Pigeon droppings cost historic church $48,000

The Solon Congregational Church probably wouldn't have had to replace it's steeple if they had implemented simple tactics to get rid of the pigeons.

Famous rock stars aren’t the only one’s having problems with pesky pigeons. The Solon Congregational Church in Solon, Maine had to replace their steeple because of their continuous pigeon problem.

The church is one of the town’s historic landmarks. It is very important to not only the parishioners, but also the residents in general.

In addition to being the largest building in town, it hosts nearly every wedding and burial, he said. It holds music concerts and other events. It served as a place to pray and reflect after Sept. 11 and World War I and II.

The Morning Sentinel

So in a town of only 940 (at the last census count in 2000), finding out the steeple of one of their proudest historic landmarks was decayed beyond repair was “devastating” for many. The cause? Persistent leaking and pigeon droppings.

The combination of water and dried, built-up fecal matter is dangerous. Not only toxic to humans - birds carry over sixty diseases transmitted through fecal matter - but also detrimental to surfaces. Eroding steel, metal, and, in this case, a 173-year-old steeple of the town’s beloved church.

Solon residents care about their historic church, and many donated money to replace the steeple. One congregation member even went door-to-door to get the funds for the project.

We’re kind of the little church that could,” the Rev. Nathan Richards said. With between 30 and 40 congregation members, they raised $48,000 for the work mainly through small donations.

The Morning Sentinel

Replacing the steeple was necessary, but how is the church going to defend itself against another pigeon attack? Bird spikes are a start. Since steeples use ledges and beams for internal structural support, spikes are an excellent first step for roost inhibiting.

Putting spikes on ledges is the best physical barrier for pigeons. It immediately inhibits roosting, all but eliminating the possibility of resting birds. (Photo courtesy of fencespikes.net)

What are you doing to protect your business from a possible $50,000 disaster? Bird-X can help you maintain your property, keeping it free from possible liabilities, and saving your business a fortune. Call us up and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Problem pigeons, and how to stop them

Unfortunately, not all of us see pigeons in the same light as this guy. And for good reason; pigeons carry over sixty transmittable diseases...while also being quite the nuisance.

Barry Schader had a problem. Bird droppings were constantly holding up his construction projects.

And draining his bank account.

In a Pest Control Technology Magazine article, Schader, owner of general construction firm Tischler Brothers, says bird croppings affected multiple aspects of his business.

“Bird droppings tend to seriously degrade roofing materials,” he said.

And the acidic nature of the droppings was not his only problem. Pigeons, that eat gravel, would defecate on the roof and their fecal matter would clog the drains. That created an even costlier problem: germiniation.

The high nitrogen content of the droppings offered a great environment for seeds to grow at an accelerated rate in the drainage system. Without sunlight, the plants die and clog the drains.

Pigeons love city living just as much as any urban dweller. With convenient places to roost (like this stop light) and an all-you-can-eat buffet on every block, what's not to love?

Once droppings dry, it is a race to get them off the surface to avoide degradation of the mostly organic roofing materials. Bird droppings on asphalt and pressed wood fiber, found in roofing materials, can mildew.

This is a common issue with roosting pigeons. They find a spot that provides all the amenities they need to be comfortable; places like drains provide a spot to rest, water and sometimes food. Not to mention the easy access; most people don’t really deal with the drains on the roof until they absolutely have to which, in this case, means it would be too late.

Pigeons are most densely located in the urban U.S., Mexico and southern Canada. City living provides endless amounts of food and water with practically no predators. The real estate is prime; they make their homes on window ledges, rooftops, bridges and in warehouses.

With their high dependency on humans for feeding and roosting as well as their social natures, it is no wonder people get so aggravated when they spot a “rat of the sky” setting up shop near them.

The best way to get rid of these creatures? Well, killing them sure isn’t on the list. Killing birds, while completely inhumane, is futile. It doesn’t change the fact that the area is attractive to the unwanted guest.

Bird-X's polycarbonate plastic spikes will immediately stop pigeons from roosting wherever they are bothersome. They prevent them from even attempting to stick around.

So what’s the secret? Changing the environment. Make it so uncomfortable for them to stay on your property that they have no choice but to leave immediately. The best way to do this is through a multi-sensory attack. Putting down spikes to disrupt their roosting patterns affects them physicaly, while erecting an ultrasonic sound device will annoying their hearing.

Bird-Plane collisions up 25%

A recent Associated Press discussed by the Riverfront Times report stated that nearly 10,000 bird strikes were reported last year, which is up considerably from the 7,507 reported in 2007. And that rise is only an average, with some states reporting an increase considerably higher than that.

