[Bird Control Supplement]

A Day in the Life

One bird control professional talks birds, relocation, safety and getting bird control jobs done right.

Enthusiastic bird watchers might feel love for their favorite creatures, but there’s no getting around the fact that birds and their droppings can be unlovable. Obviously, they can cause damage to property and serious illness. According to Pete Markham, president of A-Mark Pest and Bird Management, Baytown, Texas, pigeons and starlings can cause arcing and explosions in electrical substations. "That’s a pretty common occurrence," he said.

At the NPMA’s 2009 PestWorld convention, he talked to participants about bird management strategies, safety and products related to some of his experiences as a bird control professional.

Real-World Examples. Markham, whose company specializes in bird relocation, structural modifications, and testing and development of new bird control products for the pharmaceutical, food and energy industries, said pigeons can cause cryptococcus or histoplasmosis, an illness that had infected 11 people and killed two of them in a courthouse in Indiana.

Pest birds, he said, include a large number of species. Among them are English sparrows, starlings, pigeons, vultures, buzzards — which are now a major problem in some parts of the U.S. — geese, and even Muscovy ducks (in east Texas). "Learn all you can about all species of birds," he said.

"When it comes to bird control, relocation can have several meanings," he said. "It can mean placing nets or spikes to keep birds out. Or relocating them to higher ground," he said. "If they’re roosting in trees, such as at a lot of plant sites we’ve worked for, the clients don’t necessarily want to cut down the trees. But sometimes that can be the avenue to solving the problem. If not, depending on the bird species, you can use noisemakers, scare balloons that revolve, fog or pyrotechnics, such as lasers. Balloons, for example, will not work on starlings or pigeons, but will frighten crows. Lasers will remove birds, but must be used with other methods to be successful. These various devices can fail if they are used alone," he said. "They should be used in conjunction with other procedures. "You can harass the birds at night, because bird control is not a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job."

Bird control is definitely a sensitive issue, he maintained. "It could be a lawsuit waiting to happen. If you use an avicide on pigeons, for example, and they start dropping dead in the local parking lot, you won’t be happy with the publicity you get. So bird control, when it’s done in areas where people work or live, is tricky."

It doesn’t take a massive amount of birds to create a problem, he said. Even two birds can do a lot of damage if, for example, they contaminate a food preparation area. It doesn’t take long for bird droppings, which can contain ticks, lice or mites, to build up. And bird droppings, if allowed to build up, can develop yeast spores. Markham once performed research with two caged pigeons and counted the number of times they defecated in a 24-hour period. They averaged about 55 to 72 defecations. "So droppings from just a few pigeons can cause a lot of problems. Actually, back in 1975, one feather, which contained mites, contaminated a pharmaceutical plant in Puerto Rico. That feather cost the company $3 million in repair and maintenance work."

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GROWING GOOSE POPULATIONS

The goose population in this country has skyrocketed, said Pete Markham, president of A-Mark Pest and Bird Management, Rockville, Ind. "As an example, there were about 9,000 geese in Minneapolis about 40 years ago, according to the USDA. Now there are about 300,000. Their droppings cover sidewalks in the downtown area. So today trapping them is getting to be a bigger and bigger business. Every company facility with a pond on their property is vulnerable to a problem. In some states, like Indiana, you can get permits from local governments to relocate the geese. The government tells you where to take them after you capture them."

He said there are good profit margins on geese jobs, but cautioned that the right equipment — cages, boats, etc. — is necessary. "Geese molt two weeks a year—at the end of July — and therefore can’t fly. That’s when you can actually relocate massive amounts successfully. But you need adequate amounts of people and equipment to do so. "When you capture them, you’ve got to actually get inside the traps and keep them separated. Otherwise they crowd together and smother each other."

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SAFETY FIRST. According to Markham, about 90 percent of bird control involves work usually done high above the ground. "The Houston Safety Council noted that last year there were almost two deaths a day from falls — a total of 714 — so in order to do bird control, your people must use safety equipment to prevent falls and you must train your people to do so," he said.

Markham related several instances where his company was called in to control birds that were affecting the people and equipment in the area. "What do you do in cases like these? First, you scare the birds off and treat and clean up their droppings," he said. "Microban, which has a bromine base, and several other products can sterilize the yeast spores in the droppings. If there’s a large build-up — we’ve worked with some that were 2-3 feet deep — you have to remove them in layers. I’ve used termite rods to inject the product into the droppings.

"Be sure you have power washing equipment and employees who are willing to work in high places. You have to make sure those droppings are saturated because you can contract the disease yourself."

