Birds In The News
Bird problems appear in the news more often than we might realize. In fact, a few of the more high-profile news stories in the past few years have been bird-related:
In 2007, more than 500 people were reported sick, and at least eight died due to salmonella contamination in over 400 popular peanut butter products. It may have been the largest food recall in FDA history. Investigators determined that a leaky roof was to blame for the sanitation breach, and that—as birds are known to carry a variety of infectious diseases, including salmonella—it was highly likely that pest pigeons were the vector.
In 2007, the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota collapsed due to weak and rusted steel beams. After closer inspection, it was discovered that the structure’s framework was covered with corrosive pigeon droppings. When bird droppings are not quickly washed away, they dry out and turn to salt and ammonia; when this later comes into contact with rainwater, small electrochemical reactions take place that speed up the rusting process.
Bird strikes cost the airline industry alone around $800 million each year. Who can forget the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ that occurred in January of 2009? Shortly after taking off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Flight 1549 was struck by a flock of Canadian geese, losing thrust in both engines and forcing pilot, Captain Sullenberger, to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. Fortunately, all 155 passengers survived.
Pest birds can be a nuisance and an inconvenience—they can also cause problems that put human beings in serious danger. It’s important to bird-proof your home and/or your business to avoid these issues. Visit www.bird-x.com to find bird and pest control products that are safe, green, eco-friendly, non-toxic, and non-harmful. Bird-X has solutions for every problem and every budget.
Written by Chrissy Hansen—Media Correspondent for Bird-X, Inc.
Kings of Leon concert halted by pigeon poop
The Kings of Leon had to stop a concert because of pigeons. (Photo courtesy of CNN)
Who expects to go to a concert and have it end three songs in due to…pigeons? That’s what happened at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis this past weekend. The Kings of Leon spent Friday, July 23, dodging aerial attacks by pigeons.
An infestation of the birds in the rafters of the Verizon Amphitheatre bombarded the musicians as soon as they took the stage, according to Andy Mendelsohn of Vector Management.
“Jared (Followill) was hit several times during the first two songs,” Mendelsohn said of the band’s bassist.
The pigeons were a problem the entire night, even before the popular band took the stage. Band members reported seeing droppings on their instruments and carpet when they walked out. Soon after, the droppings began falling from the sky.
Even the opening bands, The Postelles and The Stills, dealt with the birds during their sets.
(The opening bands) came offstage complaining of getting riddled with large amounts of excrement, their publicist said…
…”We couldn’t believe what The Postelles and The Stills looked like after their sets,” Followill said.”
This didn’t have to happen, and, honestly, this never should happen. There are too many maintenance free and inexpensive ways to curtail this sort of thing. A simple, stop-the-problem-right-now solution is bird spikes. Pigeons love to roost on ledges, wires, panes — anything that’s available and easy. Spikes immediately take away that option.
The Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre only need a few spikes to get rid of the pigeons. Instead, they got a media firestorm and the worst publicity imaginable. (Photo courtesy of Bird-X, Inc.)
Don’t like the way spikes look? Well, try a roost-inhibiting gel like this one. Like spikes, this stops birds from roosting. But the gel makes the surface sticky and uncomfortable for the birds, and they’ll find another place to rest.
Outdoor music venues are ideal places for pigeons to roost. (Photo courtesy of Blisstree)
Another option are sound devices. Two in particular – the Ultrason X and the Quad Blaster QB-4 – emit ultrasonic sounds inaudible to humans. The Ultrason X has four external speakers each with 100-foot cords perfect for indoor and outdoor music venues like the one pictured above. It covers 3,600 square feet and gets rid of all types of birds, especially pigeons.
The Quad Blaster QB-4 is also great for outdoors. It’s four internal speakers emit high frequency sound waves and audio signals. The sounds confuse and frighten the birds, quickly scaring them away from the effective area up to 6,500 square feet. Either one of these sound devices, in combination with physical aversions, will greatly reduce the risk of pigeons affecting your business negatively.
This story has been all over the news, and it’s been awful publicity for all involved. What if this had been your business? What would you say or do to make this go away? Could your business handle this kind of publicity?
Situations like this are 100% avoidable. Call us up at 312-226-2473 if you have questions about bird damage or just want simple tips to get rid of them. And definitely check out our website for more info on effective bird control products.
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.
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.
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.