By Alex A. Kecskes
As much as we love to hear them sing and coo,
wild birds can be quite a nuisance. The damage they cause can be very expensive
and time-consuming to repair. Their poop can discolor paint, stain wood and
eventually erode metal. Even worse, if you own a restaurant or café with
outdoor seating, bird deposits can carry and transmit any of 60 known diseases.
All the more reason to consider keeping them away from your property.
Fortunately, there are many bird repellants on the market that will do just
that. Most are humane, inexpensive and easy to install.
For pigeons and
large birds, there are a variety of bird spikes that will do the trick. These
repellents have spikes made of rigid unbreakable polycarbonate, or in some
cases, stainless steel. For awnings and patio covers, bird spiders are an ideal
option—the spider arms flagellate with the breeze, so birds will think twice
about trying to navigate a landing. Spiders are available in a wide range of diameters
to cover different size areas. They require little or no maintenance and, as
intimidating as they look, they won’t harm birds.
A simple, but surprisingly effective bird repellent is the
Bird Slope. These angled, slippery panels keep birds from landing—their feet
just slip right off. Bird slopes are ideal for ledges, eaves, beams and other
90-degree areas where pest birds tend to nest and roost. They’re easy to
install and work for various bird types and sizes. Another simple and quite
effective bird repellent, known as bird gel, is easily applied like caulk. When
it dries, the gel skins over
but never sets hard, creating a sticky membrane that
birds don’t like to land on, yet it’s safe for birds and people. Gels are ideal
for flat or curved surfaces, including conduit, pipes, ledges, I-beams, and
parapet walls.
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