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT. Markham maintained that bird control involves choosing the right equipment. "That’s important," he explained. "Strip doors work very well in keeping pigeons and starlings out, but I’ve seen pigeons sitting at the bottom of the strips waiting for a forklift truck to go through. They’ll follow them under the moving strips and into the building." To prevent that, he suggested installing strip doors with weights on the bottom. "Make sure you’ve got enough coverage and overlap, so the birds can’t fly in. You can get a good price for installing them," he said.

Plastic spikes are good for larger birds such as seagulls, he explained, but they should be used according to the special needs of the job. Smaller birds will often build nests on them. First observe what’s going on around the building in question. "At a bank where pigeons were a problem, I put spikes up. But a bird thought that was a good place to build a nest. When you’re doing a spike job, you need to pick a spike with repellents that will work for your special circumstances.

"And be careful in how you install those spikes. I know of a company that was paid to install spikes on a building. Unfortunately, they used liquid nails that didn’t adhere to the building. You’ve got to be sure your product will adhere and that it will work. Test it before you use it."

At another job, Markham found about 50,000 starlings roosting in an arbor. "We actually netted and enclosed a whole arbor, using clip clamps and electrical ties. It was a big job. But you can do it if you’ve got enough people who are trained to work high above the ground. And you’ve got to make sure you have proper safety equipment," he said.

Barns, stables and machinery sheds can be good opportunities for bird control business, he said. These buildings always have insulation on their roofs, which starlings tend to tear holes in. At a college, the starlings were tearing out the insulation like it was grain. "You can take regular, quarter-inch cloth and install that cloth underneath the insulation and it will prevent the starlings from tearing it out. That worked very well for us. You can sell that as a service that you’ll provide your customers," he said.

E-mail the author at jfox@giemedia.com.

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Working Safely in Bird and Bat Roosts

Follow these precautions to protect yourself and others nearby when working in old bird and bat roosts.

Certain disease organisms may grow where bird or bat droppings accumulate. A thick layer of droppings from years of roosting provides a rich, nutritious brew, especially for the disease fungi that cause histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis. Histoplasmosis is most often associated with bird and bat droppings on soil under roosts; cryptococcosis with pigeon droppings at elevated roost sites. Both diseases are spread when droppings are disturbed by building renovation or clean up of old roost sites. After the disturbance, the fungal spores or vegetative cells float in the air by the millions. Workers nearby, or others downwind, may inhale them and become infected. Droppings are most dangerous when they are dry and can become airborne as a fine dust.

Most people, when infected by either disease organism, show no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms. But if someone breathes a high concentration of spores or cells, or is particularly susceptible to the disease, the infection can become serious, sometimes even deadly. People also can get a disabling lung disease caused by an allergic reaction to airborne debris from bird roosts. Follow the precautions listed below to protect yourself and others nearby when working in old bird and bat roosts, especially if you are removing accumulations of bird droppings.

Wear a respirator with high-efficiency (HE) filters that can filter particles down to 0.3 microns or a supplied-air respirator. Dust masks are not adequate.

Wear disposable protective gloves, hat, coveralls and booties.

Gently wet down the droppings to keep spores from becoming airborne.

Put wet droppings into sealed plastic garbage bags and wet the outside of the bags.

When finished, and while still wearing the respirator, remove the protective clothing and place it inside a plastic garbage bag. Only then can you remove the respirator.

Dispose of the trash bags. In most areas, disposal should be permitted through standard trash pickup (bird droppings are EPA classified as livestock waste, not hazardous waste).

Put non-disposable work clothing and the respirator in a plastic bag. They should be decontaminated and washed before they are used again.

Wash up, shampoo and shower.

Editor’s note: These articles were adapted from Techletter, a biweekly publication from Pinto & Associates, Mechanicsville, Md. To subscribe, visit www.techletter.com, or call 301/884-3020.

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Pigeons: Know Your Opponent!

Whether you’re trying to control pigeons by baiting or exclusion, it helps to understand a bit about their nesting habits and reproduction.

PIGEON NESTS. Not the most attractive nest, it’s a messy, low platform of sticks, twigs, grasses and debris. Nests are built on a flat spot on building ledges, roofs, in eaves, attics or steeples or under bridges or overpasses. The male selects the nest site, provides nesting material and guards the nest. The female lays one or two eggs in a shallow depression in the nest. If you find a nest with three or four eggs, it means two females are using the same nest. The male usually sits on the eggs for most of the day and the female incubates them during the night. The eggs hatch in about 18 days. The female often lays a second clutch of eggs while the firstborn are still in the nest. Nests that are continually used are soon full of droppings, feathers and debris. The nests also may be infested with mites, lice, bed bugs and other ectoparasites, many of which bite people.

