Effective Bird Control and Why It Is Important

More than 60 transmissible diseases (some of which are fatal) are associated with geese, pigeons, starlings and house sparrows.  For example:

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus is transmitted via mosquito bites from infected birds and animals to humans. Often serious enough to require hospitalization, it may be fatal to the elderly or immunologic ally compromised, and can leave serious after-effects among infected patients.

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease that may be fatal.  It results from a fungus growing in dried bird droppings.

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a yeast or fungus infection spread by pigeons.  The disease affects the skin, the mouth, the respiratory system, the intestines and the urogenital tract, especially the vagina.  It is a growing problem for women, causing itching, pain and discharge.

Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis is caused by a yeast found in the intestinal tract of pigeons and starlings.  The illness often begins as a pulmonary disease and may later affect the central nervous system.  Since attics, cupolas, ledges, schools, offices, warehouses, mills, barns, park buildings, signs, etc. are typical roosting and nesting sites, the fungus is apt to found in these areas.

St. Louis Encephalitis

St. Louis Encephalitis, an inflammation of the nervous system, usually causes drowsiness, headache and fever.  It may even result in paralysis, coma or death.  St. Louis encephalitis occurs in all age groups, but is especially fatal to persons over age 60.   The disease is spread by mosquitoes which have fed on infected house sparrow, pigeons and house finches carrying the Group B virus responsible for St. Louis encephalitis.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis often occurs as “food poisoning” and can be traced to pigeons, starlings and sparrows.  The disease bacteria are found in bird droppings; dust from droppings can be sucked through ventilators and air conditioners, contaminating food and cooking surfaces in restaurants, homes and food processing plants.

Besides being direct carriers of disease, nuisance birds are frequently associated with over 50 kinds of ectoparasites, which can work their way throughout structures to infest and bite humans.  About two-thirds of these pests may be detrimental to the general health and well-being of humans and domestic animals.  The rest are considered nuisance or incidental pests.  A few examples of ectoparasites include:

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius)

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) may consume up to five times their own weight in blood drawn from hosts which include humans and some domestic animals.  In any extreme condition, victims may become weak and anemic.  Pigeons, starlings and house sparrows are know to carry bed bugs.

Chicken mites (Dermanyssus gallinae)

Chicken mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) are known carriers of encephalitis and may also cause fowl mite dermatitis and acariasis.  While they subsist on blood drawn from a variety of birds, they may also attack humans.  They have been found on pigeons, starlings and house sparrows.

Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor)

Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), perhaps the most common beetle parasites of people in the United States, live in pigeon nests.  It is found in grain or grain products, often winding up in breakfast cereals, and may cause intestinal canthariasis and hymenolespiasis.

Visit Bird-X.com for humane, non-lethal bird control solutions that aid in reducing disease-bearing bird infestations.

