[Bird Management] Wild Things

Our industry is facing a serious challenge in the form of intrusive populations of pest birds. Most concerning are the non-native species that rely on their adaptive abilities and our man-made environments in order to survive. There also is a tremendous rise in the occurrence of native wild birds intentionally entering buildings to take advantage of the “easy life” amenities to be had.

Urban sprawl, combined with the advent of large “big box” retail establishments, has contributed to the evolving behavior of birds using these buildings as a second home. These avian trespassers live comfortably with ample food, water and harborage and have no reason to leave. Multiple generations of birds, which overpopulate the host building, overflow into the surrounding area. They use their adaptive, inherited traits to invade any vulnerable location. The brazen activities of these bird pests cause undesirable problems — not to mention serious liability, health/sanitation and associated regulatory concerns for our client base. As pest management professionals (PMPs), we are expected to address these issues as though they are a routine complaint. So, what can we do?

In order to respond to the needs of our customers plagued by this increasing onslaught of winged invaders, we must develop a comprehensive management program. Control methods will likely include traditional control strategies and often some new and even unconventional methods to resolve these important issues. Completing these services is not always an easy task. Currently, there are not many resources available that deal with the management of this type of problem. Given the fact that the population is isolated, often confined inside a building, the answer is some form of population control (ideally elimination.) There are two basic categories of control: lethal and live capture. These can be provided individually or combined, depending on the customer’s preference and the circumstances.

CREATING A PROGRAM. Before beginning any bird control efforts the pest management professional must have the proper permits, licensing — or both — as might be required for the work. The PMP must be aware of the bird sanctuaries and protective laws within the territory serviced by their business. These sanctuaries may be municipal, county, state or federal in nature. Simply put, birds within a sanctuary area are protected from human intervention. Special permits, beyond normal pest control types, may be required before any bird control efforts can be started in those situations.

Bird control normally involves two issues: 1) birds on exterior surfaces of the structure, or 2) birds that have gotten inside of the structure. The first task that must be undertaken is to visit the site and identify the birds in question. Only three types of birds can be handled without getting into federal “take” permits and other licensing issues: English sparrows, pigeons and starlings. A fourth group includes black birds such as grackles or crows, but this group must be actively involved in some act of destruction or they cannot be commonly handled. Destruction includes such things as product damage or defacing of signs and property. All other types of birds are federally protected so proper identification is critical before beginning any control efforts.

To begin, identify the birds in question by observation, on site, through the use of a bird guide and, if necessary, binoculars. If you are still uncertain, take a picture and show it to a wildlife officer. If it is a protected species, they can be a valuable resource for legal removal and intervention.

Second, assess to determine if the bird concerns are inside the structure (as in a free flight situation) or if the problem is birds on the exterior. In some cases, both problems exist. The assessment process needs to be top to bottom, interior and exterior, and may include a roof evaluation.

Now answer the following questions:

1. Why are the birds attracted to the building?
2. Are the birds an issue inside, outside or both?
3. Can the attractive situations be altered or changed to move the birds elsewhere?
4. If the birds are gaining access, how is that occurring?
5. Are the access points structural in nature, such as holes or penetrations?
6. Are the access points due to human activity, such as leaving doors open?
7. If birds are inside, what are the flight patterns and where are they harboring? In some cases, inside birds might be going in and out of a building on a regular basis using the building as harborage.

Now the control strategies can be developed. If a subcontractor is to be used, the PMP must be sure they are properly licensed and are fully briefed with the customer’s on site requirements. In most cases, a PMP representative should be at the location to introduce the subcontractor and monitor the work. The PMP must also evaluate the subcontractor’s work before the job can be considered completed.

A crucial part of a successful program is to include strategies for keeping the birds out and off of the structure, once they are removed. Proper training of the client’s associates, so that they do not perform actions that allow bird problems to reoccur, is essential. Proper door control, trash handling, compactor or Dumpster procedures, product receiving and general building access are part of such a program. Modifications to the structure, such as the addition of strip screens or plastic strips to receiving doors may be needed. Screening or blocking penetrations to the building is another. An evaluation for site penetrations, such as a “light leak” assessment can be valuable.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of interventions that can be considered for bird control. All will work some of the time, but you must be prepared with a back up plan at all times, since birds are highly adaptable creatures that can defy our best efforts.

LETHAL OPTIONS. The use of firearms is very serious and requires a complete understanding of the laws and regulations regarding firearms in the area where you are doing the work. Once those things are understood, the other decisions can be made. At this point it is understood the client agrees with a shooting intervention.

