Raising pigeons, wreaking havoc

An Illinois man likes to collect pigeons as pets. His neighbors, though, see them as more of a nuisance. (source: www.ajservicesllc.com)

Oh boy…an Aurora, IL man is bother his neighbors because of his hobby of collecting carrier and racing pigeons “to pass the time.” According to The Daily Herald, neighbors have begun to complain about the noise and the stench.

And the droppings.

Pigeon droppings are serious business. Birds carry over 60 diseases transmitted through their fecal matter. So to have a neighbor harbour up to 45 pigeons in and around his property can be dangerous. Unfortunately for nearby residents, there’s not much the city can do.

Seventh Ward Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns was limited in what she could do to assist the unhappy neighbors. Until she help get a state law changed, municipalities were unable to regulate pigeons.

A recent amendment now allows the city to regulate but not prohibit the orderly keeping of the birds.

Luckily for the residents, a new ordinance has been passed that charges anyone housing such birds a fine for each offense. It’s a step in the right direction; human safety needs to be the top priority when it comes to having pigeons as pets. Their droppings are more than just annoying — they can be fatal.

Bird-X offers plenty of products that can get rid of pest pigeons, protecting you from possible infection. Check out our website or give us a call for a free consultation.

Oregon park flooded with geese droppings

Tualatin, Ore. has decided to use swan decoys to control their growing geese issues. (source: www.tualatintimes.com)

A recent article in The Times, a Portland-area newspaper, talked about a goose problem at the Lake at the Commons in Tualatin, Oregon. According to Bob Martin, parks maintenance supervisor, the geese are producing “nearly five gallons of excrement a day, which mostly ends up on the pavement.”

The mess is problematic in various ways — smell, chemical, general sanitation, take your pick — so a parks staff person has to spend an hour a day cleaning it up. This costs quite a bit of money over time, Martin says, so the city has tried multiple methods of “goose abatement.”

They hit it right on the head - geese can become a pest, but dealing with their droppings is expensive and  can be down-right dangerous. Slip-and-fall incidents are not uncommo, and that can lead to lawsuits. Not to mention that acidic droppings can erode multiple surfaces and are filled with transferable diseases.

Their solution was two plastic swans anchored at the bottom of the lake shown above. Swans and geese are natural enemies, so having decoy swans in the lake does make sense.

A good addition to the swans would be a predator decoy; something like a fox or coyote replica works well because both of them present a valid danger. If the geese get to close, they may turn into dinner! Bird-X carries predator decoys, like our 3D coyote and the fox replica. The 3D coyote is life-like and in attack mode, creating the illusion of danger to the geese.

The fox replica is a menacing 2D decoy that covers up to one acre, perfect for small lakes and community parks. Luckily, both of these bird control options are low maintenance — set it up once and you’re done. No clean up. No reapplying a product. And no hassle.

Get in contact with one of our experts to order one today!

Bird-X is featured in Living Green Online Magazine!

Living Green Online Magazine is devoted to spreading the eco-friendly, environmentally sustainable word. And so is Bird-X! They recently published an article on green pest control and their main source was Bird-X.

Green pest control measures actually work better than lethal alternatives. Killing birds and other nuisance animals is a losing proposition; it simply creates a vacuum that invites other animals to move in. The key to success is convincing pests an area is no longer desirable.

Well said Living Green. Check the whole thing out here!

Flooding causes more problems than just water

Water damage and bad traffic isn't the only worry when it comes to flooding. Birds can become a serious problem, too. (source: livescience.com)

This winter has been an eventful one. And flooding has become as normal in certain parts of the country as double-digit inches of snow and sub-zero temperatures. From sunny southern California to the coastal northeast, flooding has become more of an issue in recent years.

The thing about floods is that they affect everything: water damage, driving, basements, etc. Not many people realize beforehand that birds become an issue once waters start rising. In a recent Associated Press article published in the Los Angeles Times, a 31-year resident of a coastal Maine town complains of the unusually severe floods this winter.

Birds aren’t that different from us; they will only invest in real estate if it has most or all of the required amenities. Ledges for roosting and resting; trees or bushes for nesting and food; and water for cleaning and food. When flooding happens in urban areas, dry land is all-of-a-sudden incredibly attractive to the feathered fliers.

