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Oh, the problems of pest birds. They invade our neighborhoods, our parks and our restaurants. They dive bomb our sporting events, our parades and barbeques. If you own or are in charge of commercial property, they've no doubt cost you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in cleanups and repairs. You know, better than most, the damage pest birds can cause: the discolored paint, the disintegrating stone and metalwork, and the health hazards bird droppings can create.

If you're a pilot, you shudder at the thought of a pest bird getting caught in your engine and remember well U.S. Airways flight 1549, which had to make a forced landing in the Hudson River when geese flew into its engines. If you're a grower or foodstuffs supplier, pest birds have probably cost you time and considerable expense as they devoured your crop and ate into your storage bins and crates.

You've been tempted to eliminate your fine-feathered pests by buckshot or poison. But you've read so much about humane bird deterrents. And you're willing to give them a try. So what exactly is out there to rid you of these pests?

We'll start with what's known as “Bird Scare” products. You affix these reflective foil or flash tape deterrents to your boat mast, patio or tree and watch as they frighten birds away. You can also get blow-up balloons emblazoned with threatening predator eyes. Birds avoid these because they create a "fear factor" zone that makes them uncomfortable. Be sure to change the position and color of these deterrents, since birds get used to them in short order.

Similar in principle to foils and balloons in its ability to deter pest birds is the Bird Spider. The spindly spider arms spin around, discouraging birds from landing. Ideal for use on patios, awnings, boat covers and other flat areas, spiders come in various diameters to deter different sized birds.

One of the all-time favorite ways to deter pest birds is the Bird Spike. Yes, they look like they would impale any bird coming near them, but they are perfectly harmless. Birds take one look at these threatening looking spikes and realize very quickly that landing on or near them is impossible. Spikes are perfect for roof peaks, awnings, gutters, signs, girders, and ledges. You can get them with rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate spikes or high strength, durable stainless steel spikes.

Not as menacing looking as the spike, but just as effective is the Bird Slope. These deter pest birds by not allowing them to land. Their little footsies scramble like mad, getting absolutely no traction on the angled PVC panels. So they leave. The PVC panels are easy to install on virtually any surface using glue or screws. And since they come in a variety of popular colors, they'll pretty much agree with your building's décor.

Most growers know about our next category of bird deterrents--Bird Netting. It typically comes in 3/4", 1-1/8" and 2" mesh sizes, and has saved many fruit trees, crops, and vineyards from pest bird damage. Better netting is U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. You can even get non-conductive webbing for areas where signal interference or electrical hazards pose a problem. For facilities manages who use netting to deter pest birds from large buildings, be sure to cover window recesses, balconies and entire rooftops to prevent birds from sneaking around the net.

Next up is Bird Gel. Birds can't stand this stuff because it sticks to their feet and gives them an icky feeling when they land on it. It's easy to apply and is ideal for pipes, conduit, ledges, I-beams, and parapet walls.

Once birds set foot on our next deterrent, they're in for a surprise and will think twice before coming back. Known as the Electric-Track bird repeller, it imparts a mild electric jolt that's irritating but harmless. The electrified track systems are easily installed on flat or curved surfaces. Some feature a flow-thru design to prevent water from collecting on rooftops. Opt for systems that feature a knitted design with a single strand of high-gauge wire and a tube-within-a-tube arrangement.

Another category of "bird-hazing" systems uses chemical deterrents. These have been highly effective in discouraging pest birds from landing and roosting in large areas. They work by releasing a mist of methyl anthranilate into the air. This chemical compound is essentially a harmless grape extract that naturally occurs in concord grapes. The systems come with a wide range of nozzles and timers to deter sparrows, pigeons, starlings, crows, blackbirds and geese.

Our next bird deterrent uses sound to shoo birds away. Known as Sonic Pest Bird Repellers, they capitalize on a bird's fear in hearing distress and predator calls. Some sonic repellers emit nearly half a dozen calls, which can be heard for hundreds of feet.

Seems everyone's going green these days and bird deterrents are no exception. Hence the introduction of the Solar Powered Bird Repeller. It has flailing arms that spin to deter pest birds. Ideal for keeping pigeons, seagulls and larger birds off of signs, billboards, roofs, and other flat surfaces.

Alex Kecskes is a freelance writer focusing on effective bird control products and methods.
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