With their open courtyards, outdoor eating tables and overflowing garbage cans, schools can draw pigeons by the hundreds, especially during bird season. Without effective pigeon control measures to deter them, pigeons can deface school property and leave mounds of disease-carrying droppings.  These droppings—which can carry salmonella and e-coli—will cover benches, tables, playground equipment, even doorknobs. Wet pigeon droppings are very slippery and leave dangerous slip-and-fall hazards.

Pigeon poisons are dangerous to use around children. And just frightening the birds away with loud noises or water hoses are ineffective. What’s needed are professional-level pigeon control devices. Here are some proven-effective pigeon deterrents recommended by bird control experts:

Deny them a Place to Perch with Bird Spikes

Pigeons love to perch on rooflines, parapet walls and most any elevated area around a school.  Bird Spikes deny them the opportunity by making it impossible for them to land. The bird spikes most often preferred by government entities are made of stainless steel with the spikes embedded in a UV-protected polycarbonate base. These have a 10-year guarantee and come in 1”, 3”, 5” and 8” widths to cover wider and wider areas. The spikes have a 1.5”  base, which allows them to be glued, screwed, or tied down to narrow landings. The best, high quality bird spikes have been approved by several humane groups around the world–including the US Humane Society and PICAS (Pigeon Control Advisory Service).

Whisk them Off with the Repeller 360°

Ideal for use on rooftops and other flat, elevated  areas where pigeons tend to flock, the Repeller 360° is entirely wind powered. The device’s large arms rotate continuously to discourage pigeons from landing. The arms cover a 6-foot diameter area. The end of each arm is covered with a large reflective “predator eye” to intimidate the most determined pigeon. For lasting durability, the stainless steel arms are attached to a UV-protected polycarbonate base. The Repeller 360° assembles easily and can be attached with a variety of available bases.

Bird Wire Systems Keep Pigeons Away

Birds like a nice steady landing perch. Pigeons are no exception. Which is why Bird Wire Systems are so effective in denying them a place to perch. These post-and-spring-wire set-ups are easily installed along any roofline, elevated railing or parapet wall. Post Wire Systems are often used by Federal and State government buildings. As with all bird control devices, it pays to go for quality. The best bird wire systems feature nylon coated stainless steel wire for lasting durability, rain or shine.

Pigeons Fear to Tread on Bird Gels

Pigeons don’t like walking on a sticky surface. One or two steps on Bird Gel and off they go. Bird Gels are easy to applied using the standard caulking guns your maintenance people already have. The chemical stays sticky for six months.

Bird Jolt Flat Track is the only electric bird abatement system with patented anti-arcing designs.

Shared From: Yahoo News

Mission Viejo Ca: Bird-B-Gone has just been awarded three new patents.

Bird-B-Gone supplies the commercial, industrial and residential market with effective, humane bird deterrents manufactured in the USA.

The company makes it their mission to stay on top of the latest advancements in the bird control industry incorporating new technologies with tried and true methods to develop the most effective bird deterrents available.
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Article Written By: Alex Kecskes 

If you’re a Facilities or Maintenance Manager, you need to keep your industrial facility clean and your repair and maintenance costs to a minimum. If you have pest bird problems, they can pose a challenge—unless you implement some effective bird control measures. Pest birds can become a costly nuisance, both inside and outside various types of industrial structures. From slippery loading docks to jammed up skylights on manufacturing roofs, pest birds can cause you all sorts of grief.

As a Facilities Manager, the buck stops with you when it comes to getting rid of pest birds. Adopting an effective bird deterrent strategy can save your maintenance crews from doing constant cleanups and repairs on expensive AC units, rooftop ventillators and other equipment in and around your facility.
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Mission Viejo, CA (PRWEB) May 08, 2012

Bird-B-Gone, Inc. leading manufacturer of professional grade bird deterrents would like to announce the launch of their newly designed website.

