FAQ Section #2 - Bird control questions
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Pigeons
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Sparrows
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Swallows
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Starlings
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Woodpecker
Pigeons
- Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Pigeons are nesting
under the eaves of my house where one roof overhangs another. How can I get them
to leave my house?
A: Birds will fight hard
to reclaim an area where they have nested in the past. The only guaranteed way
to keep them from coming back is to physically exclude them with screen or netting
depending on the overhang size. The
screen or netting must be firmly attached to the perimeter of the area, or else the
pigeons will manage their way back in; they're very committed to a high pressure
site. If you use chicken wire it will rust and make the problem worse,
and if you use plastic netting it will probably not last more than a year or so.
Q: How can I keep
pigeons from roosting on my neon sign?
 A: There are two products
that can help you here. Bird Spike or Bird Shock or Coil - First,
Coil can be fastened to signs with long straight ledges. If pigeons have nested, or you have individual letters to protect, you should
install
Bird Spike or bird Shock Track. The Bird Spike's firm plastic base can be
glued or screwed to the sign. Low profile Bird Shock can be installed along the
tops or inside of the letters and along the back electronic box using a solar or
plug in charger to supply power to the track. It should be noted that
non of these products will protect your sign against sparrows, just pigeons
and larger birds.
Q: How can I get behind
netting to access lights or equipment once it is installed?
A: Arizona Wings N' Stings sells
three different access systems: 1) Zippers can be hog-ringed into the netting
allowing panels to be removed, doors to be opened, or light bulbs to be changed.
We sell high-grade marine grade zippers which can withstand years of sunlight,
and remain very functional. A photographic description of this system can be
found in Products. 2) Bird Barrier manufactures small "net clips" which are thin
stainless steel clips, and can allow area access like the zippers. Net clips are
much less visible than zippers, but require more busy work to operate. They are
usually ideal for small access needs like light bulbs. 3) The last option is to
install the perimeter cable with open hooks, which will actually enable you to
remove the entire net system and then replace it. Contact our company for more information, or see the hardware section of Netting.
Q: What's the best way
to keep pigeons off the upper ledge (parapet) of my building?
A: When you say parapet we
assume it's unprotected (no shelter overhead), and thus not a "roost" or
"nesting site" for pigeons. You can use Coil, Post & wire, Bird Spike or Bird-Shock
systems depending upon considerations such as visibility, cost, and ease of
installation to keep unwanted pigeons from landing. For light to medium
pressure we generally recommend the
Coil or the Birdwire. Both products are relatively inexpensive, the Coil is
much easier to install, but the Post & Wire is less visible than the Coil (both
products are literally impossible to detect from 75 feet or more). Bird Spike is
a good low cost solution, but Bird Shock is the most low profile and effective
solution.
Q: Do scare tactics
like scary eye balloons, and plastic owls, actually work?
A: That's a good question,
and the answer is "sometimes". Scare devices can be effective for short periods
of time sometimes. But to just place
a plastic owl on
your roof and hope for a permanent solution to your problems is a dream that
will not come true. Birds soon realize that the plastic owl does not move or
threaten them in any way, and so they move in and actually land on the owls
themselves. Scare devices should only be used for short periods of time, and
should be reinforced with other control techniques like noise, lights and other
distractions.
Q: I've heard of people
spreading sticky gels on ledges. Is this a good way to keep pigeons from making
a mess on my building?
A: Sticky gels have been a
part of the bird control industry for about thirty years in one form or another. While they have been
somewhat effective at keeping birds from landing on ledges, they have been known
to cause bigger problems than they solved. First and foremost, these gels are
very sticky and are hard to remove from buildings (especially when applied to a
porous surface like stone or concrete). The gels generally turn black over time
thanks to dust, pollution and other airborne matter, making a real mess. Gels
also have a bad habit of dripping off the ledge when it gets real hot like here
in Arizona.
Additionally they can entrap small birds (causing them to die slow, painful
deaths), and cause all sorts of problems for workers or painters who come across
gel-laden ledges. And finally, gels are generally not guaranteed for more than
one year so they are, at best, a short term solution. Arizona Wings N' Stings has the
option to sell gels, but believes the a physical (long lasting) barrier
can be installed in the same situation.
Q: I've seen ads for
ultrasonic noise and bird distress call devices, do these work?
