Pigeons can become a very costly nuisance for gas station owners, especially for owners who have gas stations with fast food stores attached to them. Without bird deterrents to dissuade them, pigeons will settle in and nest on the canopies and overhangs of these properties. It only takes a few years for a flock of pigeons to completely clog the gutters of these structures with their nests. And it doesn't take long for the metal (which, in most cases is lightweight) to succumb to the acid in pigeon droppings. The droppings eat away the paint, exposing the metal to the elements, which can cause extensive rust damage.
When gutters become clogged, they are increasingly less effective. And when it rains, the added water weight on a canopy's roof is about twice the dry weight. Before you know it, your expensive canopy, overhang or guttering will need to be replaced. If you ignore the problem for too long, a canopy could collapse. Imagine the liability if there are customers underneath.
In the absence of bird deterrents to control pigeons, canopies and overhangs make an ideal place for these birds to gather. They're generally safe from predators and, if the gas station has a convenience store attached that sells any kind of food, pigeons will swoop down for a meal. Most gas station trashcans are overflowing with leftover food scraps. Some gas station convenience stores even have small tables and chairs for customers to eat a burger, fries or hot dog. And kids eating there often leave scraps on these tables, which means more food for pigeons to get fat, poop and breed.
A popular and highly effective commercial bird deterrent is Bird Netting. Properly installed, pigeon netting presents an impenetrable barrier for pigeons. For commercial structures, heavy-duty bird netting is ideal. It can take the weight and wear that flocks of pigeons dish out. Heavy duty bird netting is most often prescribed by architects. For maximum effectiveness as a bird deterrent, look for bird netting made of ISO 1806 mesh test polyethylene fabric. This netting is U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. The netting should be draped over rooftops, nooks and crannies to prevent pigeons from reaching nesting areas. For best results, bird netting should be installed before pigeons gather in large flocks.