Keep Your Food Processing Plant Bird and Health Code Violation Free

By Dave KoganMaintaining a building’s facilities is a challenge for most facility managers. Maintaining food processing facilities that must pass regular health inspections is even more challenging. Birds roosting and/or nesting at or near the facility can make it a losing battle. Birds are naturally attracted to food and moisture, so they routinely try to infiltrate food facilities of all types. Birds like to perch outdoors, awaiting their opportunity for entry. The most common “offenders” are pigeons, sparrows and starlings. They either try to roost on the outside of facilities – where droppings can form and degrade food service areas such as loading docks – or they fly in and out to find places to roost, nest or forage for food. Particularly vulnerable are places where garbage is removed or placed in a dumpster. One can almost time the bird activity based on garbage disposal and removal. Birds near food are recognized as a major health issue. Any evidence of adulteration or filth is not tolerated by government regulators and that includes bird droppings, feathers or nesting materials in food processing plants, warehouses or any other food establishment. It’s not just low tolerance, it’s NO tolerance. All objectionable bird activities must be prohibited in the area to prevent contamination. Undoubtedly, bird control is a critical issue in the food industry, but solutions can be simpler than some people realize. Part of a facility manager’s job is to educate their companies on the issues and find solutions to eradicate the problem. Cleanliness outside the facility is a key factor. The less there is to eat, the less attractive the facility becomes to them. Food facility managers need to take active measures to prevent food spills and access to garbage and disposal areas. AND there are other effective measures to deter birds. Preventing A Serious Crime Loading dock with spikes. One of the primary methods of controlling bird pests in an outside area is to erect a physical barrier. By nature, birds are inclined to hop on platforms. Find ledges, overhangs and niches to settle on, and squeeze through structural cavities in search on a fly-in space. A physical barrier disrupts this normal pattern of bird behavior. If the bird is made uncomfortable enough, you can change its pattern. What works for many battle weary food facility managers are spike needle strips. These branched, plastic protrusions are typically installed on ledges, roofs, architectural outcroppings and other favorite bird landing sites. The densely branched and spaced spikes prevent birds from roosting and also from squeezing between the spiky extensions. A physical barrier won’t necessarily prevent birds from getting in, but it changes their pattern of behavior. The birds may alight on a fence or other object instead. If the birds are moved over one-hundred feet away, that’s enough to inhibit them and prevent droppings in vulnerable areas. Assessing Vulnerability The U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules and various state regulations governing food facilities are quite rigorous. The FDA regulations are worded very strongly, including any food that is “packaged, processed or held under unsanitary conditions where it may cause a problem or become adulterated.” This statement leaves the door wide open to regulatory violations that can be cited by agents or inspectors. Some companies use audible and/or inaudible sound deterrents coupled with various visual scare devices such as scare balloons, fake owls and holographic tape. Bird problems are highly visible and can not only be a health issue where food is concerned, but can also be a threat to a worker’s health and safety. Slip-and-fall accidents and disease spread from bird droppings are the two main reasons for cleaning up bird mess and deterring birds. The recent salmonella poisoning found at the Peanut Corp. of America in Georgia is just one example of poor bird control. Since the peanuts were not properly roasted, the feces from the birds that had infiltrated the plant and/or roosted on parts of the broken roof were able to deposit their droppings right on the peanuts during the production process. Some companies have even used poison, but poison in today’s society is not acceptable in terms of environmental concerns and safety issues. Plus, poison doesn’t change the behavior of new roosting birds. They don’t know that the area is inhospitable because their “friends” are not around to tell them. The best way to assess problem areas is to thoroughly inspect a facility. Grocery stores and bakeries, for example, are attractive to birds at the back door receiving area, especially if the receiving area includes overhangs and ledges that provide weather protection for the birds plus an occasional opportunity for flying in to grab food. Birds are totally objectionable around grocery stores because shoppers coming in and out see the birds and their droppings in full view. And of course, so do state and federal regulators. The bird problem is magnified in food storage warehouses and processing plants due to the occurrence of even more doors, ledges, windows and delivery vehicles coming and going through open doors. Impressions Count Inspectors judge on general appearance. If birds are visible nearby, their mere presence can trigger a closer inspection. Further, bird droppings can be a health hazard, harboring disease and parasites that are harmful to humans as was with the recent outbreaks of salmonella found in peanuts, tomatoes, spinach, etc. The goal of the spikes and other barriers is to prevent the problem from showing up in the first place. Spikes are sold in convenient 12-inch segments and are easy-to-install with a caulking compound or other adherent. On wider ledges, customers can apply two rows of Spikes for fuller coverage. While there’s no single answer to bird control, a physical barrier used in conjunction with visual scare devices and electronic sound repellers tend to be the ultimate solution in keeping birds away. And they save in clean up costs. These solutions are relatively inexpensive and are one-time costs. One cannot put a price tag on being cited for a critical regulatory violation. In the worst case, a facility could lose its license to operate. Nobody wants that kind of hassle. For more information or to find a solution for your bird control problem, visit us at www.bird-x.com

How to Get Rid of Your Annoying Woodpecker Problem

On the Level: Possible ways to stop woodpecker’s ruckus on gutter

A recently-published article gives great tips on how to get rid of annoying woodpeckers. Woodpeckers tend to attack homes that have either a desirable food source that they can easily scavenge for (e.g. insects, larvae, nuts, fruits, suet), ideal things to peck erratically with the intent of luring a mate (e.g. gutters, sidings, trashcans), or an attractive nesting spot.

Below is an excerpt:

For the last several weeks I have been awakened by a woodpecker beating on the rain gutter outside my bedroom window. He’s like clockwork showing around 6:40 each day. He doesn’t appear to be going after any insects; just pounding on the gutter like a tom-tom. This morning I woke up early and went outside in anticipation of his arrival and noticed I could hear the sound of his pounding on several rain gutters throughout the neighborhood. Right around 6:40, there he was right on the end of my gutter and, even though I was standing on the patio and clapping my hands, it didn’t seem to bother it. As a matter of fact, it flew down to a tree branch near me as if to challenge me. After it flew up to a higher branch, I noticed the arrival of a second and third bird, following the same routine of pounding on my gutter and then moving on to my neighbor’s gutter and doing the same. Is this some kind of bird communications ritual? I know there’s a Federal law against harming a migratory bird. Does this mean the woodpeckers have migrated to our neighborhood in Annapolis?

While checking the Internet for information, I found a variety of unusual deterrents being advertised. I am looking to you for advice on what’s practical, reliable and legal to do to deter this woodpecker practice. This is also the first time I have experienced this situation in the 25-plus years I have been in my home. Thanks for any advice you can offer. I’ll certainly convey it to my neighbors since I’m sure they would be glad to rid themselves of the annoyance as well.

