Keep Birds Away

Birds are often attracted to swimming pools, spas and other water features in a backyard. The main concern with bird pests is the diseases they carry, especially those found in their droppings. Bird droppings are also very slippery when wet, which can create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards for children and even adults. While birds can be shooed away with the blast from a water hose or by banging pots and pans together, birds will invariably return when you leave.

If you have a bird problem around your pool, there are a number of things you can do to discourage pest birds from roosting and nesting near the immediate area. The first is to remove any plants that produce edible nuts, fruits and berries. You should also remove any bird feeders. And keep trees and large shrubs tightly trimmed, removing any branches that hang close to your pool. After you’ve taken these preliminary steps, you should invest in a professional bird deterrent. Here are some bird control devices the experts recommend:

Scarecrows Blast Bird Pests Away

Using a harmless blast of water to scare birds from your pool, Bird-B-Gone’s Scarecrow acts like a reliable 24/7 sentry. Any bird that enters this device’s area of protection will be showered with a “wake-up” water blast, alarming sprinkler sound, and Scarecrow’s realistic looking bird-like head. Easy to set up and use, Scarecrows connect directly to your garden hose. And each blast consumes just 2 to 3 cups of water. Scarecrows cover about 1,200 square feet with a spray that reaches out 35 feet and 45 feet wide (enough for most pools). Scarecrows are powered by a single 9-volt battery for up to 6 months, delivering over 1,000 "firings." The device’s sensitivity and coverage distance are easily fine-tuned to fit your pool’s shape and surroundings. Incidentally, kids and dogs love to play with these devices.

Sonic Bird Deterrents Scare Birds from Pools
 
While firecrackers and noisemakers may temporarily scare birds away, the more scientific (and long-term effective) approach is to intimidate birds with the sounds they dread to hear—their natural predators (like hawks and falcons). That’s where Bird-B-Gone’s Solar Bird Chase Super Sonic comes in. It broadcasts distress and predator calls birds know all too well. And they will seek the safety of someone else’s yard rather than stick around yours. The threatening birdcalls are repeated every ten minutes. The sounds emitted by Bird Chase device resemble natural birdcalls so they won’t bother your pets or neighbors. And unlike ultrasonic devices that emit high-frequency sounds birds can’t hear, the Bird Chase system creates sounds well within the hearing range of birds. Each Bird Chase device comes with a built-in speaker that will cover up to an acre.

If your school is like most, it has open courtyards, outdoor eating areas and overflowing garbage cans and dumpsters. Birds love to loiter around these areas and seek out any food scraps left under lunch tables and benches. And when they see an opportunity, they’ll dive in. After they’re stuffed, they’ll “let loose” some sizeable bird droppings. These droppings can end up on playgrounds, water faucets, lunch benches, tables and walkways. Besides being unsightly, bird droppings can carry any of 60 know diseases, including salmonella and ecoli. Children can also slip and fall on fresh bird droppings, a liability for any school district.

Chances are, you’ve put up with pest birds all year long. Fortunately, there are three simple things you can do to keep them away. And there’s no better time to implement these effective bird control solutions than during the holiday break. So act now while maintenance crews are on site to keep bird pests from flocking to your school.

Scare Birds Away with Repeller 360°

This simple bird control device sweeps pest birds off rooftops, AC units and other flat areas using sustainable wind power. Ideal for keeping larger birds like pigeons, crows, gulls, cormorants and raptors from landing, Bird-B-Gone’s Repeller 360°’s two long arms each have end sails covered with reflective “predator eyes.” When the arms spin in the breeze, the sweeping action and predator eyes combine to make an effective pest bird deterrent. Self-sufficient and easy to set up, the Repeller 360° needs no electrical power or wiring. It rotates continuously in the wind, covering a 6-foot diameter to harmlessly convince bird pests to move on.

Pest Birds Hate Bird Jolt Flat Track
 
Give pest birds a lesson they’ll never forget—a “hello” jolt of electricity when they land on your school roof, ledge or sign. Bird-B-Gone’s Bird Jolt Flat Track “educates” birds but won’t harm them. It’s like getting a shock when you touch a doorknob after walking on the carpet. The shock convinces birds to avoid any lofty areas of your school. Bird Jolt Flat Track is the #1 Specified electric track by architects and government agencies. Its patented “anti-arcing” design provides an added level of safety. It’s also crush proof and will continue to work even if stepped on by window washers or building maintenance crews.
 
Bird Spikes Create No-Landing Zone for Bird Pests
 
Whether you choose plastic or stainless steel, Bird-B-Gone Bird Spikes simply won’t allow birds to land or perch on or near them. Steel bird spikes feature rows of stainless steel spikes embedded in a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base. You can also go with Plastic Bird Spikes, which come in white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear--to blend in with your school’s color scheme. Plastic spikes are made of rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate, which makes them tough and economical. Neither type of bird spike will harm birds or installation crews.

