Bird Control Product Guide

For pest management professionals thinking about getting involved in the bird control market, it may be a good idea to solicit your current general pest control customers for business. That way, it’s easier to grow your bird control business through customers you already have instead of having to create a whole new customer base.

"A lot of the time, the facilities you’re servicing have more than one type of problem," said Mona Zemsky, marketing manager for Bird-X, Chicago. "It’s a good idea to send bird control information in the mail to your current customers, since you’re sending them a bill or other information already. You’ve already bought the envelope and the stamp."

Zemsky said she thinks the bird control market is growing because pest management professionals are looking for a way to differentiate themselves from their competition. "Bird control is a natural expansion," she said. "Your customers then know that you are a ‘one-stop shop’ for services."

Here, PCT has listed some of the latest bird control products available. Manufacturers, if your product isn’t listed, send information to Jodi Dorsch, 4012 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113. Your product will be listed in an upcoming issue of PCT.

Avitrol Corp. offers Avitrol Fogging Agent, a non-lethal bird repellent that irritates birds and causes them to leave without mortality. The product is applied, without dilution, using a mechanical or thermal fogger capable of producing droplets in sizes of 30 microns or less. According to the company, Avitrol Fogging Agent should be applied when birds accumulate in nuisance numbers before they are settled in for the night. The timing is important, the company says, since it will allow birds to find another place to roost before it becomes too dark for them to move around.

Visit www.avitrol.com or call 800/633-5069.

Rejex-it TP-40 Bird Repellent from Becker Underwood offers an efficient tool for the management of nuisance birds without harming target and non-target birds or other animals, according to the company. It is not a pesticide, but a repellent based on methyl anthranilate (MA), a naturally occurring compound with reduced risk to the environment. As a proactive method, it does not depend on birds to taste the repellent by eating treated food. Thermal or mechanical fogging of Rejex-it TP-40 relies on the exposure of the birds to the aerosol in such areas as electric substations, buildings and structures. After several exposures to the fog, the birds generally leave the area completely and do not return for the season, the company says. It is packaged in 5-gallon pails and 55-gallon steel drums.

Visit www.bucolor.com or call 800/232-5907.

Bird-B-Gone Inc. recently introduced Bird Spike 2000, a rigid one-piece bird spike that prevents birds from landing and roosting. Bird Spike 2000 is molded from Lexan polycarbonate and is an affordable, long-term control method, the company says. The product offers the widest coverage among steel spike systems with a low cost, a variety of sizes and flexibility under extreme conditions, according to the company. Bird Spike 2000 is 7 inches, but is also available in 3- and 5-inch widths for narrower applications. Because it is molded with U.V. inhibitors, it is sun- and weather-proof. Bird Spike 2000 is available in a variety of colors (including crystal clear).

Visit www.birdbgone.com or call 800/392-6915.

Dollars from bird dropping? You bet! Bird Barrier America wants you to make money in bird control so the company is offering a new two-hour seminar to show you how to effectively reduce job costs and market your bird control (and main businesses) with minimal expense. This new class is touring the nation with the two-day, hands-on "How to Succeed in Urban Bird Control" course that covers bird behavior and selection/installation of different control options like netting, spikes, post and wire, electrical track and wire systems and specialty products (you’ll actually install products during class). Bird Barrier’s experienced technicians will share their knowledge to help you avoid costly learning experiences and reduce marketing expenses.

Visit www.birdbarrier.com or call 800/503-5444.

Spikes Needle Strips from Bird-X are all-plastic barriers that can be installed in areas attractive to birds, such as window sills, air conditioners, roof ledges, cornices, rafters and beams. The strips project upward and outward at varying angles to both sides of a base strip. "Branches" protrude from vertical spiked shafts to offer full, dense coverage, the company says. Spikes is not lethal, but it is discomforting for birds. The transparent strips are made of polycarbonate for weather resistance. The product’s flexibility allows it to be installed on straightaways, curves, corners or irregular surfaces. Modules are 1 foot long and affix to any surface using certain adhesives, screws, nails, wire ties or other fasteners.

Visit www.bird-x.com or call 800/662-5021.

The 300 Series from Cat Claw is made of one-piece, stainless steel construction. The product is virtually non-corrosive with no components, no welded parts, no springs, no wires, no batteries and no friable polycarbonates. According to the company, Cat Claw does not hurt birds, nor does it hurt the environment. Installation instructions are included. You do not need to attend a seminar to install Cat Claw. The product is flexible enough to conform to any installation surface and does not require clips or brackets.

Visit www.catclaw.com or call 800/832-2473.

