by Alex A. Kecskes
It's no surprise that pest birds have become a nagging nuisance. The bird droppings, the nests, the noise---it's enough to drive you crazy. Add to that the maintenance and cleanup costs and you have a crying need for some serious pest bird deterrents. What homeowners, boat owners, facilities managers and municipalities have discovered is that they can fight back. And they don't have to use dangerous, harmful or ineffective methods to rid themselves of pest birds.
Today's professional bird control experts have come up with a number of highly effective bird pest deterrents that can be used against a wide range of bird pests. Some are high tech and some are low tech. We'll start with the most simple devices.
Consisting of reflective foils, tape banners and balloons, Bird Scare deterrents create an “Optical Distraction Zone” that birds would rather not go near. Some banners and tape produce a crinkling noise in the breeze that alarms pest birds. Balloons have the added threat of large predator eyes imprinted on them, which adds to the scare factor. These devices work to discourage a wide range of birds. They are easily installed and need only be refreshed from time to time so birds won't get bored.
One manufacturer has developed the king of bird scare devices. Called the Scarecrow, this pest bird deterrent employs a motion-activated sprinkler to blast a burst of water whenever it senses an approaching bird. Ideal for gardens, backyards, pools/spas and other outdoor areas, the ingenious device combines water spray, the caricature of a moving bird's head and a sudden sprinkler sound to scare pest birds.
Next up is the king of bird pest deterrents--the Bird Spike. No matter how smart or skilled, no bird alive can negotiate a landing around these threatening looking spikes. The blunted spikes attach to most any flat surface and are harmless to birds and people. Some manufacturers offer spikes in various colors and, when installed correctly, are unnoticeable from anyone looking up from the ground. The spikes are available in durable stainless steel or stiff, unbreakable polycarbonate. As a bird pest deterrent, spikes can't be beat.
Some manufacturers offer a number of different types and sizes of bird spikes, each designed to deter a specific set of bird species and pest bird nuisance. For example, there's the Mega Spike, which has spikes that are typically 7” high to ward off large pest birds, such as seagulls, cormorants, turkey vultures and raptors. The best mega spikes are made of marine grade stainless steel for lasting durability. When evaluating this deterrent, opt for spikes that are crush proof with a non-reflective metal finish. And if you can, go with a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base that allows you to angle the spike to fit curved surfaces.
If you're looking for a pest bird deterrent that keeps birds out of rain gutters, there's the Gutter Spike. These are ideal for large pest birds like seagulls, crows, and pigeons. The best gutter spikes feature adjustable clamps at the base to allow you to attach them to the lip of a gutter.
Birds hate spindly arms that threaten to grab them. That's the theory behind the Bird Spider. This bird pest deterrent is ideal for keeping pest birds away from outdoor eateries. awnings, canvas covers, patios and other flat areas. To whisk away birds of different sizes, spiders come with varying arm lengths.
A simple truth about all birds is that if they can't land, they won't stay. Our next pest bird deterrent exploits this truth. Unobtrusive to a fault, there's nothing threatening about the Bird Slope, yet no matter how many times they try and how skilled the bird, they just can't get a solid footing on these angled PVC panels. Ideal for eaves, ledges, beams and other similar niches, bird slopes are easy to install on almost any surface.
Birds won't even try to land anywhere near our next bird pest deterrent--Bird Foggers and Misters. Once birds fly through the irritating mist dispensed by these systems, they can't wait to get the heck out of the area. The chemical--food-grade methyl anthranilate--is essentially a grape extract that's harmless to birds and humans. The more sophisticated fog/mist systems are equipped with timers and multiple nozzles that let you direct the mist to very specific sites in varying spray times and durations.
Our next bird pest deterrent presents birds with an icky, sticky landing zone. And birds hate that. Called Bird Gel, the stuff has proven its worth on a wide range of pest birds. It goes on any surface, is practically invisible and stays sticky for a full six months. Gels are an ideal deterrent and will keep all manner of pest birds off ledges, conduit, pipes, I-beams and parapet walls.
Sometimes only a physical bird barrier will keep pest birds from your property. And there's no better barrier than Bird Netting. Effective and humane, this bird pest deterrent has been widely used to keep birds out of groves, vineyards, enclosed courtyards and patios. You can get various net mesh sizes to deter any number of pest birds--from pigeons and sparrows to starlings and seagulls. You can also get bird netting that is flame resistant, U.V. stabilized, and rot- and water-proof. If you're going to put up netting for the long haul, these superior attributes are recommended.
