by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 13, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
ABERDEEN, SD – We’ve all seen them. Some of us have maybe even cleaned up messes left by them.
Cities across the country and here in KELOLAND are looking at ways to fight a pigeon problem. The issue made its way to the Aberdeen City Council Monday.
“They continue to be a continuous problem and they do cause quite a bit of damage and they’re a health hazard,” animal control officer John Weaver said.
Aberdeen city manager Lynn Lander wants to contract with a professional to fight the problem. Lander says the goal isn’t to eliminate the birds, but rather to control the population.
The service would cost $7,250 a year, Lander said. Owners would still need to play a part in guarding their property from pigeon damage.
“We would go to specific buildings to disrupt the nesting process because a typical pair can have as many as 20 offspring and a wild pigeon can live up to 10 years,” Lander said.
Pigeons have caused damage to public and private property in Aberdeen. The Aberdeen Police Department has a device that runs to a vent on the roof. Pigeons nested in that vent, dropping eggs and droppings right down into the building.
“Very annoying,” Daryl Van Dover with the Aberdeen Police Department said. “The pigeons have been quite a problem for some time.”
“Through my research and talking to various different municipalities, we all have the same problems,” Lander said.
There are already efforts underway to cut down on the number of pigeons in town. The Aberdeen Downtown Association manages a netting program. Through that program a man recently captured and hauled more than 500 birds from the Hub City, Weaver said.
Lander wants the additional pigeon population control to target problem areas and supplement efforts already taking place.
At the police station, workers have already tried blocking birds from the vent but say they’re running into issues again.
“We’re attempting to screen them out once again and hopefully that’ll take care of the problem,” Weaver said.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 12, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
A FRESH complaint has put the cat amongst the pigeons on Forres High Street.
Following a story which appeared in the ‘Gazette’ in January about health risks caused by the birds roosting on the town hall, a concerned member of the public pointed out that the problem is just as bad, if not worse, at the top of Bank Lane next to the most central bus stop in the town.
“The mess on Bank Lane is something that affects everyone here,” said the complainer, who wishes to remain anonymous.
“These include people waiting at the bus stop, schoolchildren using the lane and anyone who parks in the car park behind the bank. What a terrible sight for our visitors to see and walk through too!”
The local woman claimed that until recently, piles of festering pigeon faeces had been left on the thoroughfare for at least a year.
“I see children walk up and down there every day,” she said. “When it rains the mess turns slushy. It gets on their shoes and
is brought with them wherever they go.
“My concern is that this will be an ongoing problem if it is not cleaned regularly and the mess is already building up again.”
She added: “The owner of the building will need to pigeon-proof the windows.
“If Moray Council will not insist the owner puts netting on the windows, then who is responsible for cleaning up the mess?”
The owners of neighbouring takeaway Chicken Hut have attempted to tackle the problem themselves.
“We don’t want people to see or stand in it,” said chef Mohamed Elmerzougui. “So we have to clean it up once or twice a week. It’s a big problem.
“The pigeons live on the roof of the building, so aren’t scared off by passers-by. The council should clean up their mess and do something about them.”
Mohamed’s colleague Nacerddine Leghroumi claimed he hadn’t seen anyone from Moray Council attempt to deal with the issue.
“We have to clean it up or it reflects badly on us,” he said. “It takes about three hours in total to sort out the mess that’s up to 2cm deep.
“We scrape it off the surface with a metal brush, then use a shovel to take it away. We then throw hot soapy water down, then
finally, an hour later, slowly brush off anything that remains.”
He added: “We have never seen Moray Council do the work in the six months since we took over.”
Forres Community Council has been made aware of the complaint and passed it on to Moray Council’s environmental services department.
“The area was brushed and power washed,” said a council spokesperson.
“Pigeon droppings are on ongoing problem in this area and the council cleans it as and when resources allow.
“Feral pigeons will take advantage of any suitable roosts in builtup areas and will often roost there night after night, with the result that their droppings accumulate.