Bird-B-Gone supplies the commercial, industrial and residential market with effective, humane bird deterrents manufactured in the USA. Beyond offering high quality products with industry leading guarantees, the company prides itself on the level of customer service, support and free training provided to customers.

The new, improved website will be a helpful resource to pest control and wildlife professionals or anyone looking to deter birds from their property. The site offers specific information for nearly every industry affected by pest birds. (more…)

Article Shared From: TriValleyCentral.com

Courtesy of a Mission Royale resident, Pigeons leave quite a mess on the roofs of some Mission Royale homes last month in Casa Grande.

Written By: Melissa St. Aude

“It’s a major problem,” Roorda said. “And it’s getting worse. The mess they leave behind is sickening.”
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From the K-EARTH 101 Website:

Listen to our on air interview: HERE

Mission Viejo, CA – Bird-B-Gone, Inc. leading manufacturer of effective, humane bird deterrents  would like to announce a new addition to their line of professional grade bird control products, Heavy Duty Pond Netting.

Recent studies have shown that every year, thousands of protected migratory birds die in tailing or detention ponds used for industrial waste or filtering. Birds mistake these ponds for fresh water and often become poisoned by toxins present in the water.

Pond Netting is used as a physical barrier to prevent birds from landing in toxic tailing ponds or other water collection sites. The netting is stretched over these areas to prevent bird deaths. Installing pond netting will not only protect birds, but will also prevent the hefty fines associated with migratory bird deaths. (more…)

… and we have some exciting new products that will be featured at the show!

Visit Us At Booth 500!

• New Products!
• New Catalog!
• Product Demonstrations!
• Chance to Win a Bird-B-Gone Installer Kit!

Pest World, the annual pest control expo put on by the National Pest Management Association is set for October 19-22nd in New Orleans LA.

It’s one of our favorite times of year because we place high value on the personal relationships we build with our customers.  Getting to shake hands with and having face to face conversations with our loyal and new customers is always exciting and gives us motivation for the year to come.

This year Bird-B-Gone will be announcing 5 NEW BIRD CONTROL PRODUCTS!

Make sure to visit us at booth 500 for product information and demonstrations, catalogs and to enter for a chance to win a Bird-B-Gone Installer kit. The Bird-B-Gone Installer Kit is a heavy duty portable tool box that includes all the tools and hardware needed to start a successful bird control business.

You can reach us at 1-800-392-6915 or email nobirds@birdbgone.com if you have any questions or would like to reach us before the show.

Written by resident Bird-B-Gone Ornithologist: Dr. Rob Fergus

About: 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  Travis Audubon Society.  From 2004 to 2009  he was the Senior Scientist for Urban Bird Conservation at the National Audubon Society. Dr. Rob has teamed up with Bird-B-Gone to help answer pest bird questions closing the gap between the science of nature, and the nature of bird control.

Lets face it, most of us like to have birds around, but we have a problem with their droppings.  The major complaint about bird droppings involve unsightly or smelly messes, concerns about property damage, as well as potential health risks.

Unsightly or Smelly Messes

Most of the time this is the real problem with bird droppings—we just don’t want to see them.  While that is certainly understandable, birds are part of our natural environment so we shouldn’t be too upset about the occasional bird dropping on our car, house, or patio furniture.  Bird droppings become more of a problem when we create structures like window sills, decks, or utility lines where birds come to sit frequently and do their duty.  If bird droppings are accumulating the first thing to look at is how to alter the landscape so that the birds can’t physically come and sit where they are making the mess.  This may be done with architectural or structural modifications to a building or other structure, or by installing bird spikes or some other physical deterrents to keep the birds from being able to land where they want to sit.

Property Damage

More rarely accumulations of bird droppings may cause actual structural damage to buildings, bridges, machinery, and automobiles.  Bird droppings are acidic, which may cause some damage, but for automobiles the greater damage is done when car finishes expand in the sun and then contract around the dried bird dropping.  When birds eat berries, their droppings may stain paint, wood, or stucco.  To avoid property damage, wash bird droppings from any surface you want to protect as soon as possible.  Use a hose with a spray nozzle or a wet rag.   If the dropping has hardened, soak it with a wet rag or paper towel for ten minutes to soften it before rinsing or wiping it off.  You may want to use a household cleaner or a detergent formulated specifically for killing disease organisms associated with bird mess cleanups such as the Microcide SQ Disinfectant.

