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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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