Bird-Control Strategies

This is Chris Matt, Associate Editor of Maintenance Solutions magazine. Today’s tip is controlling bothersome birds.

When some grounds managers think of pest management, birds don’t automatically come to mind. But birds can harm buildings, vehicles and landscapes, and managers cannot afford to ignore their presence.

Bird problems usually develop in stages. The first signs of bird activity often go unnoticed, so it’s helpful to schedule regular inspections, especially in late winter, of all facilities and landscaped areas to look for signs of roosting or nesting birds.

A range of bird-deterrent techniques and products are available. Here are some examples:

• speaker systems that broadcast predator-bird calls and distress calls at random times throughout the day
• visual devices, including balloons with eyes, laser lights, water sprays, fake snakes, alligators, and owls
• And finally: Bird netting, hardware cloth and wire mesh are additional physical barriers designed to keep birds out of a given area.

Workers should monitor all types of bird-deterrent strategies regularly to make sure they are effective. None of the above solutions are one-time-only activities. Managers must employ them over a sufficient period of time to change the habits of the birds.

Business Category: landscape management

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