Potential Health Risks

Bird droppings may carry dozens of disease organisms that can be transmitted to people.  Risk to most people is usually small, but may be greater for young people, old people, and those with compromised immune systems.  It is always better to avoid contact with bird droppings when possible, and to clean up thoroughly following the general cleanup procedures outlined by the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management.  The following are the two main diseases that people may get from contact with bird droppings, usually after close contact with large accumulations of droppings and mostly from breathing in fungus that grows on the droppings:

• Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a contact with or inhalation of a fungus (Histoplasma capsulatum) which grows on bird and bat droppings.  Many people are infected without developing symptoms, but the very young and old, and those with compromised immune systems are at increased risk of developing severe infections.  Avoid areas with accumulations of bird droppings and if you have to clean up such a site, follow the directions in Histoplasmosis-Protecting Workers at Risk.  For more information see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
• Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease contracted mostly by breathing in the fungal cells of Cryptococcus neoformans growing on bird droppings.  Sometimes the disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms, while other times it spreads to the nervous system causing cryptococcal meningitis.  For more information see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
• Other Diseases that may be transmitted from birds to humans through droppings include:
  • Psittacosis (CDC website)
  • Salmonellosis (CDC website)
  • Colibacillosis (mostly found in poultry)
  • Arizonosis (mostly found in poultry)
  • Avian Tuberculosis (UConn Health Center)
  • Avian Influenza (CDC website)
  • Cryptosporidiosis (CDC website)

If you have concerns about possible exposure to these diseases, please contact your doctor or a health care professional.  For more specific information about bird control products to keep birds from landing and making a mess on your building or other structure, check out physical deterrents that might work in your situation, submit a specific question to  nobirds@birdbgone.com, or call a Bird-B-Gone bird control specialist toll free at 800-392-6915.

More Information

• Avian Diseases Transmissible to Humans (University of Florida Extension)
• The Real Reason Why Bird Droppings Damage Your Car (The Telegraph)
• Health Hazards Associated with Bird and Bat Droppings (Illinois Department of Public Health)
• Cleaning up the Excrement of Wildlife (Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management)

Written By: MARK RANZENBERGER, Morning Sun (Mount Pleasant)

Published 08:41 a.m., Monday, June 6, 2011

Bird-B-Gone employees, friends and family members including Owner Julie Donoho work to package food for children in Haiti

Mission Viejo, CA: Bird-B-Gone, Inc, leading manufacturer of professional bird control products, recently teamed up with Children of the Nations (A non-profit organization that provides holistic care to orphaned and destitute children across the globe) to help fund the building of new orphanages in Liberia and Sierra Leon. Visit our blog “Bird-B-Gone Gives Back” for details and updates.
Saturday May 7th Children of the Nations held a food packing event in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA where  Bird-B-Gone employees and family members came out to volunteer and show support.

Bird-B-Gone controller Ed Perry and Son Gianluca – the youngest volunteer!

The event was designed to invite community members out to volunteer in assembly line packaging of dried foods to send to children in Haiti. By the end of the day, 82,000 meals were packaged. The event made local news “Volunteers assemble food bags for hungry children”(OC Register) and was quite a success!
At Bird-B-Gone, our motto is “It’s more than just bird control, it’s faith family friends” and we don’t just say it – we live it!
Bird-B-Gone Owner Julie Donoho had a great time connecting with the community and giving time for a good cause:
“It was a pleasure to join in the Children of the Nations Meal Packaging event and see all the other volunteers. This event is done nationwide and gives people of all ages a chance to “give back” by packaging thousands of meals for the hungry in Africa, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.  I was proud to see our Bird-B-Gone family come out on a Saturday and join in the cause.  These events are organized, fun, and a chance for groups like churches, schools, and other organizations to come together for a great cause.  And, I even think Bird-B-Gone might have had the youngest participant, 18 month old Gianluca Perry!”