BABY PIGEONS. The reason you rarely see baby pigeons (squabs) is that the young stay in the nest until they’re as big as mom and pop. That’s usually about a month after hatching. Breeding can occur at any time but most young are born May to June and again in August to November. The average pigeon pair has about seven broods per year for an average of about 10 young born, per pair, per year. Baby pigeons actually double in size daily during their first week of life. During this time, they’re fed pigeon "milk," a high-energy gloop that is regurgitated from the crops of the parents. Older "babies" are fed grain and other adult foods that the parents bring to the nest. At about five weeks, the fully grown birds leave the nest. There is one way to spot a baby pigeon even if it is as big as its parent. Young birds have brown eyes for the first six months. After that, their eye color changes to orange.

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Bird Control Case Studies

SUPPLIER: Avitrol Corporation

Web site: www.avitrol.com

Bird Problem: Nuisance Birds Destroying Crops, Spreading Disease, and Damaging Public and Private Property

Pest birds have long posed problems for both urban and rural dwellers by destroying crops, damaging equipment, spreading disease and contributing to a negative public image for cities and parks plagued with out-of-control bird populations. The problem is widespread and has given rise to as many bird control methods as there are species of birds.

Nuisance birds can damage crops, spread disease and even disrupt air flight. Without pest bird management, further damage can occur from excessive accumulation of nests and droppings. Infestations of pigeons, blackbirds, crows, cowbirds, grackles, starlings and house sparrows add up to tens of millions of dollars in damage to public and private property each year, making pest bird control not only desirable but economically necessary.

Avitrol, manufactured by Avitrol Corporation, brings balance to an unbalanced environment by achieving pest bird management both effectively and humanely, the company reports. Avitrol is the only chemical frightening agent registered with the Environmental Protection Agency for the control of certain pest birds.

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SUPPLIER: Bird Buffer

Web site: www.birdbuffer.com

Bird Problem: Bird Control in Large Commercial Spaces

Strong profits and growing income are no longer just found in the cellars and attics of America’s homes. According to Gary Crawford, founder of GBS and inventor of the Bird Buffer Q2, thousands of dollars can be generated by providing high-quality bird control services in large commercial spaces. And now with advanced equipment technology like the Bird Buffer Q2, it’s more profitable, more effective and easier than ever, Crawford says.

Up until 10 years ago, bird control in large open areas like malls, courtyards and airplane hangars were too difficult and expensive even to consider for many PMPs. Now the same large open areas can be virtually bird free with the installation of one Bird Buffer Q2, according to the manufacturer.

Prior to his involvement in the pest control industry, Crawford worked in the motion picture field creating and inventing products for such big-name clients as Steven Spielberg, Disney Studios, Warner Brothers and Universal Studios. He was asked to create hundreds of special effects, many which included an invisible haze similar to those produced by the Bird Buffer Q2 machine. Transferring his expertise with haze machines to bird control also came from his background raising and racing pigeons.

"Learning this new method of bird control is actually easier than learning any other type of pest control," Crawford said. "For some, it’s still hard to believe the simplicity and success of the unit, but for those who believe and have seen its successes, they know how lucrative this type of bird control can be." Crawford takes pride in providing high-quality service to his distributors and is willing to assist any PMP who is interested in learning more about how to generate revenue using the Bird Buffer Q2.

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SUPPLIER: Bird-X

Web site: www.bird-x.com

Bird Problem: Low-Tech Sales Solution for High-Profile Bird Problem

As founder of American Maintenance Supply, an industrial wholesaler in Canyon Country, Calif., Oswaldo Mercado knows a maintenance issue when he sees one. "Pigeon droppings," he says, "are a major problem." Especially vulnerable, he notes, are hotel restaurants, food courts in shopping malls and anywhere that food is plentiful. "Pigeons seek shelter, water and food," he said. Wherever there’s food, there’s a potential pigeon feast.

One of the most objectionable infestations that Mercado encountered occurred at a large hotel in a tourist section of a city in Southern California. "Pigeons were nesting on the window ledges of an 800-room hotel," Mercado recalls, "and cleaning up the bird droppings was a major issue." Keeping the window ledges clean gave the hotel’s maintenance crew a tough time because the windows were made so they couldn’t be opened easily. It was not a pretty sight for hotel guests as bird droppings piled up on what was supposed to be a scenic overlook.