“Building owners can take measures to proof their properties against roosting and nesting pigeons in much the same way as they can to deter gulls.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 11, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
FILE PICTURE – Pigeons on a suburban British street. Tenants are in flap after getting a badly written letter from the council threatening to evict them – for FEEDING PIGEONS. See swns story SWPIGEON. They received the missive, littered with grammatical mistakes, suggesting that a “spy” had been hired to find out who had been feeding the birds. The hand signed letter, purporting to be from Islington Council in north London, states that the feeding had led to a rise of pigeon excrement and made the area look an “unsightly mess”.
FIREFIGHTERS were called to deal with a seagull trapped in roof netting in Shoreham.
The RSPCA was called out by the householders to a property in The Herons on Sunday morning.
Shoreham firefighters were then called at 12.22pm to help free the bird from netting around the chimney.
The crew was at the scene for an hour and used a roof ladder and small tools to release the gull, then left it in the care of the RSPCA officer.
Liz Wheeler, RSPCA inspector, said: “We see this kind of thing happening all the time during the summer months.
“People put netting on their rooftops to deter birds from nesting but it’s often not put up properly, causing birds to become trapped and to suffer.
“It is an offence to intentionally trap wild birds like gulls, so we are asking people to be mindful of their actions and make sure that if they do use netting, they install it correctly and regularly check and maintain it.
“We spend all summer getting trapped gulls out of roof netting and it’s easily avoidable.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 10, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, UltraSonic Bird Control
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—In 2010, an English-language newspaper in Dubai ran a cover story titled Pigeon Impossible: Rats With Wings. “Pigeons have become a nuisance in the city, leaving many residents exasperated,” the report said. “These birds which have been breeding uncontrollably are messing up property with their droppings.” It detailed how pigeon waste was corroding roofs, windows, machinery, car paint, and infecting air conditioning systems. A public health official lamented the “serious” problem, but said that there was no way to count the number of pigeons that were relieving themselves across the city.
The report pointed out that Switzerland had experimented with pigeon contraceptive pills, Britain had hired air gun–wielding snipers to shoot pigeons off buildings, and the United States had used plastic models of birds of prey to scare them off airport runways.
Dubai has been called “the Manhattan of the Arab world.” Over the past three decades, as the United Arab Emirates rapidly developed, it had been preoccupied with breaking world records: It now has the world’s tallest building, largest mall, longest driverless metro, and fastest steel rollercoaster. But an onslaught of pigeon droppings didn’t fit the city’s glittering public image.
The city’s growth was accompanied by a growth in the pest population, including pigeons. A proliferation of pest control firms, now over a hundred in Dubai, was accompanied by a niche market specializing in bird control, many of them employing falcons—natural predators of smaller birds as well as a prized status symbol for the Emirati elite. At the upper end of the market, falcons now travel on private jets with royals from the Persian Gulf on hunting expeditions across the world. In 2010, the UAE led a submission to UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural agency, eventually having falconry, a tradition dating back at least 4,000 years, recognized as an example of intangible cultural heritage. But thanks to the pigeon problem, falcons are being put to work in less glamorous occupations as well.
One morning in January, a flock of pigeons with bobbing heads, their rainbowlike neck feathers sparkling, occupied a railing on a sand-bleached luxury hotel. The hotel sits in a palm-tree–shaped artificial archipelago, the Palm Jumeirah, on the southern coast. The pigeons bumbled near the Gold Suites, rooms that came with gold furnishings, rain showers, and a private butler to pack bags and shine shoes.
A few weeks earlier, a family at a resort nearby had been attacked by crows, one of them digging its claws into a guest’s head, requiring first-aid with painkillers and icepacks.
“These feral birds,” said Hendri Du Toit, an urban falconer, squinting at the Gold Suites. “They won’t be here for long because Marley has come.”