About:
Bird-B-Gone, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of professional grade bird deterrents. Founded in 1992, our products have helped solve pest bird problems in commercial, industrial and residential settings across the globe. We offer effective and humane solutions to prevent birds from landing and roosting in unwanted areas.

If you have any questions about our products or company please contact us:
Bird-B-Gone, Inc.
1-800-392-6915
nobirds@birdbgone.com
marketing@birdbgone.com

Bird-B-Gone Gives Back Blog: http://birdbgonegivesback.com/

Like everything else you own or manage, buildings require regular maintenance to keep them from deteriorating. Regardless of the size of your building, certain specific tasks must be performed to ensure heating, cooling, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are operating properly and continue to meet health and safety codes. Bird proofing can prevent droppings, nests and other and other bird debris from damaging these important systems–systems that can be very costly to repair or replace.

Likewise, a building’s plumbing systems, drains, drinking fountains, sprinkler systems and the timers that control them must be kept free of bird droppings and other debris to function properly. The same holds true for outdoor walkways, tables and chairs used by employees. Bird proofing will keep disease-carrying droppings from contaminating these areas. They can also prevent costly litigation should someone slip and fall on bird droppings.

Exterior lighting and security cameras must be kept clear and fully functional to ensure the safety of visitors and employees. Bird droppings and nests can obscure and render these systems inoperative unless bird-proofing devices are installed. Similarly, exterior locks, doors and windows can jam up, leaving gaps in a building’s security and resulting in the need for expensive repairs.

Finally, roofs, exterior facades and signage can be seriously damaged by pest-bird droppings and nesting materials. Roofs, especially, can be prohibitively expensive to repair or replace. The acid in bird droppings can quickly eat into painted signs and plastic, ruin expensive entry monuments and artwork, and crumble stone facades. All the more reason to invest in bird proofing before damage occurs.

Bird Proofing Solutions

Today’s bird proofing solutions are humane and highly effective. Poisons and shotguns are out, scientifically designed bird deterrents are in. These are easy to install and virtually maintenance free. Most are visually unobtrusive and balance aesthetics with function.

Bird Spikes Get the Job Done

As an effective bird-proofing device, few deterrents come close to the Bird Spike. Birds have one heck of time trying to land anywhere near them. That’s because the menacing-looking spikes really intimidate most birds. The spikes come in stainless steel or rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. And while they look like they would impale a bird, the blunted spikes are harmless to birds or maintenance crews. Bird spikes can be used to deter a wide range of birds and work quite effectively on rooftops, signs, building ledges and other outdoor areas.

Bird Spiders for Smaller Areas

For smaller nooks crannies, there’s the Bird Spider. Like the bird spike, it keeps pest birds from landing and nesting. While bird spikes are motionless, a spider’s arms whip around in the breeze to catch a pest bird’s eye. Spiders come in different sizes (different length spider arms) to deter different bird species.

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From Perth Now:

ONLY SLEEPING: Mt Lawley High School students thought sedated pigeons were suffering “agonizing deaths”. Picture: Richard Polden Source: Perth Now

MT LAWLEY Senior High School students were distressed to witness what they believed was the “agonizing death” of pigeons when a bird control program involving sedation was carried out during recess time.

The Guardian Express received an anonymous letter from a student’s parent who was concerned the students had seen the incident which they thought was caused when the pigeons ate “poisoned pellets”.

Education Department infrastructure executive director James Thom confirmed a pest control program was recently carried out while students were in the playground.

“Steps will be taken to ensure that in the future contractors carry out this work while students are inside,” he said.

Read the complete story here

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From Bird-B-Gone:

Using sedatives or poisons to control birds creates an empty space that other birds can fill. It doesn’t address the features attracting birds to the area such a continuous food source -  a scenario often seen on school campuses where students eat lunch.  Had the school installed physical bird deterrents, such as bird spikes, they could have permanently addressed the problem while keeping things calm around campus.

