Are You Scared

Pest birds have pooped all over your new statue. They’ve covered your sign with “dried mayo,” and someone has threatened to sue you for slipping on bird poop as they entered your property. You’ve had it with the invasion of these fine-feathered “friends.” You’re ready to stick your head out of your window and yell, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!”

Relax. There are many ways to scare birds away. And keep them away. Without resorting to poisons or firearms. They run the gamut from economical to high-tech. Most can be used in any location or circumstance. Best of all, they’re humane and effective in discouraging a wide range of pest birds from landing, pooping and nesting on your property.

Since the economy is in a downturn, we’ll start with the simplest, most economical bird deterrent–the Bird Scare Products. These “shoo” birds away by capitalizing on their fear of shiny things that jostle in the wind. They include iridescent reflective foil or flash tape, balloons, banners and the like that serve to create an “Optical Distraction Zone” for most pest birds. Some balloon chasers have giant eyes that look predatory and threatening. All are easy to install and won’t harm birds. They’re ideal for gazebos, overhangs, patios, vineyards, parks, pool and spa areas, boat docks and other open areas.

The Bird Diverter, uses scare-eye images to deter pest birds. Like the chaser, they’re simple to install and surprisingly effective. Some bird duverters serve double duty, with iridescent foil eyes to scare birds by day and glow-in-the-dark on the flip side to shoo them away when it gets dark.

One of the best ways to scare birds away–and keep them away–is the simple, but effective Bird Spike. These pest bird deterrents are perfect for pigeons and other large birds. They work by discouraging birds from landing through the use of menacing looking spikes. The spikes are attached to strips and come in either stainless steel or

rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. The plastic spikes are less expensive and recommended for areas where electrical conductivity prohibits the use of steel spikes. Both do the job nicely, keeping birds from landing on rooftops, commercial signs, billboards, and other open areas.

Another simple device used to scare birds away, the Bird Spider, features spindly arms that arch out in a variety of diameters and flail in the breeze. Pest birds perceive the arms as menacing and will simply choose another place to land.

Next up is a bird deterrent that’s downright inhospitable to birds. Known simply as Bird Gel, it’s applied like caulk from a calking gun to any surface you want pest birds to avoid. The gel never quite fully dries and remains sticky to the touch. Like landing on warm taffy, birds hate the stuff. Gels work on parapet walls, I-beams, ledges, conduit, pipes, in fact, virtually any flat or curved surface.

Got a big area you need to protect from pest birds? Try Bird Netting. While not designed to actually scare birds, netting screens them out without harming them. It’s typically available in 3/4″, 1-1/8″ and 2″ mesh sizes to deter sparrows, starlings, pigeons, seagulls and larger birds. Ideal for airplane hangars, courtyards, canopies, warehouses, and rooftops, some netting brands are made of polyethylene fabric that’s U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. It is non-conductive for areas where electrical conductivity or radio interference might be a problem.

Our next deterrent may not appear to scare birds, but to a bird trying to land, it can be quite unsettling. Enough so to convince them to head for more stable ground. Called the Bird Slope, this simple but effective deterrent uses angled slippery PVC panels to prevent birds from getting a solid footing. They simply slide off, like water off a duck’s back. Easy to install, PVC panels are ideal for ledges, eaves, beams and other 90-degree areas where pest birds opt to roost.

One deterrent that’s sure to scare birds away is the Electric Track. Harmless to birds and people, these devices impart a mild but annoying electric shock to a bird’s feet. The tracks are easily affixed to ledges, signs, rooftops, and flat or curved surfaces. Ideal for deterring pigeons, seagulls and larger birds, they convince birds to alter their habits and land elsewhere. Some low-profile tracks are virtually invisible from ground level. Others incorporate a flow-through design to keep water from damming up on rooftops. Look for tracks that have marine grade copper knitted wire. It’s stronger than steel, and will resist corrosion, acidic and alkali environments.

Last but not least are the higher tech solutions, bird deterrents that scare birds using sound or chemical sprays.

When it comes to sound, today’s audio bird deterrents can be quite effective. Some audio bird deterrents create shrill predator and bird distress calls to scare pest birds away. Others just produce annoying sounds that drive birds away. All are ideal for enclosed areas like parking garages, sheds and overhangs to deter a wide range of pest birds, including sparrows, starlings, pigeons, seagulls and larger birds.

Another high-tech deterrent, one particularly suited to scare birds away from large open areas is the Fogger/Mister. These incorporate powerful aerosol systems that disperse a food-grade, non-lethal mist of methyl anthranilate. This misted chemical is harmless to birds and FDA-approved. When birds fly through the mist, they can’t wait to leave. Some Fog/Mist systems are extremely versatile and have remote spray units with adjustable spray nozzles to cover specific areas.

So, if you’re troubled by pest birds, you don’t have to take it any more!

Originally published here.

Alex Kecskes is a freelance writer focusing on humane bird control methods.
Visit http://www.birdbgone.com for additional information on the products listed above.

FOUR TWENTYSOMETHINGS IN A GAME OF GEOCACHING FALL FOR A TRAP SET BY A KILLER WHO CHOOSES THEM FOR THEIR NOTORIETY ON WEBSITES SUCH AS YOUTUBE.

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