[Bird Management Guide] Bird Control Case Studies

Supplier: BIRD-X
www.bird-x.com
Bird Problem: Bird Control is
No Crapshoot for Casino
Oklahomans come to Keetowah Cherokee Casino to roll the dice with Lady Luck, hoping to hit that big jackpot. Those who enter the 18,000 square-foot property for the chance to win big must also contend with bird poop. Located in Tahlequah, the capital city of the Cherokee Nation, the billboard at the casino’s entrance is a 65-foot high, double-sided, v-shaped magnet for a variety of birds. Droppings on the billboard and down the side of the casino are not uncommon.

Tom Chism of Arrow Exterminators in Broken Arrow, Okla., made it his business to get the feathered visitors to move along. Chism said his firm’s product supplier, Bird-X, is truly a partner. “They consult with me and advise on each project specifically,” he said. Arrow and Bird-X share the philosophy of finding humane, environmentally friendly solutions to pest birds for the customer that go beyond selling a product or service. The companies devised a plan consisting of ultrasonic devices and non-lethal repellents to clear the billboard.

These methods proved effective, eradicating the infest-ing birds and keeping them away. No animals were harm-ed, and humans were not exposed to toxic chemicals. A product like the Bird-X Ultrason-X Outdoor Ultrasonic Bird Repeller works well in these situations. It is inaudible to humans but birds find the variety of sounds disquiet-ing enough to vacate the area. Ultrasonic units like these make sense for areas where humans will be exposed to bird control devices, such as near gas stations, restaurants and casino entrances.

Supplier: GBS
www.birdbuffer.com
Bird Problem: Stubborn Grackles and Pigeons at Mars Petcare U.S. Factory
In March 2009, a study was done by GBS, manufacturer of the Bird Buffer, on the best way to rid the Mars Petcare U.S. factory of hundreds of birds that were infesting the roof tops, grounds and railings. Because of the sheer size of the factory, this was a major challenge. Two Bird Buffers were placed at the south roof top, so that the wind would assist and carry the vapor over the factory. Because the birds had been there so long, they needed a one-two punch to cause them to be uncomfortable to the point they wanted to leave the area. After two weeks, when the Bird Buffers were not working fast enough, they were turned up for longer periods of time, and an Igeba fogger was implemented each morning, which used the same fluid. The difference was that the Bird Buffers produced an automated, constant, virtually invisible, dry haze, whereas the fogger produced a manual, thick, visual fog in the morning. After six weeks into the program, the birds had left the area. This study proved that some birds can withstand discomfort on a temporary basis. But as time went on, they started to realize this discomfort was not going away; in fact, it increased. They became more and more sensitive to the bird control and left the area. GBS now offers the new Bird Buffer Q2, the Buffer TF (a thermal fogger which is used to get rid of stubborn birds), and the Bird Buffer Jr. Spray system.

Supplier: Nixalite of America
www.nixalite.com
Bird Problem: Creative Planning Needed to Prevent Bird
Problem at Convention Center
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.

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 have historically 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 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 break-ing strength, offering maximum strength and 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. Winthurst and Tricon design-ed a cable rail system that allowed for easy removal to clean the windows and tend to other maintenance operations that 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. Tricon Construction Group installed the system perfectly, not allowing gaps in the netting where birds could infiltrate and roost, a common problem with netting installations. “We had to provide access for window clean-ing and electricians. The system has been removed once and it was reattached. It looks and works as well as it did the first time,” said Mark Horcher, a project manager with Tricon Construction Group. Aesthetically, the system is virtually undetectable if one is not looking for it. “We’ve had nothing but compliments on it and there have been no penetration from the birds,” said Horcher.

Supplier: Bird Barrier
www.birdbarrier.com
Bird Problem: Birds Pestering a Beach City’s Administrative Building Housing Municipal Vehicles and Equipment
A Southern California beach city sought the services of Jack Kurtzberg of Antimite Pest Control in ridding birds from a site that houses municipal vehicles and equipment. Keeping the property free of birds was difficult because of the open nature of the building. Pigeons and sparrows roosted on beams supporting the warehouse ceil-ing, leaving droppings and nesting materials on the trucks and gear below.

The city hired Antimite because they previously had performed bird control work at this property and were satisfied with the results. A portion of the warehouse had been reconstructed in the interim and the new section required the same effective bird exclusion. “Part of the budget for the remodel included bird-proofing the new structure,” said Kurtzberg.

The Antimite team of four installers mounted perimeter cable around the inside of the warehouse and along the beams to support the ¾-inch black StealthNet. “The most difficult aspect of the job was gaining access to the areas that required netting. A chain link fence separated one section of the building. There were also supports that extended up to the ceiling, around which we had to install the net,” said Kurtzberg. “We used scissor lifts for access.”

The project took four installers a total of 100 man hours to complete. The customers were very happy with the solution and have since asked Antimite to bid on another structure at the same site.

Supplier: Bird-B-Gone
www.birdbgone.com
Bird Problem: Major Bird Control Issues Inside an
Auto Center
A nationally known retail company was having major bird control issues in its Auto Center located in Fresno, Calif. The company had tried several ways to get rid of the birds such as using visual bird deterrents and sound systems with unsatisfactory results. The birds continued to be an issue, ruining expensive equipment, causing a health hazard to employees and patrons, and costing the company a lot of money in clean up and damage repairs.

The company finally called on Copesan to help solve the problem. Copesan’s bird control expert reviewed photos of the site and contacted Bird-B-Gone for help to determine the best solution to relocate the pest birds. It was found that there were many years worth of pigeon droppings in the 15,000-square-foot build-ing. Typically for a building of this size and type, netting the structure would be the best solution, but due to a combination of moving lifts, pipes, corrosive materials and other factors, netting was not an option.

The Solution: Bird-B-Gone sent Ian Rowsby, technical expert, to Fresno to view the site and make a recommendation. Rowsby concluded that the best product for the job was the Bird-B-Gone Misting System, an advanced hazing system that releases a fine mist of methyl anthranilate into the air, at programmed intervals, causing the pest birds to move out of the treated area. The system is controlled from one central location where it can be easily programmed and monitored.

After extensive cleanup, Rowsby along with Copesan’s western states partner together installed the Bird-B-Gone Mist-ing System at the site. The Control unit was installed in an easy to access part of the bay while the misting drop unit was installed near the ceiling where the birds were an issue. The total installation time was approximately one hour, and the results were immediate. The pest pigeons have relocated and the tire bay is protected from any further pigeon- caused damage.

Copesan’s bird control expert continued to monitor the misting system’s effectiveness over the next few weeks.

The results were so successful that the retail company decided to spec the system for their other Auto Centers nation-wide. Copesan’s representative stated, “The Bird-B-Gone Mist has proven to be an effective option in areas where other traditional methods of bird control are not feasible. Our customer was extremely satisfied not only with the results of the project but also with the personal service offered by both Bird-B-Gone, Inc. and Copesan’s western state partner.”