Mercado recommended Spikes Needle Strips to his customer. Spikes, produced by Bird-X in Chicago, are clear plastic strips of branch-like protuberances that adhere to ledges and other architectural outcroppings to disrupt birds’ roosting patterns. The tightly packed Spikes prevent birds from landing and squeezing onto their favorite perches. They make it too uncomfortable, if not impossible, for birds to alight. Spikes come in 1-foot strips that can be glued to most flat surfaces on buildings, warehouses, loading docks, overhangs, ledges, fences and similar perches preferred by pigeons.

In 15 years of owning and operating his maintenance supply business, Mercado has learned much about customers. Many are skeptical about "miracle cures" and advertising hype. So Mercado undersells: He invites customers to give Spikes a tryout period. He suggests they use Spikes in a small section of an account for a few weeks. "They’ll see right away if they work," he says. For most customers, Spikes do the job. The trial period leads to satisfied customers, he said.

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Supplier: Nixalite of America

Web site: www.nixalite.com

Bird Problem: Creative Planning Needed to Address Bird Problem at Challenging Convention Center Account

Due to the design and location of the Quad City Waterfront Convention Center in downtown Bettendorf, Iowa, there was the possibility of birds roosting in the structure, creating potential eyesores and health problems for visitors and guests at the convention center.

When the convention center was being designed, developers knew that roosting birds could become a major problem since the center was being built along the Mississippi River in an area where birds and their droppings historically have been a problem. With the space frame style of roofing and location, the structure presented several places for birds to nest. The convention center needed a bird control system that would be appropriate in keeping the birds away from the beams while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing look. Installing a system to keep birds from causing harm to humans was essential to the project. After an onsite evaluation, Nixalite suggested K-Net HT netting as the best possible solution. K-Net, offered exclusively by Nixalite, features ¾-inch square mesh and is made of 12-ply high-density polyethylene. The netting has a 75-pound knotted breaking strength, offering maximum durability. Nixalite and the Tricon Construction Group then needed to design a system that would make the lighting and windows accessible for cleaning and maintenance. A cable rail system was designed that allowed for easy removal to clean the windows and tend to other maintenance operations, which was approved by the architects.

The project called for the installation of more than 25,000 square feet of netting and 4,000 feet of netting cable. "The system has been removed once and it was re-attached. It looks and works as well as it did the first time," said Mark Horcher, a project manager with Tricon. Aesthetically, the system is virtually undetectable if one is not looking for it. "We’ve had nothing but compliments on it and there has been no penetration from the birds," he said.

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SUPPLIER: Natural Forces

Web site: www.naturalforcesllc.com

Bird Problem: Perseverance Pays Off for Washington PMP

As homeowners discover they don’t have to live with pest birds, calls to PCOs demanding solutions are becoming more common.

Natural Forces offers various bird control options that go beyond traditional products while allowing plenty of flexibility for unique situations. Craig Pearsall, Senske Pest Control, Spokane Wash., had worked diligently to eradicate a homeowner’s sparrow problem for several years. Sparrows were nesting in carport rafters and roosting on railings and windows, causing quite a mess. Pearsall recently had tried repelling the birds using noise-makers with mixed results. While the sparrows were initially frightened by the sound, they soon grew accustomed to the racket.

He decided to try a combination of exclusion netting and Fog Force TR to address the problem. The netting prohibited sparrows from entering protected sections while Fog Force TR was used in more visible areas to repel birds from roosting on porch railings and window sills. "The Fog Force fragrance repels the sparrows without spreading into areas inside the house. Even TR’s installed directly outside bedroom areas created no problems," Pearsall said. The timed release of Fog Force encouraged the sparrows to find roosting sites elsewhere. The results pleased a challenging customer with no need for extra service calls. "Excellent results, really good overall. I’ll continue to use Fog Force as an integral part of our bird and pest control business," Pearsall said.

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SUPPLIER: PiGNX

Web site: www.pignx.com

Bird Problem: Bird Repellent is Easy to Use, Clean Up

PiGNX is the most unique bird repellent ever invented, the manufacturer states, and the product’s benefits fall into four areas: economic, environmental, effectiveness and ease of use. PiGNX is cost-effective and profitable, allowing PMPs to develop guaranteed bird programs for their clients that add both profits and ongoing revenue, as well as providing them with a major competitive advantage over other higher-priced bird control options, the company says.

PiGNX is safe for both the target pest, applicator and for the environment and it is made from Food-Grade ingredients, the manufacturer reports. In addition, the product is EPA- and NSF-approved and can be used inside food-manufacturing facilities. PiGNX is 100 percent effective when used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, the company says.

PiGNX is classified as a non-melting gel that will not melt, freeze or drip. It is easy to apply, requires little training and can be cleaned up with soap and water. PiGNX will add sustainable revenues to PMPs currently offering bird control services and a new revenue stream for those just breaking into the bird control market.