Bird Proofing Your House or Boat

by Alex A. Kecskes

Pest birds have, for years, taken their toll on homes and boats. Pigeons, seagulls, crows and all manner of pest birds have invaded private property to wreak havoc, destroy and devalue our prized possessions.

Homeowners have had to put up with damage to roofs, gutters and air conditioning units. Any homeowner who has ever had to clean nests and debris out of a gutter knows it's not a pleasant task. Neither is cleaning bird droppings off a solar panel or dish antenna something to look forward to. Any air conditioning repair person will tell you that bird droppings can stop and stall even the most expensive air conditioner.

Boat owners have long had to deal with pest gulls and other annoying birds. Sails and sail boat covers splattered with bird droppings are no fun to clean. In some cases, if the bird droppings aren't removed, the damage to canvas covers can be permanent, causing them to rip and tatter. Damage can be equally serious and permanent to sonar, radar and radio antennas and their motors and mountings. This gear is not cheap to repair or replace. And what boat owner hasn't been obligated to apologize for bird droppings on a deck, step or side runner after a guest has slipped and taken a bad fall. Not to mention the legal liability of such an accident.

Bird Proofing Devices and Solutions

Advances in bird proofing technology have resulted in some very effective and humane pest bird deterrents. These run the gamut from high tech to low cost. Most are easy to install and maintain. 

Bird Spikes Keep 'Em from Landing

A widely used bird deterrent, Bird Spikes are popular among property owners, boat owners and municipalities. The spiked strips look like they would impale whatever comes near them. Not to worry. The blunted spikes are safe for birds, pets and humans. Bird spikes have an uncanny ability to dissuade pest birds from landing. The spikes come in durable stainless steel or stiff, unbreakable polycarbonate. For seagulls, there's a spike called the Mega Spike. So named because it sports some very big spikes--typically 7” high. The best mega spikes are made of marine grade stainless steel. Other spikes come with a crush-proof, non-reflective metal finish. Spikes with a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base will last longer. You can even get angled spikes to accommodate curved surfaces.
Most buildings today have rain gutters where birds tend to gather and nest. When water backs up, it seeps under roofing tiles and shingles, which can lead to expensive roof repairs. Enter the Gutter Spike. It's the ideal way to bird proof against pest birds that love to gather in rain gutters. The spikes have adjustable clamps at the base so they can be easily attached to the lip of a gutter.

Slippery Slope

Simple, humane and highly effective, Bird Slopes are basically just angled PVC panels that won't allow pest birds to get a solid footing when they try to land. It's the ideal bird-proofing device for eaves, ledges, beams and other similar niches. Bird slopes are easily installed on almost any surface using nails, screws or glue. They are virtually maintenance free. And they come in a number of different colors to match your exterior décor.

Gone with the Goo

Birds hate to land on sticky surfaces (like we hate to get gum on our shoes). Bird Gel is the bird proof solution that really annoys most birds. The stuff pumps onto any surface with a standard caulking gun, and when it dries, it stays sticky for a long time--about six months. Pest birds land on it and it tugs at their little feet, step after annoying step, until they can't wait to leave.  Gels are ideal for use on ledges, conduit, pipes, I-beams and parapet walls.

The Net Difference

Barrier deterrents have long been an effective and humane bird proofing solution. One of the best barrier deterrents is Bird Netting. It comes in several net mesh sizes to deter various types and sizes of pest birds. The best bird netting is flame resistant, U.V. stabilized, and rot- and water-proof.

Create an "Optical Distraction Zone”

Bird Scare deterrents have a long and successful history as effective bird proofing devices. These simple reflective foils, shiny tape banners and balloons work because they create a zone of optical distraction that birds just don't like to be around. Some produce a snapping noise in the breeze that adds to the distraction factor. One note about bird scare deterrents: They need to be moved around and replaced every so often or pest birds will get used to them.

In a Class by Itself

Considered the king of bird scare devices, Scarecrows are the ultimate bird-proofing weapons. Humane and highly effective, these innovative devices deter pest birds using a clever blend of technology and bird psychology. Basically a motion-activated sprinkler, Scarecrows deliver a sudden blast of water spray whenever they sense a bird flying or walking near them. Best of all, they combine this sudden water blast with the Scarecrow's moving head and sprinkler sound, which is something pest birds will never forget.
 