Fly-Bye Bird Control Products by D&S Specialty Products has a new barrier for deterring pest birds called Fly-Bye Spikes. Fly-Bye Spikes are 100 percent American stainless steel and are manufactured in two styles. One style is for wider ledges while the other will cover narrow ledges. Fly-Bye Spikes can be attached to surfaces with nails, screws or silicone. These stainless steel spikes are installer-friendly, the company says. Fly-Bye Bird Control Products offers a 20-year warranty on both products.

Visit www.flybye.com or call 800/820-1980.

Dr. T’s Bye-Bye Birdie is an effective repellent for pigeons, starlings, sparrows, etc., the company says. The product eliminates birds, bats and squirrels with one product without harming them or pets and is an effective repellent for 2 months. Bye-Bye Birdie is not destroyed by normal rainfall and can be used indoors or outdoors.

Visit www.animalrepellents.com or call 800/299-6288.

Hot Foot Electrak is the latest addition to the Hot Foot America line of bird control products. It is an electric track repellent for use with birds and other animals. Electrak bends and flexes in both the horizontal and vertical plane, allowing it to go around structures such as curved balconies and arches. Tracks are available in a range of colors and in 50- and 100-foot rolls and 9-foot long straight lengths. The track can be powered by a solar or electric power box.

Visit www.hotfoot.com or call 800/533-8421.

Gullguard is a new method of preventing seagulls of all species from damaging property, developed by IB Nova, a member of the National Britannia Group of companies. Gull-guard is a modular system of stainless steel units and molded couplings. It can also be up to 73 percent less expensive than existing industry products, the company says.

The elements (316 stainless steel) fit into injection molded bases (UV-stabilized plastic). It is easy to install and can be used on a wide variety of surfaces, the company says.

Visit www.int-brit.com or call 0044-1534-863110.

Internet Inc. offers a complete line of original Birdnet products for the pest management professional. Bird-net products allow for safe, effective, virtually invisible exclusion of birds and other flying pests in a host of applications, the company says. The product’s sizes and strength properties have been designed to meet a wide variety of installation needs. From heavy duty, more rigid net to lighter weight, more flexible nets, Birdnet is easy to fabricate and install as a long-lasting bird barrier, the company says. InterNet Inc. offers accessories to aid in installation.

Call 800/328-8456 for more information.

JT Eaton’s "4-the-Birds" is a safe, transparent bird repellent that can be applied to any structure where birds rest, roost or nest. The tacky material, available in either a liquid or a gel, is uncomfortable to birds and discourages them from staying. It is designed for use on structural areas such as sills, ledges, roofs and parapets, roof-mounted equipment, firewalls, rafters, joists, light fixtures and signs. The product is applied to clean, dry fixtures with a caulking gun or putty knife.

Safe to handle, 4-the-Birds will not harm or kill birds or trees or shrubs when used according to label directions, the company says. With its advanced formulation, the manufacturer says, the product will remain effective for up to a year under most weather conditions, when used as directed. Birds thus learn to avoid areas treated with 4-the-Birds and seek new locations.

Visit www.jteaton.com or call 800/321-3421.

If pigeons or other birds crowd the landscape, here’s how to clear up the problem: a 36- by 18- by 8-inch pigeon trap from Kness Manufacturing Co. Inc. The trap features sturdy galvanized welded wire construction, a funnel entrance and a quick removal top door. A smaller sparrow trap measuring 18¼- by 12- by 8¼-inches is also available. Both traps are time-tested and approved, according to the company. Clear the skies today with Kness’ bird traps.

Visit www.kness.com or call 800/247-5062.

Manufactured from 316 stainless steel, Nixalite Stainless Steel Needle Strips resist corrosion in extreme environments. Nixalite strips have proven effective in repelling birds of all sizes on a wide variety of shapes and materials, the company says. With 120 wires per foot, Nixalite offers complete surface protection without wide gaps that could limit effectiveness. The product comes ready to install with complete instructions. No assembly or special tools are required. Because of their rugged construction, the strips provide long-lasting bird control, according to Nixalite.

Visit www.nixalite.com or call 800/624-1189.

Speckoz Inc. introduces Speckoz Bird Spike 2001, a stainless steel spike that is low cost, high quality and 8 inches wide. This product allows PCOs to keep job costs down and profits up, the company says. The product is guaranteed for 10 years. If narrower areas need to be treated, Speckoz offers the spike in 3- and 5-inch widths. All widths come in 2-foot sections so more linear feet can be covered faster.

Speckoz Bird Spike 2001’s pat-ent-pending design provides extra strength and stability and the polycarbonate base also offers flexibility during installation, according to the company.

Call 703/663-8394 for more information.