Marley, a saker falcon with gold-flecked wings, was blindfolded and perched on Du Toit’s arm. He was born and bred in Dubai, even though saker falcons, recognized by their brown upperbellies and horizontal pursuit, usually breed around the northern Himalayas. Marley had traveled to this hotel sitting inside the boot of an SUV that barreled past skyscrapers with mirrored windows and marble megaliths. Another saker falcon, Ziggy (who is not Marley’s son), waited in the boot while Marley finished his assignment.
Du Toit, who grew up in South Africa, has been a full-time falconer in Dubai for three years, working for his mentor Peter Bergh, who runs a falconry firm specializing in bird control and entertainment shows.
Marley’s job was to scare, not kill, Du Toit said, attaching a transmitter to the falcon’s back to track his location. He had been trained to circle around, sending the pigeons fleeing in dust, dirt, panic, and then return to his falconer, who would reward him with a big feathery chunk of quail meat.
Du Toit lifted the leather hood that covered Marley’s eyes, and the bird looked around hysterically, his eyes shining like black marbles. On one side he saw a constellation of deck chairs, beach umbrellas, and a water-dipped skyline, and on the other, a row of great buildings, facades, and railings where pigeons, crows, and Indian mynas could be hiding.
He settled on top of a white beach umbrella.
“He’s lazy today because there isn’t a lot of wind,” Du Toit said. “So we’ll let him follow us around for a bit.”
Du Toit walked along the beachfront, a piece of quail tucked into his pocket, and Marley hopped closer, one umbrella to the next.
“Why is he following this silly man?” Du Toit said. “Because he knows I have his lunch.”
Marley finally took off, heading for the Gold Suites, sending the flock of pigeons into delirium. He knew the area well, Du Toit said, because he’d been flying here three times a week for two years as part of the falconry firm’s winter team. The summer team was currently in the molting chambers, changing feathers under artificial light, to get ready for bird control during the summer. (Molt is triggered by longer daylight hours, when the bird perceives food to be in abundance and invests in feather growth. To avoid featherless falcons being scorched in the testing Dubai summer, molting was being artificially stimulated in advance.)
Marley had never killed a pigeon during his pest-control rounds because then “the pigeon family will know it’s safe for the next day or two,” Du Toit said. “We don’t want that.”
The hotel kept a monthly record of the number of complaints from pigeons. A drop in complaining guests meant Marley was doing well, and an increase (which usually came in winter when guests preferred to dine outdoors) meant he needed to expand his route and flying time.
Du Toit kneeled and swirled a rope with a piece of quail tied to one end, and Marley dived for it. He was back on his falconer’s arm, being fed, hooded, and sent to his “happy place,” in Du Toit’s words.
On Fridays, Marley’s duties extended to posing for photos with hotel guests who were looking for a new display picture. “He doesn’t mind being around people,” Du Toit said. “But at the end of the day, he’s a hunting companion and not a pet.”
Bergh, the man Du Toit reports to at Royal Shaheen, the falconry firm, started his business eight years ago with two birds. “Today we have 11 guys and 85 birds,” he said. “Because falconry is one of those things that is like a disease. It kind of grabs you from the inside and doesn’t let you go.”
If you break down Bergh’s features into slight eyes, wide smile, sunburnt nose, it does not capture the boyhood wonder with which he recounts every experience.
“Flying falcons in the middle of a concrete jungle is hardcore. It’s a really tough form of falconry,” he said. “The birds come back because I’m their food provider, they don’t come because they like me or think I’m a nice guy. They’re creatures of habit. So they’re thinking, ‘If I come back to Pete, I get a big fat juicy meal but if I catch a pigeon, I get one small juicy meal.’ ”
Falconry essentially is the art of managing a falcon’s appetite, he said. “You’re standing here on the beach, when the falcon starts disappearing around the back of the hotel, you’ve now lost visual contact, your communication is gone, your mobile signal is gone. If the bird now sees a pigeon across the road, what’s stopping the bird from deciding to chase that pigeon? Nothing really, other than the bird’s loyalty to fly around the building and seek comfort in seeing Pete again. In an urban environment, the margin for error is huge, you’re radically increasing the possibility of something going wrong.”