A: Like the question above
regarding plastic owls and other scare devices, these products can work "
sometimes" for a
short period of time, but hardly ever solve the large-scale problems they are
advertised for. They can be somewhat effective in some situations, but largely
we believe they are not worth the investment. We've seen pigeons nesting right
next to such devices. If you want to give them a try, please make sure you buy
from a reputable company that offers a money-back guarantee if you are not
completely satisfied.
Q: Is trapping a good
way to get rid of birds that are doing their business on my building?
A: Trapping is definitely
an effective way to remove specific birds that are causing you problems, But, this should not be considered a long-term solution. If birds are
trapped, they literally have to be euthanized, otherwise they will return
(remember, pigeons are descendants of homing pigeons). If birds are trapped and
euthanized, other birds will simply move in because the situations that
attracted your old birds still remains. Arizona Wings N' Stings recommends trapping as
a way of reducing the current resident population or to remove committed birds from an area before permanent exclusion products
like the kind we install, are installed. You may save more money in the long run
by installing permanent products than paying to trap your pest birds
on a monthly basis.
Q: How can we keep
birds out of a large commercial roof-top air conditioning area on our office
building?
A: There's really only one
way, total exclusion using netting. StealthNet can be installed over any
A/C. system to permanently exclude
birds from the area. If birds are getting under the A/C unit and the base
is raised we can exclude birds by closing off the under side with StealthNet or
hardware screen. If the system in installed in a recessed area, the netting
can simply be installed over the pit. If the system is raised above the roof,
then support cables can be stretched between poles (installed for this purpose),
which support a structure made of net. And remember (from question asked above),
you can get into these areas by installing zippers or net clips into the
netting.
Q: I've got a large
airplane hangar with lots of beams and pipes which seem to attract lots of
pigeons. They're making a mess on our customer's airplanes, and that's causing
all sorts of health problems and damaging the paint on the planes. What can we
do?
A: You can either spend
lots of money and install ledge products like Bird Spike or Post and Wire on every ledge where the birds perch, or you can install
Bird exclusion net under the entire ceiling, excluding birds from flying up to their
old familiar perches. The use of a Bird Hazing system can also be used to scare
birds from a hangar. Arizona Wings N' Stings specializes in large commercial
netting applications like yours, so
contact us today and we'll get a service person out to give you a free quote on what
we can do for you.
Q: Pigeons land on the
peaks of our roof and make a horrible mess on the ridge line. What can we do?
Our roof is not very steep, so I'm worried that if we spend money protecting the
ridge that they might just move on to other parts of the roof.
A: Your concern is valid.
Very often birds will move over a little bit and still be on the building. You
 might want to consider altering other conditions that the birds find attractive.
Are they nesting elsewhere on your house? Are you feeding them? If you cannot
make the area inhospitable by changing conditions you really have only three other
hopes: 1) Install a
Bird-Shock Electrified Track on the roof ridge peaks and down legs. This will
shock the birds that land on it, and will give you the results you're seeking.
2) A Bird Post and Wire system run along the same areas will help to push the
bird from the high points of the roof making the pigeons feel uncomfortable. 3)
Live trapping the Pigeons to reduce the current population.
Q: Can I use an ultrasound machine, fake owl or
rubber snake to get rid of nuisance birds?
A:
Purdue University has studies these units and
devices and have found them not to be effective.
Q: Can nuisance birds
like pigeons be trapped to eliminate the
problem?
A:
Yes. They can be trapped and mostly eliminate the bird problem, but it can be
time consuming.
Q: Birds often fly into our window. What can I
do?
A: You need to cover the window from the
outside so they don't see their reflection and won't crash into your window.
Netting or a sheet placed outside is best.
Q: How long will it take to get rid of the
birds? And will the birds go away on their own?
A: The answer is site specific and depends on
the level of pressure on that site. But normally, birds are very committed to their
nesting and/or roosting sites (they consider this area home) so the bird control
methods need to be base on the bird species and site they are on.
Q: Where can I find information on
Bird Flu
A: Lots of information is available
on the internet or check out this government website -
http://www.pandemicflu.gov
One-stop access to US Government avian and pandemic flu information.
Flyway map demonstrates how migratory birds blanket North America.
Q: How can I keep birds
like ducks, herons and pigeons from getting into large solution or water holding
tanks like at a mine or power plant energy station or even stealing fish from a
pond?
