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!

Coyote replica a success in Arkansas

A recent article in central Arkansas’ Jacksonville Patriot talked about the effectiveness of a replica coyote in scaring geese.

Maumelle residents who think they’ve seen a coyote around town aren’t seeing things. Actually what they’re seeing is a fake coyote.

Philip Raborn, director of Maumelle Parks and Recreation, said the department purchased two fake coyotes that they are moving around the city’s two lakes in an effort to keep the Canadian geese off the pathways around town.

The migratory birds have become a problem leaving droppings all over the lake area and even harassing visitors, he said.

This is the city’s first year using replica coyotes for geese control. Last year, the city destroyed goose eggs with special permission from the federal government. This is a common mistake people make when fighting birds; killing the parents and addling their eggs only eliminates the current crop. Unless you make the environment unpleasant for the birds, they’ll continue to be a problem.

And the replica coyotes in Maumelle have been a success.

…the geese appear to be staying in the lake and not getting out to relieve themselves and leave droppings all over the place.

Raborn said that’s the intended purpose (of the replica coyotes) - to keep the geese in the water. He said they won’t excrete in the water and obviously are going somewhere else to do so, but at least they’re not leaving their droppings on the two city lake’s walkways as they did before the coyotes were placed.

Bird-X carries a top-of-the-line 3D coyote replica, as well as a 2D one and a 2D fox replica.

Bird-X's 3D coyote is a humane way to eliminate geese.

This live-size predator strikes instinctual fear in all birds and small animals, especially geese. The 3D replica coyote appears real from every angle, increasing effectiveness more than other products on the market. Since bird vision is strong, this is considered to be more effective than some sound devices.

Using this in conjunction with Bird-X’s GooseBuster and Goose Chase will solve your goose problem permanently.

Deer repellent deters pesky woodland animals

5/5 star Customer Product Review

After trying a multitude of remedies this device [Deer Gard] seems to work in our woodland backyard. Deer which are abundant in woods seem to avoid our area which previously was their garden buffet line. It is still early in the season but so far so good.

By W. Mulligan from the Pacific Northwest

View the DeerGard Deer Repellent here.

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

As Nuisance Birds’ Activity Goes Up, So Do Cleaning Costs

Bird-X’s own Trunita Robinson has recently published a small article in Building Services Magazine, outlining the problems and costs associated with bird damage. Here it is:

Ah, spring’s in the air - but wait, so are the birds and their mess!

Facility managers have been planning for the usual tasks that spring cleaning brings, but what about birds? As nuisance birds’ activity gears up, so do cleaning costs. The number of urban birds increases dramatically around buildings and other facilities, making some areas impossible to walk through. It is difficult for some of us to think of birds as pests, but pigeons (and geese) have adapted well around facilities.

They find their way into places where some people don’t want them resting, nesting and roosting. Their presence might be enjoyable, but their droppings are not. Their behavior becomes a menace and cleaning up their “after dinner mess” is a costly, toxic endeavor.

In some instances, professionals are hired to pressure wash affected areas, which is a temporary and expensive fix. Not only is it a short term solution, which in most cases is repeated several times a year, but also costs thousands of wasted facility maintenance dollars. Therefore, implementing an effective bird management system, without washing dollars down the drain, saves money in clean-up costs, labor, city fines, and even lawsuits.

No Stroll In The Park

Birds can be more than just a nuisance. And constantly dodging pigeons and their droppings is like trying to balance an egg on top of your head.

Not only do unsightly stains and droppings (Canada goose, pigeon, etc) make for an unpleasant environment, they pose a slip-and-fall hazard. For example, the New York Transit Authority was ordered to pay former doorman from the Bronx $7.67 Million in damages resulting from a slip on pigeon droppings on subway stairs.
To avoid the liability factor, it’s vital for building & facility managers and property owners to identify the problem, find a long-term solution, and nip it in the bud.

U.S. Bank Uses Bird-X Repellers to Solve Pigeon Problem

Electronic Repellers Help Get Rid of Birds

Here’s a great news clip featuring yet another success story where Bird-X repellers are saving a customer time, money, and public image.

The news story features sounds from our BirdXPeller Pro or our Broadband Pro bird control systems.

Bird Sound Device Scares Birds Away from U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank in Davenport Uses Bird Sound Technology

Bird-X electronic sound device scares birds away from a bank in Davenport. Unsightly birds have left the nest and are looking to make a deposit elsewhere.

A stroke of brilliance or a bird brained idea? The jury is still out on the latest plan to chase off pigeons in downtown Davenport through sound. As you walk near Second Street at Main Street, it sounds like you have walked into an Alfred Hitchcock movie. You hear birds making lots of noise, but you probably won’t see any birds.

That’s because they are being chased away by menacing bird sounds being pumped in. Jacki O’Donnell with U.S. Bank in Davenport says the idea came from a wildlife expert. “There was one called Bird X. It guaranteed this recording would keep the birds away. It’s kind of a distress call and a predator call that keeps the birds from hanging around.”

O’Donnell says something had to be done. The brazen birds were targeting townspeople and leaving behind quite a mess. “It was a huge problem. We were power washing the sidewalks constantly. This has made a huge difference for us,” O’Donnell said. And those who stroll the sidewalks nearby have noticed the difference as well.

The speakers are mounted on top of the U.S Bank building and the nearby Redstone building in downtown Davenport.