In some states, such as Texas and Minnesota, the number of bird-plane collisions have doubled since 2005 thanks to an increase in air traffic along bird migratory routes.

…bird-plane collisions at Lambert-St. Louis International airport have increased nearly 300 percent over the past decade.

Hmmmm…maybe these airports need to try Bird-X’s new Airport Bird Control System.

The airport bird and wildlife control system is perfect for this time of year when birds and other animals start heading to their spring and summer spots.

This system is made up of three of Bird-X’s best sound devices and one sensory spray: the Megablaster, the Goosebuster, the Critterblaster and Goosechase. The combination of the four of these makes it almost impossible for birds to get comfortable anywhere around an airport.

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.

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.

Spikes are 100% effective on balcony railings

A five-star product review

The Bird X spikes were 100% effective in keeping pigeons off a balcony in a luxury high-rise apartment building in the City of Newark, New Jersey. I’m sure the glue provided in the kit works, but I didn’t use it. Instead, I bought a pack of cable ties from a known national retail store. I used 2 ties per foot on the spikes, and ran them along the perimeter of the balcony railing.

I also bought some 1” hexagonal mesh chicken wire, 24” high, and ran it along the outside edge of the balcony railing. And I also used cable ties for the chicken wire. This stops pigeons from landing on the balcony edge and walking in. For the picture windows facing the balcony, I leave the blinds up, and this also deters them. They don’t like to roost on a window sill in front of a clear window, meaning one without any mini-blinds.

Theoretically pigeons could still land, by air, right onto the balcony itself, BUT THEY DON’T. They must feel insecure, because the area is now semi-enclosed. In their own not-so-stupid bird brains, they realize that if they wanted to take off in a hurry, they would need to gain a couple of feet in height to clear the railing. This would take much more time than flying straight, and they know that a predator (or resident) could catch them.

Thanks to the Bird-X Bird spikes, now I can paint my balcony, install pots with landscaping, etc. I can actually enjoy my balcony and my unrestricted sunset views.

By ‘eric2629’ from New Jersey

Click here to learn more about the Bird-X polycarbonate plastic bird spikes.

Polycarbonate Bird Spikes are great to use around a house

5/5 star Amazon Review

Worked great for me! I just glued them to some spots outside where birds where trying to nest. Quick and easy. Now no bird nest mess.

By Dave E. from Arizona

View the Bird-X Bird Spikes here.

Birds, Buildings, and Solutions

by Dave Kogan

Bird poop on property

What do buildings, houses, parks, hotels, restaurants, airports, golf courses, all have in common? They are all major targets for pest birds. Face it, they’re everywhere. And you cannot avoid them. Even when cities and town post signs that explicitly say “DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS,” people still sit there and feed the birds. Why? Are they pretty? Sure. People love birds and there are so many of them in so many different colors that they’re hard not to like…except when they leave a foul mess in your building, or hang around when dining alfresco, or when they take over a window ledge so you cannot open your window for fear that they’ll fly inside and take up residence. What then can you do about pest birds?

Well, many people love birds until, well, they don’t. That is when the birds make a terrible mess and ruin your property that one stops liking those adorable yet messy abominations. How un-adorable are they? Take for example the Butler County Courthouse in Hamilton, Ohio. Birds were roosting on ledges all over the building leaving quite an unsightly mess. The problem came crashing to reality when a cornice on the structure began pulling away from the building in 1988. A maintenance crew removed the cornice to find over 300 pounds of bird feces. “Conditions were deplorable,” said the purchasing director of Butler County. “Bird droppings were a foot thick on some ledges.”

The mess generated questions in regards to public health and was a public relations nightmare for the county. A few of the courthouse employees were diagnosed with Histoplasmosis, a bacterial infection caused by a fungus found in bird droppings. The county installed some bird preventative measures at a cost of nearly $100,000. Then the building was refurbished in 1997 and the architects found Bird-X’s 100% recycled polycarbonate plastic, nearly invisible spikes which now cover 11,000 linear feet of ledges, porticos and round windows for the 4-story building…and there have been no more birds or their feces since.

Electronic sonic bird deterrent installed on roof

That’s just one scenario. In Davenport, Iowa, pigeons were bombing a local branch and sidewalks surrounding a US Bank with their nasty droppings. The bank was spending thousands of dollars every week power washing the exterior walls and sidewalks. The bank manager went on line, completed a search for getting rid of pigeons and found Bird-X. They decided on using an electronic sonic bird deterrent. Now there are no birds leaving their droppings or even roosting or nesting by or on the bank.