Bergh, 36, grew up on a sugarcane farm in Pietermaritzburg, a small town outside Durban in South Africa, studying until the 10th grade and taking care of his parent’s horses. At 17, he became a professional player of polocrosse (a sport that marries polo and lacrosse), first representing his country and then playing for a rich coffee farmer’s team in Zimbabwe. Five years later, he came to Dubai to become a guide at a desert resort that kept horses, camels, and falcons.
“It fascinated me that the falcon would go and kill something, you could make a trade and put the whole kill in your pocket, and it would take a little reward to do it again,” he said. “I read all the books there were to read and I spent every spare minute I had at the mews,” a place where falcons are kept.
He then trained under a falconer in Dubai whose main business was bird control, and after two years, he quit to set up his own business, partnering with a falcon breeder who had the patronage of a sheikh from Dubai’s ruling family. The breeder would lend his birds, which cost anything from $1,500 to a million. The price of a falcon is determined by bloodline, breed, size, and gender. The most sought-after is the female gyrfalcon, larger by almost a third compared to the male, and originating from the Arctic.
“Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as an Arabian falcon. They don’t come from here, it’s too hot,” he said. “It was when they would migrate over the Middle East on their way to Africa that the Bedouin learned to catch their falcons and train them. At the end of winter, they would simply untie them and release them back to the wild. A beautiful system, hey?”
Bergh spends his spare mornings innovating for tourism shows, where the majesty of the falcon can be fully displayed. “I’m trying to push a lot of my attention on the tourism stuff. We can keep doing bird control but we know that Dubai wants to go for Expo 2020, we know how many people are coming to the Dubai airport, and that there’s a huge market for this,” he said.
One of his ideas is to get his falcons to chase a radio-controlled plane that he modified to resemble a houbara bustard, the bird traditionally hunted by the Bedouin, and now pushed to near extinction, prompting governments to cancel hunting permits to Arab royalty.
One morning in March, Bergh was lying flat, his chin buried in sand, in the middle of the 87–square-mile Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, talking to a black peregrine falcon. He was gently pulling a rope with a piece of quail attached at one end, the falcon first fluttering in defiance, but then hopping along obediently as his bait moved closer.
Three other falcons—Darky, Thunder, and Batman—had been lined up on a metal stand covered with artificial grass. Bergh wielded his kite-shaped toy plane, parts of it glued to an enlarged image of the flaky pattern found on the houbara bustard’s wings. He attached a piece of quail to the plane with a magnet, and Thunder, a peregrine who had now been unhooded, flapped her wings. The plane took off, Bergh maneuvering its movements with a remote, and Thunder leaped in pursuit. The two disappeared into the sky until Thunder finally snatched her lure midair, and the plane dipped.
“She got clever,” Bergh said, sipping his morning coffee. “We need to maneuver more next time.” So far, Bergh has crashed 38 toy planes.
Three other white SUVs pulled over in the desert plateau with falconers who were training a sheikh’s birds with a live pigeon. Bergh waved at them, and they waved back.
Bergh began experimenting with remote-control planes after he watched a sheikh’s falconers use drones to develop a falcon’s muscles. “The way the Arab have traditionally hunted is like here I’m on a camel with my falcon who is wearing his burqa. When they find a hobuara, the hood comes off, and it’s a straight-line sprint. Catch the houbara, put in my pocket, feed my family, and let’s go again,” he said. “We need to understand how dialed-in the Bedouin were to the land. Now imagine what they could have done with technology.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 9, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
Pooing pigeons are fouling the village green, invading cafes and dive bombing the elderly at Browns Bay on Auckland’s North Shore.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chairwoman Julia Parfitt is pleading with visitors not to feed the birds.