A: Actually, they can be
netted. StealthNet is available in very large sizes, and will last for a very long
time out in the elements (we guarantee it for five years). The real trick is
building a strong, affordable cable support system to support the netting and
keep it from flapping around on windy days. It all starts with strong
posts at regular intervals on either side of the pond, and then a strong
turnbuckle and cables
system suspended between them. Lastly, the netting is installed, and can be installed
in such a way as it can be opened to allow access. This would be considered a
very sophisticated job, so please give us a call and we'll help you any way we
can.
Sparrows
- Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: Sparrows are nesting
and roosting on beams, pipes and other hard to reach areas in our warehouse; how
can we keep them out?
A: Keep your doors closed,
If that is not a possible solution then installing our Sliding screen doors with
magnetic catches which lets the air flow in and out while keeping the birds out
is a good solution otherwise you really have only two other viable options: 1)
install 3/4" netting under the entire ceiling using bird net, making sure it firmly seals up against the four walls. This will
prevent sparrows from flying up to their perches. The netting must be 3/4" mesh,
otherwise the sparrows will fly through the net. 2) If your warehouse is very
large and you cannot afford a program as outlined above, you can undertake a
program of
trapping, Hazing, harassment or a regular nest removal program. Sparrows are
persistent birds, however, and most will simply try and try again, and you will
end up contributing many man hours to this task, which may cost you more than a
solid netting job in the first place.
Q: I've seen sparrows,
or some small bird, flying into cracks in our building. Should I be worried, and
what can I do about it?
A: You probably have a
family of sparrows living somewhere in your building, probably above a false
ceiling. Yes, you should be concerned; the birds need to be removed, and the
cracks where they are entering must be repaired. You could contact your
contractor or we can do the repairs for you.
Cliff or Barn Swallows
- Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: Every spring swallows
build mud nests on our house under the eaves. They leave a mess on the walls and
on the ground. What can we do?
A: First of all, those
cute little swallows are protected; it is illegal to remove their nests once
completed and they are able to enter it and stay. As
 you
have noticed, they like to nest in 90 degree angles, usually where a wall meets
an overhang or ceiling. After the birds leave in the fall you need to remove the nests and
break up that angle by installing something at a 45 degree angle to eliminate the 90 degree angle they love
so much. Please be sure you do it right after they leave, and not as
they are attempting to reclaim their home next spring. If the exclusion is done
correctly and is in place
when they first arrive back they will get the message that they should move on.
Arizona Wings N' Stings has several solutions for dealing with swallows like
bird netting, bird slope and shock track for really bad locations. Don't forget,
if they are allowed to start rebuilding before you hose down their nest and
install some type of deterrent system they will be more inclined to fight like hell to stay, possibly
on a vertical 90 degree angle, which is rare but does happen.
Starlings
- Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: Starlings absolutely
invade the front of our office building, leaving behind lots of nasty droppings.
There are lots of ledges and window sills for them to land on. What can be done
to deter them?
A: Starlings and other
small black birds are very difficult to control with conventional ledge
products, with the exception of Bird-Shock. The electrical pulse teaches the
birds a lesson not to come back. A more complete solution is
Bird net to exclude the flocks of starlings from landing on hundreds of
buildings like yours. The netting is installed vertically down the face of the
building (we call it "face" netting). It is secured by a strong perimeter cable,
and will usually provide at least a ten-year solution depending on the direction
the sun hits the net . People often ask whether
this means you would have netting run in front of your windows, and the answer
is yes. But, the net is very thin, and when it's installed correctly (tight as a
drum) it is almost impossible to detect. And, if you need access behind the net,
zippers can be installed. Another solution for office building complexes of just
a few stories would be a Bird Hazing System.
Woodpeckers
- Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I have woodpeckers making holes in my home.
What are they doing?
A:
They do this to find and then eat insects or often times to attract mates.
Q: Gila Woodpeckers are
drilling holes in my house. How can I stop them?
A: Arizona
has what are called Gila Woodpeckers that are not effected by most deterrent
products on the market. Luckily there are several things
you can do to deter them. Usually if you can deter them for a week or more they'll
take their drumming to a new location.
Some times you can move them by hanging Scare-Eye
Balloons and or long strips of reflective Flash
Tape in their vicinity or along the eaves of the home. These reflective
deterrents create an
area of discomfort; basically the woodpecker would rather go elsewhere to peck.
Arizona Wings N' Stings also offers the Scare Spider which is a sound activated
big black spider that when activated drop several feet and scares the woodpecker
away, the the spider resets itself ready to scar again - not pretty but more
effective than most products on the market.
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