by Fran Prisco
When pest birds are occupying your building, how do you keep them away? Installing humane bird guards is the answer. Birds like sparrows, starlings and pigeons are often found landing, roosting and nesting on or near office buildings in any large city. These birds are known as pest birds because of the damage and health risks they impose. Not only do their nesting activities cause damage to buildings, so do their droppings. Bird droppings are acidic and can quickly erode building materials costing building owners thousands to repair. The droppings left behind by birds can also be a health hazard; carrying any of 60 plus communicable diseases. Bird roosts can also harbor parasites and flees that can easily invade buildings.
Cleaning Up Bird Droppings
It is important that safety precautions are taken when cleaning up bird droppings and debris.
When pest birds are occupying your building, how do you keep them away? Installing humane bird guards is the answer. Birds like sparrows, starlings and pigeons are often found landing, roosting and nesting on or near office buildings in any large city. These birds are known as pest birds because of the damage and health risks they impose. Not only do their nesting activities cause damage to buildings, so do their droppings. Bird droppings are acidic and can quickly erode building materials costing building owners thousands to repair. The droppings left behind by birds can also be a health hazard; carrying any of 60 plus communicable diseases. Bird roosts can also harbor parasites and flees that can easily invade buildings.
Cleaning Up Bird Droppings
It is important that safety precautions are taken when cleaning up bird droppings and debris.
- During the cleanup, seal heating and cooling air ducts or shut the system down. Only authorized cleanup personnel should be present.
- Healthy individuals should do the cleanup.
- Wear a respirator that can filter particles as small as 0.3 microns.
- Wear disposable protective gloves, hat, coveralls and shoe coverings.
- Moisten the droppings with a light mist of water to keep spores from becoming airborne and keep them wet.
- Put droppings into sealed plastic garbage bags.
- When finished and while still wearing the respirator, remove protective clothing and place it in a plastic bag.
- Wash or shower.
- Check with local government agencies to verify that disposal of the waste is permissible through standard trash pickup.
Installing Bird Guards
There are several humane bird guards available that will keep all types of pest birds away from buildings. Most bird guards are easy to install, but it may be necessary to call in a bird control expert for more complicated jobs, such as those requiring more than one type of bird guard to get rid of the birds.
Electric Bird Deterrents:
Electric bird tracks are ideal for use in areas where aesthetics are a concern, most measure ¼ inch high and are available in a variety of colors to match the surface being protected. A.C. or solar chargers power these electric track systems. When birds land on the track, they receive a mild shock that does not harm the bird, but will condition them to stay away from the area. These tracks are easily installed using adhesive onto parapet walls, ledges, roof edges and peaks and other flat or curved surfaces. They will work to get rid of birds of all types.
Bird Guard Netting:
To exclude pest birds from areas that they are not wanted, bird netting is the product to use. Bird netting has been shown to be an effective and humane bird guard solution for a growing variety of commercial applications. It comes in a number of colors, including white, stone and black. Black bird netting provides natural U.V. protection and won't discolor when it gets dirty and dusty. Installed properly, this type of bird netting is almost invisible.
You can get bird netting in several mesh sizes to control pest birds without trapping them. For large birds like pigeons and seagulls, a 1-1/8” to 2” mesh size is recommended. For smaller birds like sparrows and starlings, smaller sizes are available. Some netting is U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof to last longer. Heavy-duty bird netting is made of high strength polyethylene. Then there's knotted polyethylene bird netting, which is available in U.V. treated twine for extended life and comes in burst strengths of up to 40 pounds. Many of these nets are flame resistant and have a high melting point. Ideal for hot enclosed areas.
There are several humane bird guards available that will keep all types of pest birds away from buildings. Most bird guards are easy to install, but it may be necessary to call in a bird control expert for more complicated jobs, such as those requiring more than one type of bird guard to get rid of the birds.
Electric Bird Deterrents:
Electric bird tracks are ideal for use in areas where aesthetics are a concern, most measure ¼ inch high and are available in a variety of colors to match the surface being protected. A.C. or solar chargers power these electric track systems. When birds land on the track, they receive a mild shock that does not harm the bird, but will condition them to stay away from the area. These tracks are easily installed using adhesive onto parapet walls, ledges, roof edges and peaks and other flat or curved surfaces. They will work to get rid of birds of all types.
Bird Guard Netting:
To exclude pest birds from areas that they are not wanted, bird netting is the product to use. Bird netting has been shown to be an effective and humane bird guard solution for a growing variety of commercial applications. It comes in a number of colors, including white, stone and black. Black bird netting provides natural U.V. protection and won't discolor when it gets dirty and dusty. Installed properly, this type of bird netting is almost invisible.
You can get bird netting in several mesh sizes to control pest birds without trapping them. For large birds like pigeons and seagulls, a 1-1/8” to 2” mesh size is recommended. For smaller birds like sparrows and starlings, smaller sizes are available. Some netting is U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof to last longer. Heavy-duty bird netting is made of high strength polyethylene. Then there's knotted polyethylene bird netting, which is available in U.V. treated twine for extended life and comes in burst strengths of up to 40 pounds. Many of these nets are flame resistant and have a high melting point. Ideal for hot enclosed areas.
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