WILDLIFE & HABITAT MANAGEMENT
Bird Proofing and Control
Bird problems can be approached in many different ways depending on the location of the problem, the size of the area affected and the species of bird creating the problem. The main bird pest species are feral pigeons, seagulls, starlings and sparrows.
Pigeon
Seagull
Sparrow
Starling
Below is a brief description of the methods and applications available.
Bird Scaring Audio
This is usually used on large scale areas such as landfill sites, airports, agricultural and horticultural sites and larger industrial sites. This is usually done by audio – playing the ‘alarm’ or ‘distress’ call of the pest bird. These calls are the birds’ natural way of alerting others of approaching danger – they therefore decide it may be wiser to move on!
Visual
This is very often an accompaniment to the audio scaring system; it can involve flares, flashing lights, balloons or plastic birds of prey. Birds of prey can also be used to scare pest birds from large or awkward sites. These are ‘flown’ at the pest birds by a specialist handler. Birds of prey are effective because they are nature’s main predator of these pest birds. Birds of prey are used on large sites very effectively with little noise disturbance to the surrounding areas.
Proofing
Proofing takes many forms, all of which prevent the birds from landing on a given building or structure. There are alternative methods of proofing, the main ones being bird wire and bird point systems and placing netting over structures and buildings. Each application is suitable to different problems, buildings and structures.
Anti-roosting spikes being fitted to a building to prevent pigeons from roosting
Trapping
Live catch traps can be used to remove small populations of birds (especially pigeons) from certain areas. We often carry out large scale operations trapping hundreds of pigeons at a time, which is very effective.
Culling
This is used only for unprotected species i.e. pigeons etc., on large industrial sites which are too big to proof, and where pigeons come in to roost at night but feed elsewhere throughout the day. Culling in most other areas just creates a ‘vacuum’ whereby favourite sites once cleared are just as quickly taken up by the next flock of pests.
To provide a long term solution, it is often better to approach the reasons why the birds are there in the first place and remove the cause, usually food and shelter!
If you require any further information on any of the above, please don’t hesitate to call us.