Birds are always looking for a comfortable place to call home. Flooding brings waters to urban paradises, providing plenty of water and places to roost, nest, perch and an all-birds-can-eat buffet. And more birds equals more bird droppings. (source: www.calgarywildlifecontrol.ca)

More birds means more bird droppings. And birds carry over 60 diseases, some fatal, that are passed on through their fecal matter. Aesthetically, bird droppings are an eyesore. Water damage is a given in any flood situation, but acidic bird droppings can cause rusting on steel and metal.

So what can you do to stop bird damage while dealing with a flood? Bird-X carries a host of products designed to get rid of birds without driving you insane, including the Ultrason X. It emits ultrasonic sound that is inaudible to humans but loud and clear to birds. The four speakers provide a coverage of up to 3,600 square feet and it targets pigeons, seagulls, vultures and many more pest birds and small animals. The Ultrason X is perfect for outdoor use becaues of it’s power and four-speaker system.

The Ultrason X is commonly used outdoors in and near boathouses, docks and warehouses. Purchasing one of these will eliminate a bird problem during a flood. (source: www.bird-x.com)

With coastal America continuously dealing with rising waters, Bird-X sells products that stop birds from becoming an issue. Check out www.bird-x.com for other effective bird control methods.

Scotland woman gets spikes for pigeon problem

If they think your place is comfortable, pigeons will call it home. And bring their buddies.

Pigeons could be the most fearless creatures around. They practically walk right up to you on the street and leave a little something special behind to remind you they were there. An Edinburgh, Scotland woman’s home, that she shares with her two small children, was overwhelmed with pigeons. Nearly 200 of them found respite on her block, and they were waking her and her kids up at night. From the Edinburgh News:

The pigeons, which have covered windows and balconies with droppings, have been roosting en mass on the roof of the block in Hyvot Green, with some residents afraid to venture outside and others struggling to sleep at night because of the constant noise.

Luckily for the woman, a very generous local pest control company donated hundreds of dollars worth of plastic spikes like the ones below.

Bird-X's polycarbonate bird spikes sit anywhere that birds do.

Bird-X’s polycarbonate spikes are one of the most effective ways to halt the pigeon population. Putting spikes up makes roosting impossible; it’s a humane way of telling the birds to stay off your stuff. These can be placed literally anywhere that pigeons like to hang out. Chicago’s “L” track stations use these on all of their outdoor beams, signs and ledges which has cut down the number of birds bothering commuters probably by the thousands.

Chicago's CTA "L" stations are big proponents of polycarbonate spikes.

The best thing about spikes is that you can put them up once and be done with pigeons, or any other roosting birds, for good. It doesn’t get any more low maintenance than this! Bird-X also offers stainless steel spikes and three different kinds of bird netting - standard, heavy duty, and premium.

And if you check out the website, we currently have a great deal on all of our spikes. They are 15% off!

Questions? Ready to order? Call us up at 800-860-0473 to talk to one of our experts!

St. Louis University using owl decoy

The crows aren't going anywhere at St. Louis University this year. And cars all over campus are suffering.

The St. Louis University student newspaper, The University News, recently published a piece on the unusual number of crows on campus this year. Terry Palmisano, a maintenance worker for 31 years at the university, said that this was the first year that the crows actually became a problem. And they are definitely leaving their mark on campus.

“The cars in the back of the [Marchetti parking] lot are loaded with bird feces, Palmisano recently told the studnet paper. “…At night, there are hundreds, and it is freaky when they are flying all over the place.”

A biologist at the university understands why the crows are so prevalent this year.

According to Thomas Valone, a behavioral ecologist in the Department of Biology, crows often gather in urban areas for winter roosts because of big trees, open areas, unnatural lighting and food waste. Urban areas are also five to 10 degrees warmer than rural areas because of the heat island effect, which traps the sun’s into urban areas and creates a warmer environment for the crows.

