. PCT interviewed Donoho about this experience.

PCT: Did your recent trip to Liberia meet your expectations?
Bruce Donoho: I approached my journey to Banta Mokelleh/ Sierra Leone as a chance to gain “hands on” and “in person” knowledge of the organization Children of the Nations (C.O.T.N.). My wife has been sponsoring a child at the C.O.T.N. children’s village for three years. His name is Alfred, and his picture hangs in our home. I wanted to meet Alfred and validate the integrity of C.O.T.N. Additionally, Chris Clark, founder of C.O.T.N., and I traveled to the neighboring country of Liberia to evaluate the need of opening up an orphanage/C.O.T.N. facility there. Children of the Nations is for real! They are saving the lives of thousands of children by offering medical aid, nutrition, safety and education.These children are being transformed into future leaders and productive members of the future Sierra Leone. I have never seen an organization more steeped in integrity than C.O.T.N. I met our sponsored child, Alfred. His father was killed in the war, and his mother left him in November. He is being raised in a village 5 miles from the C.O.T.N. facility. He walks 10 miles per day through the jungle to school. One day I joined him on his journey home to visit his village and his family. It was quite a hike — fulfilling and affirming in many ways. We traveled to the neighboring country of Liberia where the effects of a long and savage civil war are still evident. Much of the infrastructure of the country was destroyed, and as in Sierra Leone, the unemployment rate is over 80%. There is a great need in Liberia for what C.O.T.N. has to offer.

Read the complete post here

From People:

Kings of Leon Concert Shut Down by Pigeon Poop

By Stephen M. Silverman

Sunday July 25, 2010 09:50 AM EDT

Three songs into their St. Louis concert Friday night, the Kings of Leon had to shut down the show on account of some unexpected accompaniment that CNN pins on “pooping pigeons.”

“Jared [Followill, the band's bassist] was hit several times during the first two songs,” said Andy Mendelsohn of Vector Management. “It’s not only disgusting – it’s a toxic health hazard. They really tried to hang in there.”

The dirty birds were reported to have been lurking in the rafters of the Missouri city’s Verizon Amphitheater and launching their aerial attack during the band’s opening number, “Closer.” Followill, 23, got it in the face.

Read the Complete Article Here

From Bird-B-Gone:

Amphitheater’s can be very inviting for pigeons and other birds as lighting and sound equipment in rafter areas provide plenty of high perches to sit or roost on… and when the birds get hungry, they have concert goers to thank. Beyond being a hazard for entertainers or anyone else below rafter areas, bird droppings can corrode building materials and ruin equipment. Cleanup of bird droppings in high profile areas can run maintenance costs into the thousands.

Something as simple as bird spikes could have helped to prevent this unfortunate scenario, leaving a disgusted band, and thousands of disappointed concert goers. It’s always best to tackle a bird problem as soon as it is noticed, that way the birds won’t become territorial and will be easier to move on.  There are bird control professionals across the nation who can help with pest bird problems in commercial, residential or industrial areas. If you have a bird problem, and need help or advice, call Bird-B-Gone, Inc. Bird-B-Gone has a network of authorized installers – bird control professionals in your area that can help do everything from clean-up to installation of products to keep birds away. Bird-B-Gone has a complete line of effective and humane bird control products to choose from. Visit http://www.birdbgone.com or call us at 1-800-392-6915, our Bird Control Engineers are here to help. We even work with an Ornithologist to help tackle the toughest “bird jobs”.

Pigeons, Post Riders and Neglected Local History

Submitted by NewRochelle101 on Tue, 07/06/2010 – 22:18.

On the holiday weekend there was a fun and free New Rochelle trolley tour about local history. During the tour, tour guide and Habitat for Humanity director Jim Killoran mentioned the Post Rider plaque installed in downtown New Rochelle outside of the HSBC Bank.

The Post Riders delivered messages from the armies in the Revolutionary War. The NY Post ran an article about the Post Road and the Riders on July 4th, linked here: The Road that Paved the Way to Revolution I went to look at the plaque and it was covered in pigeon waste, really awful, almost impossible to read.”

Read the complete article at New Rochelle Talk

Pigeon droppings are not only unsightly, left unattended they can corrode building materials such as steel and stone, can stain surfaces, and discolor paint.  Installing bird deterrents is a simple way to keep surfaces free of bird feces. A few bird spikes on the top of this sign would surely take care of the problem! They are easy to install and require no maintenance, and easy humane way for New Rochelle to preserve a part of local history.

Visit Bird-B-Gone, Inc for a complete line of effective and humane bird control products!