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.

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

Eliminating Pesky Sparrows and Starlings

Big Problems with the Invasive House Sparrows and European Starlings

European Starlings and House Sparrows are invasive species in the United States. Their aggressive nesting habits can harm (and potentially kill) your fragile backyard birds.

This article offers insightful information about the gruesome damage that Starlings and Sparrows cause. It also provides tips on getting rid of starlings and sparrows while keeping your desirable birds safe.

Here is an excerpt:

What is the problem?

* House Sparrows are probably the most important causes of Bluebird decline. House Sparrows not only destroy songbird eggs, they kill the adult and the young birds by attacking them in the nest box and scalping the birds with their hooked beaks. Then to add further insult, they often build their nest over the bodies of their victims.

* If you can’t find a safe place away from House Sparrows for your nest boxes or undertake a sparrow control program, you are probably causing more harm than good to your backyard songbirds.

The complete article can be found here: http://www.yourgardenretreatblog.com/2009/04/both-european-starlings-and-house.html

If you enjoy luring small desirable birds while deterring pest birds, we recommend using Magic Halo.

Sparrow Free Magic Halo

If you want to get rid of ALL your pesky bird infestations, take a peek at the BirdXPeller Pro electronic bird repeller, or the Broadband Pro bird control system.

Bird-X BroadBand PRO effectively deters birds from Waste Management Transfer Station

Keeping the birds at bay with electronics at Waste Management

Two managers from a waste management transfer station in Somerville, Massachusetts have developed a “three-pronged approach” aimed at preventing swarms of unpleasant birds from invading their facility. The incorporation of Bird-X’s sonic sound device into their theorized approach has led to a remarkable improvement.

Here’s an excerpt:

“It’s especially bad during the winter months,” said DeFranceschi, “when there is a lot of snow cover on the ground, the birds get hungry and start looking for food.”

The bedrock of their offensive is the Bird-X BroadBand PRO, an automated system utilizing the calls of natural bird predators to discourage birds from entering the transfer station.

“The BroadBand PRO randomly plays back sounds that are pre-programmed into the device,” said Richer. “You can select various bird distress sounds or predator sounds, like falcon or hawk calls that cause the pigeons to vacate the area.”

…

The consensus between DeFranceschi and Richer is that the Bird-X device is perhaps the most effective bird-determent tactic.

The entire article can be found here: http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/business/x1098985778/Keeping-the-birds-at-bay-with-electronics-at-Waste-Management

Bird strikes can be prevented

A US Airways pilot performed an emergency landing on the Hudson River soon after taking off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. Shortly after takeoff, both of the jet’s engines were instantaneously cut off by a flock of geese (generally known as a “double bird strike”).

The Hudson River disaster has brought forth unprecedented attention to “mysterious” bird strike calamities. However, bird strikes have been prevalent presumably since 1903—when the Wright brothers first roamed about in innovative engine planes.

Airport regions are ideal habitats for a variety of bird species, as airports have plentiful open space and rolling fields of luscious grass. Precautionary and preventative measures can be taken in order to reduce the chances of such a costly and ill-fated catastrophe from reoccurring.

Birds that aggressively protect their roosting habitats in airport spaces have unconsciously become immune to the busy traffic.

Birds need to be chased away from airport complexes prior to takeoff. This can be effectively done by making their environment unbearably inhabitable with the combined use of visual and sound deterrents as well as taste aversions—a commonly implemented three-part method. One must use bird spikes, bird lasers, bird nets, visual scare devices, annoying sounds, and/or repulsive tastes. If the three-part technique is executed correctly, birds will be forced to find another home farther from the airfield, hence reducing the risk of hazardous airborne tragedies.

More information about deterring pesky birds can be found on Bird-X‘s website.

View the Bird-X Airport Bird Control System here.