“It’s a constant battle,” she said.
People are actively discouraged from feeding the pigeons of Browns Bay.
Katasha McCullough/Fairfax NZ
People are actively discouraged from feeding the pigeons of Browns Bay.
“I know many people get joy from feeding birds but they need to think about the effects of it.”
Signs put up in the village green in March asking visitors not to feed the pigeons are being ignored.
The board has received complaints from members of the public about pigeons swooping and frightening children and the elderly.
Parfitt said large volumes of feathers and excrement were causing hygiene issues because the village green is used for community events and is a popular spot for families. Businesses in the area were also affected.
“Unfortunately many of the local cafes have real health and safety problems,” Parfitt said.
“Having pigeons come on to your premises is a real nuisance.”
Ben Gusto cafe duty manager Pankaj Anand said the birds come right inside the premises up to the cabinet and coffee machines.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 8, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
Pigeons have made an unwelcome return to Taunton Station bridge last week after workmen removed the netting used to keep the flying critters away.
Dozens of pigeons have now flown back to the bridge, where Network Rail spent more than £300,000 on improvements and deterrents to keep them away.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 7, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
Harris Hawk in Flight
OVERVIEW
The use of hawks and falcons to remove pigeons and gulls is becoming ever more popular in the UK with raptor-specific companies starting to compete with conventional pest control services for business. The use of a raptor as a pigeon removal option is commonly marketed as a ‘green’ and ‘natural’ method of control that is ‘humane’ and ‘in tune with nature’. It should be fully understood that flying a raptor as a method of control is not a non-lethal method of control, nor is it ‘humane’. Raptors cannot be trained not to kill the target species and when they do catch a bird the resultant spectacle of the raptor tearing the prey to piecescannot, under any circumstances, be perceived as being ‘humane’. It is also the case that a majority of the raptors that are used for the purpose of pigeon removal are not the natural predator of the target species and therefore this method of control cannot be considered to be ‘natural’ or ‘in tune with nature’ either.
Flying a raptor as a method of pigeon removal has its roots in falconry where a hawk or falcon is trained to kill animals or other birds, normally for pleasure or for sport. Falconry is considered to be a blood-sport and subsequently, those companies that offer falconry services are providing their client base with a highly controversial service that is certainly not proven to be an effective method of bird control. For use as part of a bird scaring system on landfill sites or for airport runways the service may have some value, but in respect of urban applications the use of a raptor to remove pigeons is not only expensive but can be the source of highly negative publicity for the client. If a raptor goes ‘feral’ during a control operation and catches and kills a pigeon or gull in front of staff or onlookers the negative publicity that is inevitably generated can be extremely damaging for the client. Raptors do not necessarily kill their preyimmediately and therefore the prey can remain alive for anything up to 10 or 15 minutes whilst the raptor eats the bird alive.
Harris Hawk on Perch
The use of raptors within the pigeon removal sector has marked a change for an industry that is often perceived as shying away from publicity, good or bad, in favour of a more discreet approach to the issue of bird control. For decades commercial bird control has involved extensive and excessive use of lethal controls (culling) in an effort to resolve entrenched bird-related problems. Scientific research*, however, has found that all forms of lethal control are not only ineffective but also deeply unpopular with the general public. As a result, the pest control industry has maintained a low profile. With the introduction of raptor-based controls over the last 10 years, however, the image of the industry has begun to change with pest control companies starting to talk publicly about the controls they use and particularly those controls that they suggest are ‘green’.