Source: http://www.kwqc.com/global/story.asp?s=10037734

While the article doesn’t mention which product the bank used, we suggest using the BroadBand Pro or the BirdXPeller Pro for uses in urban areas.

BirdXPeller Pro

8 Ways That Birds and Bird Droppings Cost Your Company Money

8 Ways That Bird Droppings Cost Your Company Money

Birds and their droppings can cause a lot of damage. Here’s a  short list of ways that birds and bird droppings can effect the bottom line in businesses.

1. Wasted Personnel Time
   • Time spent cleaning is a huge direct and opportunity cost
2. Poor Quality/Negative Company Image
   • Unsightly, bird-dropping-laden premises are bad for employees and customers
3. Risk of Inspection
   • OHSA, and other inspection agencies can cite, fine, or shut down operations for bird mess problems
4. Risk of Disease
   • Employees and Customers - over 60 diseases are associated with birds and their droppings
5. Financial Liability
   • Droppings from geese, pigeons can also create slip and fall hazards
6. Machinery Downtime and False Alarms
   • Birds and/or bird droppings can get into machinery and cause failures or false alarms
7. Depreciation of Assets
   • Acidic droppings shorten the life of valuable investments
8. Product Waste
   • Bird Droppings make products unsalable, eating into profits.

Wondering what’s best for your bird control problem? Visit the Bird-X website to view our current line of products to find a suitable solution to any bird problem.

Bird-X’s Joe Seid on “Your World” with Neil Cavuto

Bird-X’s Joe Seid on “Your World” with Neil Cavuto

Bird Strikes and the U.S. Airways Hudson River Crash

Our Co-Principle Joe Seid recently appeared on Neil Cavuto’s show, “Your World” to talk about the U.S. Airways Crash in Hudson River. In the discussion they cover bird strikes and how they affect the airline industry.

View the Bird-X Airport Bird Control System here.

Bird Strike Facts

In an effort to increase awareness about bird strikes, we at Bird-X are going to be posting a series of bird strikes articles to outline facts, statistics, and prevention methods.

To start, we’ve come across some striking information regarding the damage caused by bird strikes and wildlife strikes.

Bird and Wildlife Strike Facts:

• Over 219 people have been killed world-wide as a result of bird strikes since 1988.
• Bird and other wildlife strikes cost USA civil aviation over $620 million/year, 1990-2007.
• Over 5,000 bird strikes were reported by the U.S. Air Force in 2007.
• Over 7,600 bird and other wildlife strikes were reported for USA civil aircraft in 2007.
• Studies indicate only about 20% of bird strikes to civil aircraft at Part 139-certificated (passenger service) airports in USA are reported.  Less than 5% of bird strikes at General Aviation airports are reported.
• From 1990-2004, USA airlines reported 31 incidents in which pilots had to dump fuel to lighten load during a precautionary or emergency landing after striking birds on takeoff or climb.  An average of 11,600 gallons of jet fuel was released in each of these dumps.
• Waterfowl (31%), gulls (26%), and raptors (18%) represented 75% of the reported bird strikes causing damage to USA civil aircraft, 1990-2007.
• Over 760 civil aircraft collisions with deer and 250 collisions with coyotes were reported in the USA, 1990-2007.

CritterBlaster Pro Pest Repeller

Bird-X note : Coyotes can be deterred from large areas with Sonic Repellers like the CritterBlaster PRO

• In 1890, about 60 European starlings were released in Central Park, New York City.  Starlings are now the second most abundant bird in North America with a late-summer population of over 150 million birds.  Starlings are “feathered bullets”, having a body density 27% higher than herring gulls.
• The North American non-migratory Canada goose population increased 3.6 fold from 1 million birds in 1990 to over 3.5 million in 2007.  Over 1,400 Canada geese strikes with civil aircraft have been reported in USA, 1990-2007.  Over 40% of these strike events involved multiple birds.
• A 12-lb Canada goose struck by a150-mph aircraft at lift-off generates the force of a 1,000-lb weight dropped from a height of 10 feet.

GooseBuster Goose Repeller

• The North American population of greater snow geese increased from about 50,000 birds in 1966 to over 1,000,000 birds in 2007.

*Our product, the GooseBuster PRO (pictured to the right), has been effective in repelling geese from areas up to seven acres per unit.

• The nesting population of bald eagles in the contiguous USA increased from fewer than 400 pairs in 1970 (2 years before DDT and similar chlorinated-hydrocarbon insecticides were banned) to over 11,000 pairs in 2007.  Over 100 bald eagle strikes with civil aircraft have been reported in USA, 1990-2007.  Mean body mass of bald eagles = 9.1 lbs (male); 11.8 lbs (female).
• The Great Lakes cormorant population increased from only about 200 nesting adults in 1970 to over 260,000 nesting adults in 2006, a 1,000+-fold increase.
• The North American white and brown pelican populations grew at average annual rates of 2.3% and 1.9%, respectively, 1966-2007.
• At least 15,000 gulls were counted nesting on roofs in USA cities on the Great Lakes during a survey in 1994.
• About 90% of all bird strikes in the U.S. are by species federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

*We provide humane, non-lethal solutions to repel birds.

Bird-X is the world leader in bird control solutions. Please view our bird control products page to view our current selection.

Facts and statistics source: http://www.birdstrike.org

View the Bird-X Airport Bird Control System here.