To learn more about physical bird deterrents, visit http://www.birdbgone.com. Bird-B-Gone has a complete line of humane bird deterrents used to prevent birds from landing or nesting in unwanted areas.

Mission Viejo, Ca: Bird-B-Gone, Inc. the world’s largest manufacturer of effective, humane bird deterrents has published a new catalog for 2011.  The catalog features over 100 products to help prevent birds from landing or nesting on rooftops, window sills, eaves, canopies, beams, signs and other areas. Bird-B-Gone’s products are easy to install and have industry leading guarantees. Products include bird exclusion netting, bird spikes, low-profile electric track systems, bird repellents, visual bird deterrents and more.

Since 1992, Bird-B-Gone has provided affordable solutions to pest bird problems. Products have been used to successfully deter birds from airports, schools, hospitals, military bases, historic buildings and other settings where birds have become a nuisance.

Bird-B-Gone has a team of bird control engineers and an on-staff Ornithologist to offer expert advice on choosing and installing the correct products. If you don’t have the time or resources to handle your bird problem, Bird-B-Gone has a network of trained professionals across the globe that can.

To receive your copy of the new 2011 Bird-B-Gone Catalog, or to get advice on your pest bird problem, call us at 1-800-392-6915 or email your name and address to nobirds@birdbgone.com, and put “New Catalog” in the message title. You can also access and download the full catalog online by visiting: http://www.birdbgone.com/free-catalog/.

Mission Viejo, CA – Bird-B-Gone, Inc, the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of professional bird control products, would like to announce the launch of their new Spanish language website.  Bird-B-Gone offers a complete line of effective and humane bird control products for the professional bird control industry.

Bird-B-Gone’s new Spanish language site will offer the same in-depth information, products and includes installation tips, species-specific solutions, specifications, CAD details and more. A press section details recent pest bird jobs and bird control news, and forms allow customers to give feedback on products, or receive help quoting jobs.

Bird-B-Gone looks forward to being able to better serve the Spanish speaking community and hopes the new site will make purchasing of bird control products, that much easier. The new website will feature a full range of products available in an online store for easy ordering to anywhere in the United States.

At Bird-B-Gone our expertise, training and customer service set us apart. Our products carry the longest industry guarantees, and are made in the United States. The new website was designed to help our customers choose the products that they need with confidence, and set the standard of information for the bird control industry. Visit the new site today! www.birdbgone.com/es/ or call us at 1-800-392-6915 for more information.

From Pork Magazine:

Are Your Hog Facilities Bird-proof?
By Pork news staff  |  Monday, August 30, 2010

//

For years, it’s been widely recognized that waterfowl such as ducks and geese are carriers of avian influenza virus and pose a transmission risk to humans as well as livestock. Now researchers are suggesting that some songbirds also carry AIV.

A team of researchers, including Trevon Fuller, University of California, examined samples from 225 bird species in 41 states. They found the average prevalence of AIV in passerines — or perching birds — is greater than the prevalence in eight other bird groups. Perching birds include sparrows, robins, blackbirds, starlings, jays and finches.

Read the complete article HERE

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From Bird-B-Gone:

Facilities that house and feed animals are a favorite roosting site of pest birds. Often these facilities are open and provide ample rafter areas, food and water needed for survival.  Pest Birds pose a serious health risk, as their droppings carry and transmit disease, such as salmonella. Birds will sit in rafter areas and defecate in feeding troughs or water supplies – posing a direct health risk to the animals.

Feed houses and barns must take measures to protect their livestock from disease by bird proofing their building. Bird Netting is one simple way to remedy such a problem. If you net off a rafter area, birds will simply not be able to land. Netting acts as a physical barrier to block birds. There is heavy duty bird netting that will last 10+ years, and lieghtweight, temporary options.