 
A Brockton, Massachusetts homeowner was recently stunned to discover a great blue heron hulking over her Koi pond. The large, long-billed bird was sizing up its prey, ready to strike. One of her neighbors said that the heron had raided 10 of his fish. The birds often invade backyard ponds during the warmer months looking for a quick meal, a meal that cost pond owners upwards of $200 each. The pond owner decided to build a PVC cover with chicken wire to protect her investment from the winged culprits, which stand over 4 feet tall, with an imposing 6-foot wingspan. Ornithologists note that herons often attack Koi ponds, even in urban areas.

Herons area skilled and patient hunters, stalking their prey slowly through the water, then remaining motionless until a fish swims by. A quick stab with its sharp bill and the Koi is history.

Initial steps to protect costly Koi from becoming a Heron meal include adding floating vegetation and underwater structures for fish to hide under, and to provide enough water depth for the pond. Of course, the best way to keep fish safe form herons and cranes is to bird-proof the pond. Here’s what the bird control experts at Bird-B-Gone recommend:
 
Pond Defender™
 
A plastic disc that floats just below the water’s surface, Bird-B-Gone’s Pond Defender™ provides a safe haven for fish, protecting them against herons and cranes. The Pond Defender installs in a snap and consists of 12 interlocking plastic discs to create an aesthetic geometric shape, one that effectively blocks out fish predators. The discs virtually disappear below the water’s surface and fit easily into any shape pond. Installation is easy using the supplied clips, and discs can be arranged to fit most ponds or water gardens.  For best results, use two rows of Pond Defender discs to prevent large birds from reaching into the pond and attacking your fish. The discs can be easily removed for cleaning. The Pond Defender is built to last and made of a UV- protected plastic (polypropylene) that will permit your plants to grow through its geometric openings.
 
Bird Scare Visual Deterrents

Easy to use and install, Bird Scare Visual Deterrents create an “Optical Distraction Zone” that keeps birds away from ponds and other water features. Choose reflective foils that crackle in the breeze, shiny tape banners that crinkle in the wind, or balloons with huge predator eyes that bob and weave. These deterrents can easily be attached to fence posts, tree limbs, patio covers or any elevated area. Balloons can also be partially filled with water and allowed to skim the surface of your pond to keep pest birds away. Visual Deterrents like these are designed to make pest birds feel threatened and uncomfortable. You'll need to move these deterrents around from time to time to keep birds from getting used to them.

For additional advice on how to keep pest birds away from your pond or water feature, consult an expert like the folks at Bird-B-Gone.

While most birds are nice to look at and we love to hear them sing, they can be destructive to a garden. They can nibble away at the ripening fruit on your peach, apple, or pear trees.  And they can wreak havoc with your vegetable plants, making them inedible. Birds also like to munch on corn and sunflower plants. And they’ll pick seeds right out of the ground after you’ve painstakingly planted and nurtured them.

If you want to protect your fruits and vegetable from pest birds, you’ll need to take some proactive steps in the form of bird deterrents. Chances are you’ve tried banging pots, water hoses and similar means to deter pest birds from your garden only to be frustrated when they return the minute you go back in the house You may also have tried hanging reflective CDs and setting up little windmills. But the birds quickly got used to them and now totally ignore them. You’re at your wits end in getting rid of the birds, but at the same time, you don’t have the heart to injure the poor things with poisons or pellet guns.

Fortunately, there is a humane, effective bird deterrent that will keep an entire flock of birds away from your garden. It’s called the Bird-B-Gone Sonic Shield™.

Birds take Flight at this Sound and Light

The Bird-B-Gone Sonic Shield™ was scientifically designed to fully exploit a bird’s natural fear of sudden bright lights and alarming sounds. Its motion sensor springs into action the very second a bird enters its zone of protection. Once activated, the Sonic Shield broadcasts a loud dog barking sound and flashing LED light to scare any bird away. It acts as your 24/7 garden sentry.

Give Birds the Fright, Day or Night

The Sonic Shield™ has two modes of operation: a daytime mode and a nighttime mode. In the daytime mode, flashing LED lights and loud barking dog sounds work together to scare birds out of your garden. In the nighttime mode, only bright flashing LED lights are used to scare birds away—ideal for areas where night noises would wake up the neighbors. Regardless of which mode you choose, the Sonic Shield™ will get rid of a wide range of birds that have been molesting your garden and fruit trees. It’s also far better than ultrasonic deterrents, which emit sounds most birds can’t even hear.

Mount it anywhere

Easy to set up and use, the Sonic Shield™ is the bird pest bird deterrent that’s completely portable and self-contained. It can be easily placed wherever birds are gathering—on a branch in your fruit tree, on your fence, or even under your patio cover. It runs on four standard AA batteries, so there are no AC cords to string along your garden to power the unit.