So what can you do as a homeowner, business owner or unfortunately, a resident in Magna who are under attack from barn swallows? Wildlife control experts will tell you to move the nests or trap the birds and release them elsewhere. To make matters even more challenging, there are often restrictions on conventional control methods. Harming the birds is often a problem. Facility managers are often reluctant to kill birds due to sensitive public relations and image concerns (we’re still reading about the 2,000 geese being culled in New York near JFK airport a week later). Other options which do not kill, but are still visible to the public, such as traps or possibly glue boards, may not be permissible.

Ultrasonic bird repellent sound device

Yet there are ways to get rid of the birds without harming them. A sound deterrent works great inside or outside. This, of course depends on the area you’re seeking to protect. For instance, patrons at an outdoor eatery may not want to hear the distress cries or predator calls of birds every hour or more. So how does a restaurant combat birds? There are ultrasonic sound devices. That means that the sounds are played above that of human hearing. Patrons can eat in peace with the noise of birds or the mess.

If the bird problem is on or inside a building, like with the restaurant, facility managers can try sound deterrents that will readily disperse the birds. However, many will tell you that the best defense for any building ledge, roof or outcropping would be to use plastic or stainless steel spikes. Or a special bird proof gel or spray that includes methyl anthranilate which comes from the skin of concord grapes.

The spikes, sprays and gels would work well for residents in Magna, Utah as well as everyone else. Those residents might also benefit from sonic bird repellent machines to scare off their swallows. Building owners may also want to try bird netting to block entry to a specific area or visual scare deterrents like scare balloons, prowler owls or three dimensional coyotes to scare off birds before they even get close enough to find an area desirable.

Synergestic bird control

The main thing is to make an area inhospitable to birds. While birds might become accustomed to one approach, combining two or more to work in tandem (for instance using a sonic device and polycarbonate spikes) will greatly increase your success rate. With so much easy to use technology developing in the realm of bird control, every situation has a solution just waiting to be found. And clearing a bird infestation can make a huge difference in terms of economics, morale, and most importantly, public safety. If the choices seem to be overwhelming or you don’t know where to start, there are always bird control experts who are happy to help.

For more information about bird control and bird control products, contact Bird-X at 800.662.5021 or visit the website at www.bird-x.com.

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.

Wrigley Field Strikes Out the Birds

Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs

Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, celebrated its 90th season in 2003. Located at the corner of Clark and Addison Streets on Chicago’s north side, the park has an illustrious past and present. Built in 1914, just two years behind Boston’s Fenway Park, Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark in the major leagues. Legendary home runs bounced and still bounce onto Sheffield Avenue in the residential neighborhood outside Wrigley’s right-center wall.

Wrigley Field got its name in 1926, when the Wrigley family of chewing gum fame bought the Chicago Cubs team. In 1937, the bleachers were added to provide more seating. The original scoreboard from 1937 continues to serve the ballpark, one of the last scoreboards in the majors where numbers are changed by hand. With its ivy-clad outfield walls and usually lush grass, Wrigley Field has attained iconic status as a real baseball park - the way baseball was meant to be played, in an open, homey, comfortable, natural setting. The design of the stadium puts the fans close to the action, enhancing the sense of personal involvement. Wrigley Field had no lights until 1988 - when the Cubs played their very first at-home night game.

Tradition and history embrace Wrigley Field and the much-loved Cubs team, whose diehard fans have always understood that the journey can be more important, entertaining and emotional than the outcome - especially during the Cubs frequent uphill seasons over the decades. When the Wrigley family ended its 65-year ownership of the team and sold the Cubs to the Tribune Company in 1981, no one dreamed of changing the name of the field. It’s here to stay. But there was a new wrinkle in 2003. As Wrigley Field prepared to play host to the usual array of National League champ wannabes, it also battled an unwelcome new pre-season rival: PIGEONS in its renowned upper deck.

Winning Series for the Birds

It isn’t only Cubs fans who love Wrigley Field. “Pigeons like to roost on the trusses that support the upper deck,” notes Paul Rathje, Director of Stadium Operations at Wrigley Field for the last six years. “This causes problems for the people seated below,” he says, tactfully understating the issue. Besides the lure of roosting in the structural beams, the pigeons are naturally attracted to the food purchased by the crowds of fans who fill the stands. A bird’s delight; a stadium director’s horror.

During the prior season, Rathje had tried a few tricks of his own to defeat the pigeons. “First, we tried using treated corn,” he recalls. The kernels contain a substance that is supposed to annoy the pigeons by disrupting their equilibrium. The effect, if any, was undetectable. Next, Rathje and his crew tried applying a sticky gel on the trusses to discourage landing. But, says Rathje, there were too many trusses and beams to get sufficient coverage. It was not a practical approach. They tried plastic owls to bother the birds - to no avail.

