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Bird Proofing Commercial Buildings

 

Unlike homes and boats, commercial buildings suffer damage from pest birds on a grand scale. Commercial building owners spend millions of dollars every year to deal with problems associated with pest birds. The only viable solution is bird proofing.

Failure to bird proof a commercial building can lead to all sorts of problems. The droppings pest birds leave seriously detract from a building’s appearance. The acid secretion produced by the fungi that live in bird droppings can mar paint and other surfaces. Cleaning and restoring buildings damaged by pest birds can be very expensive. Nests and droppings can, over time, clog gutters and down pipes, causing rooftops to leak or fill with water and possibly collapse. Pest bird nests and droppings can get sucked into ducts, grilles and vents, clogging commercial air conditioning and heating units, permanently damaging these expensive systems.

Bird droppings deposited at commercial building entrances and fire escapes increase the likelihood that pedestrians may slip and fall on them, creating a huge legal liability to commercial property owners. Droppings also spoil finished products in loading bays and storage areas. They ruin the appearance of costly finished goods, metal panels, and stonework. Droppings can also eat into and destroy wood, paper and cardboard packaging of products on pallets or outside storage.

There are many other reasons to bird proof a commercial building. Pest birds create offensive odors, which can be a nuisance to restaurants, especially with outdoor service. Accumulated on signage , droppings are unsightly and can ruin the image of a business.

Pest birds can also be a health hazard, carrying and transmitting any of 60 known diseases. Sparrows and Feral Pigeons can carry bacteria causing Salmonellosis. Feral Pigeons carry Ornithosis, which is similar to viral pneumonia. Birds, bird droppings and their nesting materials contain insects and mites. These insects can damage property and stored foods.

Fortunately, there are a wide variety of effective and humane ways to bird proof a commercial building.

One very popular product for persuading pest birds to stay away is the bird spike. Ideal for pigeons and other large birds, some are made of strong, rigid unbreakable polycarbonate, others have marine grade stainless steel spikes. Similar to the spikes is the bird spider. Recommended for rooftops and other flat surfaces, the spider arms move with the breeze, keeping wild birds from landing. The Bird Spiders come in a variety of diameters and install easily. And while they look menacing, spikes and spiders won’t harm birds and are virtually invisible once installed.

Bird netting is another effective pest bird solution. It’s ideal for a broad range of commercial uses, including signs, warehouses, courtyards, canopies, airplane hangars and rooftops. Best of all it can be used to control all species of birds and even specified by architects. Look for netting that’s U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. Webbing can be ordered in a variety of mesh sizes to deter sparrows, starlings, pigeons, seagulls and larger birds.

For a really simple approach, there’s the bird slope. These angled, slippery panels are ideal for eaves, ledges, beams and other 90-degree areas where pest birds tend to nest and roost. Birds just slide off when they try to land. Another simple solution is bird gel. Easy to apply, gels create a sticky surface that really annoy pest birds. Safe for birds and people, gels are ideal for ledges, I-beams, parapet walls, conduit, pipes, and flat or curved surfaces[FP1] [FP2] .

For large industrial or commercial garages, factories, airline hangars, courtyards, landfills, parking lots, or other commercial areas, bird misting systems are now available. Both humane and effective, these bird-hazing systems work by releasing an ultra fine mist into the air that pest birds can’t see and just don’t like. The mist is a chemical called methyl anthranilate, a grape extract that naturally occurs in concord grapes. The extract has been widely used for decades to deter a wide variety of pest birds including, sparrows, pigeons, starlings, crows, blackbirds and geese. Yet it’s safe for people, pets, plants and birds.

Other commercial bird proofing solutions include the electric-track bird deterrents. Ideal for deterring all birds, they discourage birds from landing by conveying a mild electric shock that’s harmless to birds. They also alter a bird’s habits to nest or feed. These are easily mounted on ledges, signs, rooftops, and flat or curved surfaces. They are low profile and virtually invisible once installed. If you choose this type of bird deterrent, opt for the flow-through design to keep water from damming up on rooftops and other surfaces. Get corrosion-resistant tracks that resist alkali and acidic environments.

By Alex A. Kecskes

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