The entire article can be found here: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/hom/2009/04/25-18/On-the-Level-Possible-ways-to-stop-woodpeckers-ruckus-on-gutter.html

For basic woodpecker problems, we recommend using bird spikes, bird netting, Irri-Tape bird scare tape, or Prowler Owl bird scare owl. For a more persistent woodpecker problem, we suggest using the woodpecker repellent Woodpecker PRO.

Woodpecker PRO

Keeping Raccoons Away From Your Yard

A family member of mine owns a lovely home in a suburban community a few hours away from Chicago. Some time ago I decided to pay her a faithful visit since we had not seen each other in so long.

After arriving and surveying the front of her home thoroughly, I greeted her with a displeased look accompanied by subtle sympathy. My obnoxious reaction had been targeted towards the repulsive jumble of rattled vegetation that she called a yard. It was an absolute mess. The trash can had been tipped, her yard grass had been deliberately ripped from the earth, feces were spread awkwardly on the ground, and the sides of her home were scratched up pretty badly.

I asked her about the mess and she confessed to me that she was at constant war with the pests that chose to designate her property as their personal residence. She was tired of constantly cleaning up after their nightly escapades. The most annoying of them all was the raccoon pack that discreetly established themselves as the rulers of her yard. Their lack of concern for her aggressive shooing tactics led her to give up on them. She once considered installing an electric fence but eventually came to her senses after thinking about the potential harm that the fence could bring to her young children.

She modestly asked for my help and I was more than happy to give her advice about getting rid of those pesky ‘coons.

I told her about the general problems that were affiliated with raccoons:

• Raccoons adapt very well to almost any environment with ample food and water sources.
• You will rarely witness raccoons in the act because they are nocturnal. The only sign of their presence is a tattered lawn with occasional feces lying round.
• Raccoons will eat virtually any food that they can put their grubby little paws on.
• Raccoons are wild animals, so handle them with caution! They are infamously known for their susceptibility to viral diseases, such as rabies, canine distemper, and raccoon parvoviral enteritis. Also, their feces may contain raccoon roundworm spores, which can seriously sicken humans if inhaled.
• Raccoons are not easily intimidated and can be ferocious animals; test them and they may perhaps sink their sharp teeth into your precious skin.

Tips for Getting Rid of Raccoons:

You must make sure that your home is not a desirable location for raccoons to inhabit.

• Secure the lid of your trash can (e.g. attach a bungee cord to both handles and let its elastic rope naturally fasten the top of the can).
• Station your trash can so that raccoons will not be able to knock it down easily (e.g. put a heavy brick inside).
• Apply raccoon repellent granules onto the lawn. Granules last longer than liquids and have a stronger scent. (Consider using Shake-Away Repellent Granules. These granules are 100% organic and are made up of predator urine, which signal danger to the raccoon.)
• Install a scarecrow sprinkler on your lawn. (Bird-X’s HydroBlast ScareCrow sprinkler is motion activated and shoots an extraordinarily potent water spray that scares animals away.)
• Most importantly, consider investing in an electronic, sonic pest repeller. (The Bird-X YardGard will surely do the job but if you have a more serious pest problem, check out CritterBlaster PRO.)

I wished her the best and assured that if she followed these precautions and guidelines, she should definitely see results in no time.

For more information about how to get rid of raccoons and other backyard pests, visit Bird-X.com.

Mega Blaster Pro Keeps Birds Out of Vineyard

We just received a new testimonial from a customer who utilized the Mega Blaster Pro wide area bird repeller in his bird control operation. The mission was to keep birds out of their vineyard. There wasn’t enough time to install bird netting, so the Mega Blaster was mounted on a trailer and provided instant reduction in bird damage. In this application, the Mega Blaster proved effective over approximately 20.5 hectacres.

24 April 2009

Hello all,

We have finished using the Mega Blaster in our vineyards now and are very pleased with the results. The unit was mounted on a trailer and shifted every couple of days to confuse the birds. It was mostly used in areas we hadn’t had time to cover with nets. The 4 extra speakers and amplifier gave us maximum sound penetration. There was very little bird damage within a 200 metre radius (12 hectares) and it was significantly reduced over a 250 metre radius (20.5 hectares).

We have used electronic bird repellers for many years with various degrees of success but they had micro chips with harassment sounds which were annoying for neighbours. The customized micro chips programmed to suit our bird species, were much more pleasant and successful. Iwould have no hesitation in recommending this electronic equipment as an important tool in bird control.

Regards,
Herman S———
S——– Estate

View the Bird-X Mega Blaster Pro wide area bird control system