1. What type of firearm will be employed? The two most often considered are either an air gun or a powder fired weapon. Air guns are probably the best choice since they are more precise and fairly silent, when employed properly. Powder style firearms are limited in interior situations to small shot only. This is best represented by a .22 magnum shot round from CCI. Rifled barrels, the most common to encounter with a .22 magnum firearm, will cause the shot pattern to form a donut shape. This “donut of shot” makes it very difficult to impact the bird effectively. The best results can be obtained with a smooth bore barrel.
2. Air guns come is variety of caliber from .177 up to .25. The best for the types of birds inside structures is the .177.
3. The professional air gun is usually a spring piston or single stroke pneumatic. Spring piston rifles are the most commonly available with a purchase price starting in the $300 range for a good quality product.
4. The air gun must have a scope. This allows for a last moment identification of the bird. Once properly verified as a target, a precise shot placement can be made. It also helps prevent shooting out sprinkler heads (often mistaken for a small bird, such as a sparrow, when using open non-optical sights.) This scope must also be properly engineered for air gun use or they will fail very quickly.
5. Only a trained operator with proper documentation should use the firearm. In any shooting situation, a minimum of two PMP reps need to be on site.

There are a few traps that can kill but these type of traps are extremely effective. As with the firearms choice, it is understood the client realizes this is a lethal intervention. Two types of devices are normally deployed.

1. The glueboard flat. This is a standard glue pad as might be deployed for rodents. It is placed on areas where birds will encounter it, then become stuck. Seeds, bread or even insects can be employed to draw the birds to the device. Variations of this device include small glue board strips on landing surfaces, such as structure steel beams, guardrails or the edges of a water source.
2. Glueboard boxes. This device resembles a birdhouse and can be effective if deployed properly. The bodies of the birds cannot be seen by the client or their customers, so it has a bit more appeal. The construction of the device is very important, since minor design changes can cause the device to be totally ineffective. An excellent source for the basic structure of this device is the old style cardboard bait stations that are folded into shape. Glueboards, properly placed inside, capture the birds. Placement is made in the areas of sanctuary the birds are using inside the structure. They need to be deployed in units of 12 at a time in order to be most effective. I recommend using a 5/8-inch dowel rod as the perch, a single piece penetrating the box and extending out each end about 5 inches. This keel weights the box when the birds land on either side. Don’t go cheap and use a pencil or wire—they aren’t stable enough to support a bird landing. Also, remember that you need one hole covered and one hole open to give the appearance of a dark cavity.

CAPTURE OPTIONS. Even with the best of intentions, a non-lethal device may indeed become lethal. Birds are wild creatures and the stress of capture, no matter how humane the intent, may result in the death of a bird.

1. The following devices are the most common traps that may not kill:
   There are two types of live trap boxes. The most common is a bird house structure with a spring actuated trap door. The bird enters the device through the access hole, then trips the spring trap and the door is blocked. A blaze color on the door blocking device serves as an indicator that the trap has been tripped and a bird could be present. The second box type is an older design used at one time on farms. The bird enters the hole as with the first device. This entry area is actually a tip chamber that moves and deposits the bird into a holding chamber. Both devices require constant monitoring to insure the birds that are captured do not die in captivity. This requires checking at least daily.
2. Cage traps have a variety of configurations. The basic difference is the type of “door” the bird encounters that will prevent their escape. These devices come in different sizes and can handle birds from the size of sparrows up to pigeons. Food and water can be used inside these traps to increase the possibility of captured birds surviving the experience. As birds are captured, their presence will attract additional birds to the trap. As with the live trap boxes, frequent monitoring is very important.
3. Spring net traps. These devices are similar to a giant mousetrap in configuration. The main difference is that the bird is more likely to survive than the mouse. When the device is sprung, a net swings over and surrounds the bird capturing it. Constant monitoring of these devices will insure a higher survival rate.

The mist net. This device is effective and offers a quick resolution to a bird issue, if deployed properly. It can be used in two ways. First, as an in-place device periodically harvested for the birds captured. This method is not the best use of the device and many times results in death for the birds captured. A better method for using mist nets is as a real-time capture device used by a PMP. The procedure involves mounting the mist net between two expandable poles and then deploying the device in the known flight paths of the birds. This is an active process that can incorporate the use of scare tactics, such as bird lasers or scare poles, to move the birds into the net. As birds are captured and caged, they will act as an attractant to other birds and increase the capture rate.

THE BOTTOM LINE. Lethal and non-lethal (capture) options can be used for bird control in certain structures. But the bottom line is that no matter what types of interventions are to be employed, it is a partnership between the client and pest management professional that provides a successful resolution.

The author is a consultant and has more than 30 years of experience in the pest management industry. Learn more about his consulting business at www.jeffmcgovern.com or contact him via e-mail at jmcgovern@giemedia.com.