You just painted your fence—all 150 feet of it.  It looks beautiful, a gleaming testament to your hard work. But now the birds have come. Perching and preening and studying the lay of your backyard. And while they’re busy, they start to drop their loads, streaking your beautiful freshly painted fence with unsightly droppings for the world to see. You get out the garden hose and you attack. The birds flee and you wash and scrub until the streaks are almost gone. But you realize that they will be back. You can’t stand guard with a hose in your hand 24/7. The birds know that.  And you know it. So being smarter than the birds, you arm yourself with the latest bird proofing devices man in his infinite wisdom has developed.  The deterrents that ornithologists and commerce have teamed up to create.  Your arsenal is thus:

Bird Spikes. Want to prevent large birds such as pigeons, crows or gulls from landing on your fence line? Bird Spikes are used to humanely prevent birds from landing by creating an un-even landing space. Birds know they can not get footing on the spikes, and will move on. Bird Spikes generally come in two foot sections and can be nailed, screwed, glued or tied down to most surfaces. The spikes are designed for outdoor use and are a permanent solution for preventing birds from landing.


Transparent Bird Gel. Spread this invisible gel on the top of your fence and birds will hate you for taking away their poop stand. Pest birds can’t stand to set foot on the sticky sensation on their feet and will move on to a more comfortable spot. Each tube of bird gel will treat an area approximately 10 feet long by 3 inches wide. The sticky gel stays sticky in temperatures from 15F to 200F, and one application usually lasts up to 6 months outdoors. The gel is easily applied using virtually any standard caulking gun. It’s perfect for deterring pigeons, sparrows, crows, gulls, starlings and many other species of birds. The gels are non-toxic to birds, so you won’t have to worry about violating any protective species ordinances. The only caveat is to not use gels where birds have been nesting.

Hawk Decoys. Quality construction and realism are the two key things to look for here. You want the decoy to last and you want pest birds to believe it’s real. You also want a Red Tailed Hawk decoy because most pest birds know that these predators hunt during the day (unlike owls who hunt for mice at night when birds are asleep). Always opt for the most realistic looking bird control decoy you can afford. The best decoys are made of heavy duty plastic and will be weather and water-resistant. They can be easily attached to fence posts. Some decoys even come with a bottom tab that lets you fill the inside of the hawk with sand. Doing this makes the decoy more stable. Better decoys include a convenient loop at the top so you can hang them from a tree branch. Hawk decoys are economical and provide protection against most small and large pest birds.

Bird Sonics. Ideal for large outdoor areas, Sonic Bird Deterrents emit predator and distress calls that make birds feel very uneasy, so they leave. The best systems have been scientifically designed to exploit a bird's innate fear of predators. They also take advantage of most birds’ highly sensitive hearing. The sounds they emit ring fear in the hearts of a wide range of birds—including pigeons, crows, starlings, swallows, gulls, woodpeckers, sparrows, grackles and cormorants. One highly effective commercially available sonic system broadcasts the sound of Peregrine falcons (a pigeon's dreaded enemy) defending their territory. Other systems will deter starlings and seagulls with the sounds of predator hawks screeching and gulls under attack. The best sonic systems will alter the pitch, frequency, timing and intensity of the sounds they emit. One popular system emits distress and predator calls for as many as 22 types of birds. The calls can be cycled through every ten to fifteen minutes. Like most of today’s scientifically designed bird deterrents, sonic systems will not harm birds, pets or humans. The sounds they generate sound like normal bird sounds to human ears.

A rooftop patio or terrace can be a great place to relax and throw parties. You may have decorative outdoor furniture and plants throughout these areas. One problem with rooftop patios and terraces is the birds they draw. Birds often use these areas for roosting and nesting. Fail to implement effective bird control to keep birds off these rooftop areas and you’ll have to constantly clean the area and possibly make repairs.

Without bird control measures to deter them, birds will perch and even nest on the window sills, ledges and awnings of your home. If you have a two-story home, the upper windows and ledges make especially ideal for birds on the lookout for food and predators.

The only real solution for today’s homeowners is humane, effective bird deterrents.  Here's what the pros recommend to deter pigeons, sparrows, crows, gulls, starlings and many other species of birds:

Many homeowners have problems with birds around the outside of their garage. That’s because, if a garage is not attached to the home, you won’t hear birds pecking and nesting on rooftop areas, or even the gutters of a garage. 

If you’re a homeowner, you’ve no doubt had problems with birds around your windows.
They may sit on your window sills and peck at the glass, reacting to their reflection, thinking there's another bird on the other side. Cardinals, Purple Martins and other small birds appear most likely to peck at their own reflection in windows and glass doors. You may have also encountered birds flying into your windows and sliding glass doors who believe the reflection is a landscape and not a solid surface. Bird window strikes can injure and kill birds.

by Alex A. Kecskes