Bird Gel or Bird Spikes are another great way of keeping birds out of a feed house.  You apply these items to the rafters themselves to keep birds from landing.

To learn more about keeping birds out of hog facilities, barns, feed houses or more, visit Bird-B-Gone at http://www.birdbgone.com or call us direct at 1-800-392-6915 – our sales team can help you choose the right product for your application.

State tries again to fix air quality at Insurance Division

More than a month after efforts to kick the pigeons out of the Insurance Division’s ventilation system resulted in headaches and respiratory problems for employees, officials are making a final push to eliminate the problem.

In the first attempt to fix the problem, a contractor sprayed a grape seed oil-based product into the vents. The pigeons left but the chemical smell caused many of the 80 or so division employees to suffer respiratory and other problems. In fact, the literature on the product, Rejex-It, warned that “prolonged inhalation may lead to respiratory tract irritation.”

The building on Fairview Drive was shut down four days and employees sent home while work began to clear the building’s air.

Read the complete article here

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Hiring a professional to take care of your pest bird problem can mean the difference between successfully deterring birds, and well, not. Many bird deterrents’ success rely on proper installation. There are many factors to consider including the species of bird, whether or not they are nesting and the location of the problem.

Misuse of products or repellents can, as we see above, sometimes negatively effect the environment or make a pest bird situation worse. Luckily there are Pest Control Professionals who specialize in pest bird eradication. Bird-B-Gone has a network of “authorized installers” that can help properly eliminate a bird problem in commercial, industrial and residential settings. If you need to hire a bird control professional, call Bird-B-Gone at 1-800-392-6915 and we will put you in contact with an authorized installer in your area.

Spanish researchers find two bugs on feral pigeons which cause illness in humans

WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks

By Nicky Broyd

22nd June 2010 – Sampling of pigeons captured on the streets of Madrid has revealed the bacteria they carry. Researchers writing in BioMed Central’s open access journal Acta Vetinaria Scandinavica found two bugs that were highly prevalent in the bird population and which cause illness in humans: Chlamydia psittaci and Campylobacter jejuni.

The study

Fernando Esperón from the Animal Health Research Center, in Madrid, worked with a team of researchers to analyse blood and enema samples taken from 118 pigeons caught using gun-propelled nets.

The study found extremely high prevalence of bacteria which can be transferred from feral pigeons to humans.  Esperón said in news release there was no way to tell if the birds were infected: “This leads to the hypothesis that pigeons act as asymptomatic reservoirs of Chlamydia psittaci and Campylobacter jejuni. These birds may therefore pose a public health risk to the human population.”

Read the complete WebMD article

When pigeons try to roost or nest on or around your home or business, Bird-B-Gone, Inc  has you covered with a complete line of effective and humane bird control products. The sooner you address a bird problem, the better results you will get. The longer pigeons or other birds are allowed to inhabit an area, the harder it will be to get them to leave.

Have a pigeon or bird problem? Visit Bird-B-Gone, Inc. today, or call us at 1-800-392-6915.

For Immediate Release:

Mission Viejo CA – Bird-B-Gone, Inc, leading manufacturer and supplier of professional bird control products, would like to announce the launch of their new and vastly improved website. The new site is streamlined, easy to use, and designed to meet the needs of professional bird control installers; there is heavy emphasis on training and product information.

Customers will find in-depth information including installation tips, specifications, CAD details and more. A press section details recent “bird jobs” and bird control news, and new forms allow customers to give feedback on products, or receive help quoting jobs. Our goal is not to “sell” products, but rather position customers to make the best quality decisions when it comes to designing, specifying and installing the right bird control product for the situation.

At Bird-B-Gone our expertise, training and customer service set us apart. Our motto is “Faith, Family & Friends”. Our products carry the longest industry guarantees, and are made in the United States. We have a team of Bird Control experts that can help solve virtually any pest bird problem.

Visit the new site today! www.birdbgone.com or call us at 1-800-392-6915 for more information.

