There are many bird control products available, some of which are time-tested methods to solve pest bird problems, and others which are newer ways to combat bird problems. Here, in our annual bird control product guide, is a list of some of the items now available.
Available from Adams Dominion Inc. is the ADC 100 Bird Frightening System, a patented system designed to detect the sound of a particular bird species and then trigger multiple frightening devices in a random fashion. The controller unit is signalled by remote microphones, and frightening sounds are transmitted through strategically located speakers. Examples of devices which can be controlled by the system include sirens, lights, bells and distress calls. Applications include airports, industrial, military, agriculture, municipal and residental locations.
According to the manufacturer, the system activates frightening devices only when the birds are present. Also, time-of-day timers allow the user complete control over time periods when the system actively monitors for birds.
Available from Bird-B-Gone is the Repeller, a lightweight mechanical propeller designed to stop pigeons, seagulls, or any other bird from landing or perching.
The Repeller consists of two 6-foot fiberglass rods that rotate at 30 RPMs, covering a circle 12 feet in diameter. The patent-pending unit is powered by a 110-volt motor which is sealed in a weather-proof box. The unit comes with mounting brackets and hardware and is easy to install, according to the manufacturer.
Other Bird-B-Gone products include the Bird Motel, a baited cage for the relocation of offending birds, and the B-B-G Matrix, a time-saving device which holds B-B-G Spike Units on large installations.
Available from Bird Barrier America are several new bird control products and services. The company's new Bird Shock device deters birds by delivering a painful yet harmless electrical shock to their feet. The system is designed to be easy to install and economical. Bird Barrier will also be offering translucent StealthNet Bird Netting made of nearly clear polyethylene that is virtually invisible in many situations, according to the manufacturer. Other new products soon to be available include flame-retardant netting and custom cut netting.
Available from Bird-X is Terror Eyes, a bright orange, inflatable bird repeller. Huge, lenticular predator-like eyes on front and back of the 2-foot-wide sphere produce holographic effects, appearing to follow infesting birds as they fly past. The eyes and markings on the sphere resemble those of the owl. According to the manufacturer, birds instinctively fear the realistic and menacing device and stay away.
Terror Eyes is constructed of heavy duty vinyl. It hangs from a spring so that air currents cause it to move and sway. The device can by mounted virtually anywhere, the manufacturer says. The product is designed for use anywhere birds are a nuisance, including parking lots, roofs, loading docks, railroad sidings, gardens, marinas and airports. Other Bird-X products include Spikes Needle Strips, Bird-Proof Repellent, B-X Safety Solvent, and BirdNet.
Cat Claw is a humane, "porcupine wire" bird control product that can be installed on ledges, ridges, gutters, beams and pipes to eliminate annoying problems caused by roosting and nesting birds. Made of stainless steel, Cat Claw is flexible enough to be used in such special applications as statues, mounted letters, and clocks.
The device has no welded components and is available in a wide variety of lengths and shapes. Its durability translates into lower cost, the manufacturer says, because of its long life and the low maintenance needed. A wide variety of powder-coated PhantomKote™ colors are available to make Cat Claw blend in with the hue of any building. The company also offers a line of standard colors, as well as an unpainted stainless finish. Cat Claw installs easily using a polyurethane adhesive sealant or mechanical fasteners.
Available from Dr. T's Nature Products is Bat Scat, a granular product which repels squirrels, pigeons, birds, rabbits and bats from undesired areas. The label covers a wide variety of animals while providing a two-month residual, the company says. The product is guaranteed to work and may be used both in and outdoors. Available through distributors nationwide, Bat Scat is packaged in a 4-pound container and a 20-pound pail.
Predator balloons from Ecopic are designed to be an effective, environmentally safe way of deterring birds from outdoor areas such as parks, lawns, porches and parking lots. These balloons eliminate the mess and damages birds cause to outdoor recreation areas, and come in three colors: white, yellow and black.