Bird Proof Your Home for Health and Safety

By Kathy Fritsch

Baby proofing the home keeps your baby free from harm, but bird proofing the home keeps you and your home free from the harm a pest bird can do.  Summertime is the ideal season to take action.  It is warm and sunny and the perfect time to be outside doing simple and inexpensive home improvement projects.  Installing bird deterrents should be at the top of your things to do list.  This is the time of year where birds are searching for that comfortable location to start building their nests and hatching their offspring.  There are effective products that will bird proof your home so the birds do not choose it as their nesting site.  Although the idea of baby birds may seem delightful, the damage to you and your property from pest birds and their nests can be quite detrimental.

A very important reason to bird proof your home is to keep your family healthy.  Nesting birds accumulate a build-up of viruses, bacteria and fungal matter in their droppings.  The best way to eliminate this problem is to stop the nesting before it begins.  Inspect your home closely.  Determine areas that may be susceptible to nesting that are close to where your family congregates.  One area that is sure to get summertime and often year round usage is your patio. The patio cover is a great place to mount a solar bird repeller.  The repeller can be mounted on either flat or angled surfaces in a matter of minutes.  It scares the pest birds away from the area by the continual movement of the 2.5’ telescoping rods which have iridescent red foil flash tape at the ends.  The constant sweeping movement does not harm the birds in anyway, but distracts them from making your patio their summer home.  The red foil flash tape also scares the birds away from the area when it is simply tied to the patio, or a nearby tree, creating the perfect optical distraction zone.

Another common area for birds to nest around your home is under the eaves, near your front entry way or in your rain gutters.  You want to avoid carrying any droppings from your shoes into your home, or breathing in the fungal spores that can be released from the nest.  A very simple and economical way to keep the eaves free of birds is the use of either a bird slope or a transparent bird gel.  Both make an extremely uncomfortable landing spot for the bird.  The bird slope creates a “slippery slope” that birds cannot land on.  It is easily installed and can be painted to match the exterior of your home.  A transparent bird gel creates a very sticky surface which birds hate.  The gel is virtually invisible and is non-toxic to people and birds.

Making the rain gutters undesirable for landing and nesting is as simple as installing gutter bird spikes. After clearing out any debris from the gutters, just connect the spikes by using the attached clips and check one more thing off your to do list. Taking these precautions early on will save you time in the long run.  Cleaning up the area after a pest bird has made his home would be much more labor intensive.  Cleaning and repairing the physical damage to your home from the uric acid released from bird droppings can be a more expensive project.  Even though pest birds can be hazardous to us, we want to not be half hazard in our humane “good riddance” of them.  Always choose humane bird deterrent products like those available at Absolute Bird Control.

Bird Proofing Ball Parks

by Alex A. Kecskes

Pest birds love a good game, particularly if the fans buy them snacks. Which explains why the Tigers-Mets Sunday Series Finale game in 2007 was invaded by a flock of about 50 seagulls. They made their way inside Comerica Park--mostly in the outfield--during the first inning, and about half of those stuck around for the rest of the game. Sean Casey indicated he had the same two gulls at first base during the entire game.

In 2009, dozens of ring-billed gulls invaded Wrigley Field late in a game. The invasion provided a spectacle for fans but annoyed ballpark management. Flying birds and seagulls also invaded the San Francisco Giants Ballpark, dive-bombing facilities crews after the game.

In Cleveland, seagulls have repeatedly invaded Progressive Field during major games. The gulls discovered that the ballpark is an ideal place to scavenge a free meal. Ballpark managers aren't exactly pleased to see fans toss half-eaten hot dogs, popcorn pieces and peanut shells at the gulls, inviting the pests to swoop in for a free lunch. The birds love game time and wait patiently on the field for the right time to dive into the stands and grab a discarded meal. There are often hundreds of gulls flying over the field and gathering in the outfield grass. The increase of nesting pairs in Cleveland's 'Flats' on flattop roof buildings is a major problem. The gulls ride the wind currents up the valley walls to the ballpark in search for food scraps to feed their young. Only humane solutions to deter the gulls are under consideration, since the birds are a federally protected species.