Now it was spring 2003, with the new season opening in May. Rathje concluded that it was time to call in the professionals to discuss a sonic device he’d heard about, manufactured by Chicago-based Bird-X, Inc., for deterring birds. Bird-X, in turn, referred Rathje to a bird-deterrence consultant, Kevin Connelly, General Manager of Premier Pest Elimination in Chicago.

Professionals At Bat

Wrigley Field

“Food service and pigeon excrement don’t mix,” Connelly states bluntly. Health issues abound. “When 40,000 fans come to an outdoor venue and you have bird droppings, the probability rises geometrically that someone will be affected by contaminants,” he elaborates. Also, he adds, the cost of cleaning up resistive bird residue on the seats and in the stands before and after each game is considerable. Connelly met on-site with Rathje, just weeks before the season opener, to assess the situation. Speed was of the essence; so was efficacy.

Connelly explained the options, including the installation of

extensive netting in Wrigley Field’s vast superstructure to restrain the birds from roosting. This would require much longer than two weeks to install properly. Even more to the point, it would break Rathje’s budget. Rathje preferred Connelly’s other proposal: installing ultrasonic devices to get the most bang for Wrigley Field’s buck, and the most coverage considering the expanses to be protected. The two men worked out a plan to install seven Bird-X Ultrason X units and seven Super BirdXPeller PRO units in the trusses under the upper deck and in the lower deck corners.

Double Play Against the Birds

The double whammy on the birds was deliberate and logical. As Bird-X President Ron Schwarcz explains, “The area to control was large enough to require several sonic units. We selected two different types of units to produce greater variety of sound. This would provide immediate results while helping prevent long-term acclimation, since birds don’t like surprises and unpredictable changes.” The Ultrason X product uses ultrasonic sound waves to repel birds and other nuisance critters.

The basic technology isn’t new; Bird-X incorporated it into its product line 40 years ago to deter birds in enclosed areas like warehouses and loading docks, where walls and roofs could magnify the impact of the sound. In a recent breakthrough, Ultrason X is the first device to take ultrasonic sound OUT of doors effectively. The second type of deterrence device, Super BirdXPeller PRO, pushes the sound much farther and is ideal for large, open areas. It works on the bird’s psychological state, as Ron Schwarcz explains: “The machine incorporates the birds’ own distress calls to repel the ‘usual suspects’ - pigeons, sparrows, starlings and other common pests.

Then we added the sounds of two predators, knowing that these cries would scare all birds universally.” For maximum effect, the Super BirdXPeller is programmable to produce random timing, volume and frequency. Connelly concurs. With 15 years of pest control experience, he concludes that these two products work better together than either one alone. “Also,” Connelly assures, “the devices don’t hurt the birds. It’s not an aggressive action.” This keeps the peace with animal lovers.

Season Opener in the Upper Deck

Connelly worked cooperatively with the union electricians on staff at Wrigley Field to devise a protocol for smooth supervision and installation. The big day came in late May 2003. When the Bird-X units were turned on, “The birds flapped out,” Rathje says. “About 90 percent of the birds left for good,” says Connelly. It wasn’t a total elimination, both men agree, but it forced the bird problem to fall within an acceptable tolerance range.

That was the goal, Connelly says, noting that realistic expectations and budgetary constraints are always factors in choosing solutions for large facilities. “We’re changing the habits of an animal,” Connelly continues. And sometimes that involves reasonable compromise.

For example, the sonic equipment at Wrigley Field is turned off during home games because it was felt that the audible portion of the sound would disturb the fans. Consequently, some pigeons return while the units are turned off. Immediately after the game, the units are turned on again, to good effect. It’s a compromise that works for Wrigley Field.

Come Out Swinging

Pigeon droppings in sports stadiums and other outdoor facilities are irritating, unsanitary, messy, smelly, repugnant, difficult to clean up, and a darn nuisance. Operations Director Rathje has advice for other facilities managers: Consider the various bird-deterrence alternatives, depending on the facility’s architecture, where the birds roost, and the expanse of the space affected.

Connelly agrees.

‘Then base your decision on the limits of your budget, the realities of the time needed for proper installation, and your tolerance level for effectiveness.” He reminds directors that a 100 percent solution can be prohibitively expensive and often is not necessary. From the professional’s point of view, bird deterrence pays for itself rapidly in reduced clean-up costs; but, says Connelly, the benefits of bird control go far beyond economics and into intellectual values of improved aesthetics, environmental safety and positive public relations.

You can’t put a price on those.

By R.W. Delaney, Business Writer