Building owners and businesses spend millions of dollars annually to deal with infestations and the problems associated with pest birds. The risks associated with these pests increase year after year as bird populations continue to grow in both inner city and urban environments. The fact is, these pests are out of their natural element and without proper bird control measures, they can wreak havoc on commercial buildings and the people around them.

Perhaps the most obvious of problems are the droppings pest birds leave, which are not only unsightly, but can cause accelerated deterioration of buildings, structures and statues. Limestone is particularly susceptible, not just to a bird’s droppings, but the acid secretion produced by the fungi that live in them. Cleaning and restoring buildings so damaged can be expensive. Nests and droppings can quickly clog gutters and down pipes. Left unchecked, these bird by-products can lead to timber and structural damage, unsightly decor, and huge repair costs. Pigeons nesting around commercial air conditioning units deposit fecal matter that can get sucked into ducts, grilles and vents, damaging these expensive systems. Bird droppings that accumulate on ledges, sills and signage are unsightly and ruin the image of a business, especially an eatery. Droppings deposited on pavements, entrances and fire escapes makes them hazardous as pedestrians may slip and fall on them, creating a huge legal liability to commercial property owners. One quickly can see why bird control has become so vital to commercial building owners.

But bird control solves other problems as well. There’s the incessant and irritating noise pest birds produce whey they gather in sizeable numbers. They not only annoy maintenance workers, but can be distracting to visitors in hotels, hospitals and office complexes. Another problem is the offensive odor many birds produce—both in droppings and nesting—a particular nuisance to restaurants with outdoor service. Droppings also spoil finished products in loading bays and storage areas. They can severely stain and damage goods, ruin expensive paintwork, and mar the appearance of costly finished goods, metal panels, and stonework. Droppings can also eat into and destroy wood, paper and cardboard packaging.

Pest birds can be a health hazard, carrying and transmitting any of 60 known diseases. Sparrows and Feral Pigeons can carry bacteria causing Salmonellosis. Feral Pigeons carry Ornithosis, which is similar to viral pneumonia. Birds, bird droppings and their nesting materials contain insects and mites. These insects can damage property, stored foods and fabrics.

As many building owners have learned, keeping pigeons and other pest birds away from commercial buildings is not an easy thing to do. These days, proper bird control takes more than a plastic owl or two to scare away pests. What to do?

Thankfully, there are a number of effective and humane bird control products to keep pest birds off your property. Most are maintenance free and easy to install. Bird spikes, for example, are ideal for pigeons and other large birds. Some have spikes made of strong, rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. Others have stainless steel spikes. Another useful bird control product is the bird spider. It’s ideal for awnings and patio covers. The spider arms move with the breeze, keeping pest birds from landing. Most of these deterrents are sturdy and stable, come in a variety of diameters, and install easily. They also won’t harm the birds.

Another effective bird control solution is bird netting. It’s ideal for a broad range of commercial uses, including signs, warehouses, courtyards, canopies, airplane hangars and rooftops. With its ability to control all species of birds, bird netting is often prescribed by architects. Some products in this category are U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. The webbing is usually available in a variety of mesh sizes to deter sparrow, starlings, pigeons, seagulls and larger birds.

A simple, easy-to-install bird control device that discourages bird pests from landing and nesting is the bird slope. These angled, slippery panels are ideal for eaves, ledges, beams and other 90-degree areas where pest birds tend to nest and roost. Also simple and easy to apply are bird gels. This bird control measure creates a sticky surface that birds hate.

Finally, there are the higher –tech bird control solutions, known as electric-track systems.  Ideal for deterring all types of pest birds, these are easily mounted on ledges, signs, rooftops, and flat or curved surfaces. They discourage birds from landing by conveying a mild electric shock that’s harmless to birds. They also alter a bird’s habits to nest or feed. These systems are low profile and almost invisible. Be sure to get a flow-through design to prevent water from damming up on rooftops and other surfaces. Look for corrosion-resistant products that can stand up to alkali and acidic environments.  The bottom line: bird control is good for your business.