Gulls, crows and other birds that hang around landfills can wreak havoc for many miles around the refuse disposal site. Relief may be on the way, though, thanks to a new large-area netting system devised by a West Coast company that specializes in bird control problems.
It's a common sight, and not a very pleasing one. Driving past a city landfill or refuse disposal site, your eyes come upon a swarm of gulls or blackbirds swirling up from a mountain of trash, or circling overhead.
Another eyesore often generated by landfills comes about when papers and other pieces of trash are picked up by the wind and blown over large expanses of land, in some cases ending up lodged against fencing alongside adjoining freeways.
The dispersal of trash into unwanted areas in and around landfills is often assisted by large birds, particularly gulls, which are known to take up long-term residence at landfills because these sites represent a steady source of food and water. While the droppings of these birds and the parasites they sometimes carry on their bodies can create big problems for the landfill's staff, their migratory patterns often generate even greater problems.
I am frequently called to visit supermarkets, for example, where large numbers of gulls have taken up daytime residency to spend their time loafing and preening. Their droppings deface the facades of these buildings, their feathers are sucked into the air intakes of air conditioning units on the roofs, and a considerable amount of droppings end up on shoppers' cars parked under light fittings in the shopping center lot. Gulls often use these fittings as roosts, or several birds will use them simultaneously as a perch.
Why do gulls often choose such sites? Because they lie within the birds' flight path to and from a nearby landfill, and they have structural areas and architectural features ideal for promoting the birds' social order.
Supermarkets and shopping centers require large expanses of land in order to provide adequate space for the stores and for customer parking. Similarly, landfills and airports require large tracts of land. Obviously, such large expanses are not readily avail able in city centers, so more remote areas are generally chosen for them. All these factors often combine to create major tracts of adjoining developed properties that can be easily traversed in one day by birds such as gulls and crows.
The end results are unsightly, unhygienic, and a source of pollution that demands attention and a solution.
Hot Foot America of San Francisco, Calif. has experience in designing and installing net ting systems to solve the multiple problem of excluding birds from landfills, containing trash, and redistributing and dispersing pest birds away from other locations that often lie near landfills, such as shopping malls and airports.
In the landfill project pictured on page 66, Hot Foot netting was fitted across the entire width of the disposal site, anchored by a series of Flintstones-style carts with concrete wheels and tall masts to give the system stability and mobility. Trash trucks are given freedom of entry to the netting enclosure using an entryway access panel, and the height of the enclosure enables the trash compactor machines inside it to do their work uninhibited.
The "carts" are connected using an engineered system of connector chains that enable the front carts to be connected to bulldozers and pulled along to the next section of landfill to be used. The high strength and low wind resistance of the netting used makes the system operationally effective and low-maintenance. Further, the netting can be repaired in the event of breakage, so the life of the netting components can extend several years.
Not only is bird exclusion achieved along with trash containment, but the side benefits allow much of the adjacent land to be converted into attractive part areas, rather than being left as undeveloped tracts of dirt strewn with trash.
This new netting system gives PCOs another option to offer when bidding on large-site bird control jobs.
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MIST NET: INVISIBLE: 'STICKY WICKET'A new tool for use in the bird exclusion wars is Hot Foot America's Mist Nets. According to the manufacturer, Mist Nets are very safe for use on birds, provided they are correctly applied and monitored. In fact, the product has been used in some instances for the capture of endangered bird species, although in such circumstances it is permitted to be used only under the supervision of a trained naturalist. Hot Foot recently launched a range of Mist Nets and a toll-free phone line to advise PCOs on the use of the product. Mist Nets are very fine nets constructed of strong fibers that birds cannot see. The product marketed by Hot Foot is rectangular and measures 8 feet × 40 feet. The perimeter border is strengthened, enabling the net to be secured by tying cords to each of its four corners. The nets should be placed in the birds' flight path, and steps can be taken to induce birds to fly into the net for instance, by "herding" them or by blocking alternate escape routes with temporary physical barriers such as cardboard or plastic. A unique feature of the nets marketed by Hot Foot is their "pouch" construction, which slows birds down as they hit the net during flight. If the net were completely taut, when birds collided with it they could be injured or simply bounce off. Because of the pouch feature, when a bird flies into the net, its feathers become hooked in the strands, thereby holding it fast and immobilizing it for removal. Several birds can be captured at one time. A number of PCOs who have used the product have testified to its rapid results and effectiveness, according to the manufacturer. According to Hot Foot president Roger Snow, bird welfare is a critical concern for the company, and he encourages a responsible attitude toward the use of Mist Net. The product should not be used where endangered or protected bird species are present, Snow noted, and trapped birds should be removed as soon as possible after they are captured. PCOs should also be sure to follow all state and local regulations related to bird netting and capture. Different mesh sizes are available for birds of different sizes, and nets can be joined together to cover a greater area. PCOs with further questions about Hot Foot's Mist Net are directed to call the company at 800/533-8421. |
Roger Snow is president of Hot Foot America, San Francisco, Calif.
PCT magazine, March 1995
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