To fend off the crows and the damage they leave behind, the university purchased two life-sized Great Horned Owl decoys with four-and-a-half-foot wingspans. The Great Horned Owl is a natural predator to the crows. Bird-X’s Prowler Owl fits this billing to a tee.

This visual bird scare is so effective because owls, especially Great Horn Owls, are a natural predator to ravens and crows.

The Great Horned Owl is so feared amongst birds because it captures and eats almost anything that moves. Birds instinctively avoid the Prowler Owl as they would a Great Horned Owl. And set-up for the Prowler Owl is beyond simple; it mounts practically anywhere and it is constantly moving in the wind making it more dynamic.

St. Louis University will be receiving their owl decoys by the end of the week. They have also considered sound devices, which would work wonderfully along with the Prowler Owl. Affecting multiple senses is the most effective way to eliminate pest birds.

Bye Bye Doves, Hello Happiness!

A 5/5 star customer product review

Very happy with this product,a little pricey but after putting up with my neighborhood Morning Doves the price wasn’t lookin to bad. I moved into my current residence back in October and come spring I discovered I had some unexpected neighbors that were trying to move in by building a nest on top of my wall A/C unit. I tried everything I could think of and then I found this stuff. Bird-X has been working very well for the past few weeks..no more Doves and I love it. Easy to use, just follow the directions and this stuff will work for you as well.

By John E.

View the Bird-Proof gel here

Polycarbonate spikes are effective and affordable

Another excellent five-star Bird-X product review.

I needed to keep pigeons off of the tops of brick and wood columns on my front porch. The plastic bird spike strips were easy to handle and included plenty of glue which has held up fine so far (about 4 months). The ledges I had to protect are fairly narrow (about 2 and a half inches) so a single strip has been effective. I’m very please with the inconspicuous appearence, easy installation and total effectiveness of this product.

By ‘NOLADave’ from Louisiana

View the Bird-X bird spikes here.

3D Coyote and Irri-Tape keep ducks away from pool

A five-star product review from a happy customer.

I was skeptical at first because we’ve tried everything under the sun. We staked the 3D-Coyote in a lidded plastic, rock-filled container. The coyote was set on our deck by the pool. I randomly moved it around. We haven’t had ONE duck in our YARD but less in the pool. Sorry to say . . . they have since moved to our neighbor’s pool. We’ve tried everything for the past four seasons with no luck. The Irri-Tape is flapping around the pool’s edge and alas - no bird dropping either! Superb product. Worth every penny! Recommending to our neighborhood pool store manager.

By Carolyn W.

View the 3D Coyote predator replica here.

More superb customer reviews for Bird-X products!

Excellent customer product reviews from our happy customers

Deer Gard prevents deer damage

I have had the product in my garden for 40 days, and so far no damage from the deer. I would recommend Bird-X DG Deer Gard.

By Thomas S. from Florida
–>View the Deer Gard Deer Repeller here.

Bird tape solved our woodpecker problem

We have had returning woodpeckers marking our home for the past few years. We have repaired and replaced shingles but nothing seemed to deter them. When they returned this spring we used this Irri-Tape and they have not returned. It was a good investment.

By David M. from Massachusetts
–>View the Irri-Tape shiny bird deterrent tape here.

Terror Eyes works well on pool deck!

We bought these to scare the birds from our pool deck. They work great !

By KC from Indiana
–>View the Terror Eyes bird predator replica here.

Bird Spikes are an excellent product!

PRODUCT IS EASY TO INSTALL AND AN EFFECTIVE
DETERRAND [sic] TO BIRDS.

By Gaylan F. from California
–>View the Bird-X Bird Spikes here.

YardGard animal repeller gets rid of pesky backyard critters

Love this item, keeps those pesty [sic] squirrels, dogs, cats out of our yard.
Won’t be without one.

By Kenneth S. from New Hampshire
–> View the YardGard Electronic Animal Repeller here.

No more bird poop on boat dock!

I bought two of these for my boat dock to keep cranes from depositing their daily #*@&. It took 3 or 4 days before they started staying off the dock. Now, knock on wood, the dock is staying clean and no signs of any cranes.

By Terry from Lake of the Ozarks
–> View the YardGard Electronic Animal Repeller here.