Balloons are hung near areas where birds gather. When suspended, the balloons will bob and dip, making birds believe they are actual predators. Balloon colors should be changed every three weeks to ensure that birds stay away, the company says. The balloons are made of a durable plastic, designed to last many seasons.
Hot Foot America has created several products designed to destroy bacteria and odors which confront pest control professionals when on-site at bird and bat control applications. Digest-It is a mixture of enzymes activated by mixing with water. and then sprayed directly onto droppings. Digest-It will immediately begin digesting the droppings, according to the manufacturer.
Steriliz-It is a three-in-one combination of a powerful germicide together with an odor neutralizer and a detergent to aid cleaning. Spray Digest-It onto the contaminated surface. After two minutes of contact, the manufacturer says, technicians can safely begin work.
D-odor and Dryz-It is a granulated time-release odor neutralizer and moisture absorber; ideal for deodorizing wall voids where rats or mice have died and cannot be reached; or for deodorizing areas where bird droppings cannot be reached.
InterNet is expanding its popular Birdnet product line. The company is now offering a heavier and more durable net designed for structural bird control jobs where strength is a concern. InterNet also offers two other bird netting products: a lightweight netting for agricultural bird control, and a heavier netting for structural bird control. Because Birdnet netting products are extruded instead of woven, the products are designed to be more economical and durable than competing brands.
InterNet also offers an educational video on its Birdnet line to inform PCOs about installation and the benefits of pest control with netting.
J.T. Eaton & Company offers several products for bird control. Eaton's 4-the-Birds Repellent is a transparent, long-lasting, nonpoisonous tacky bird repellent for use on ledges, sills, beams, rafters and hundreds of other indoor and outdoor locations where "nuisance birds" alight or roost. The product comes in both liquid and gel formulations.
Also available from Eaton is the Flock-Off system, a bird deterrent device consisting of semi-flexible, round-topped spikes on plastic base strips. To facilitate rapid installation the underside of the base can be fitted with optional, double-sided tape. The deterrent can also be applied on virtually any surface using a neutral silicone adhesive. Grooves enable the strip to be snapped off for precise fitting, and the underside is curved to enable strips to be fitted to most standard pipes. Flock-Off is available in chameleon clear, several stock colors, or any color to specification.
Other J.T. Eaton bird control products include the 4-the-Birds Wire System and 4-the-Birds Top Coat Protector, which protects 4-the-Birds Repellent from dust and dirt after it has been applied.
Two bird control products available from Kness Manufacturing are the sparrow trap and the quail and pigeon trap. The sparrow trap measures 24x16x10 inches, and the pigeon and quail trap measures 36x18x8 inches. Both traps feature a sturdy, galvanized welded-wire construction, a funnel entrance and a hinged door on top for easy removal of birds. Bait, such as cracked corn, can be placed on the inside and around the outside to lure birds. The pigeon trap may be used on roofs and ledges, and the sparrow trap may be used on roofs or in building rafters.
Nixalite of America Inc. has introduced several new customer services. A new powder coat option is available for Nixalite stainless steel needle strips. This durable coating is available in a variety of standard and custom colors and makes the Nixalite strips almost invisible, according to the manufacturer.
For surfaces where drilling, welding or gluing is not appropriate, Nixalite also now offers made-to-order custom mounting brackets. All brackets are made from high quality stainless steel and are specifically designed for each application.
ReJeX-iT products, manufactured by RJ Advantage, are designed to make grassy areas unpalatable to Canada geese and ducks, and landfills unpalatable to gulls. According to the manufacturer, ReJeX-iT products get rid of unwanted birds without harming them, other animals, humans or the environment. The biodegradable products are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency and meet its "reduced risk" criteria. AG-36 repels birds from turf areas; TP-40 repels birds from bodies of water; and AP-50, a wettable powder, repels birds from temporary pools of water and landfills.
PCT Magazine, March 1997