The use of hawks or falcons to disperse birds is not a new method of control in the bird control sector with hawks historically being used to disperse gulls and other birds from waste disposal sites, landfill sites and airports for many years. Their use in urban environments for the control of pigeons and gulls, however, has been less common. The principle of using a raptor to remove pigeons in urban applications is to visit a site 2 to 3 times a week initially and fly the raptor for 1-3 hours. Providers of the service suggest that as the weeks and months go by, visits will be reduced based on the fact that the raptor has created a ‘territory’ into which the target species will learn not to enter. The effectiveness of the service, however, depends upon the ability of the raptor to instil sufficient fear in the target species to ensure that the flock deserts its feeding or roosting site. Where the removal of pigeons and gulls is concerned, this is highly unlikely to happen. It is also the case that flying a raptor cannot be undertaken in poor weather conditions, a further limitation for this control option.
Harris Hawk in Flight
Most companies offering this service also provide conventional pest control services and often recommend that a cull will be necessary, prior to flying a raptor, in order to reduce bird numbers so that the raptor will be more effective as a deterrent. Most providers of the service also suggest that raptors can be an extremely effective and cost-effective method of control providing that the client is prepared to continue using the service for extended periods. If flying a raptor as a bird scarer is effective then why would the client need to invest in a culling programme? The reality is that most experts within the pest control industry believe that flying a raptor as a method of control is simply a gimmick and has little or no effect as a stand-alone method of control. Where a cull is recommended prior to the use of a raptor, the client sees a reduction in bird numbers and assumes that this reduction is as a result of the raptor being effective when in reality it is as a result of thecull. The client then continues to use the service until bird numbers rise back to the pre-cull figure (which they invariably do) and only then is the effectiveness of the service brought into question.
Peregrine Falcon
Another reason why flying a raptor as a method of control is less than effective as a pigeon removal option is due to the species of hawk or falcon commonly used. The natural predator of the pigeon, for example, is the peregrine falcon, a bird that can achieve speeds of up to 200 miles per hour in a dive and one of the few birds that has the speed and the manoeuvrability to outpace and catch a pigeon in flight. The peregrine falcon is rarely if ever used for this purpose in the bird control sector, with the harris hawk being the most commonly used raptor for pigeon removal work. The harris hawk is relatively slow in flight, much slower than the feral pigeon and therefore the pigeon does not view the harris hawk as a threat, whereas the peregrine falcon would be perceived as the ultimate threat. The fact that the harris hawk is not the natural predator of the pigeon and is not a native species in the UK, combined with the fact that the harris hawk is unlikely to catch a pigeon in flight, renders this species a poor choice where scaring pigeons is concerned. Pigeons are highly intelligent birds and they will never be deterred from their feeding and breeding sites due to the presence of a harris hawk for a few hours a week.
Harris Hawk
Pursuing Prey
A raptor may have the effect of removing pigeons from their existing roosts and perching areas when the bird is first introduced, but pigeons quickly realise that there is little threat and although they will be wary of the raptor, they will not move far from their feeding sites. As soon as the raptor has left the site the pigeons will immediately return to their perches and the client is left with no protection. For a raptor to have any effect on a feeding flock of pigeons the bird would have to be on-site 24 hours a day and even then, the presence of the hawk would not be enough to deter pigeons from exploiting a regular food source. In the wild, hawks only kill to eat and feed their young, not for pleasure, so once the bird has made a kill it is highly unlikely that the bird will to continue to work and it is also likely that the target species will be aware of this.
Raptor control services are now being marketed more strongly as a means of scaring roof nesting gulls from buildings and residential dwellings in urban areas. The use of a raptor to scare gulls is even less effective than the use of a harris hawk to remove pigeons. This is because hawks and falcons are commonly ‘mobbed’ by gulls and other large birds such as corvids (crow family) when they fly too close to feeding or breeding areas. Gulls and other large birds have little fear of predators such as hawks and falcons other than when they have young and then their response is likely to be more, not less, aggressive toward the predators. Hawks and falcons have little or no effect on roof nesting gulls outside the breeding period and during the breeding period, when gulls can be a serious problem for property owners, they will be quickly chased away by breeding gulls rendering them completely ineffective as a control option.
Harris Hawk About to Kill
As with all scaring techniques and devices, the target species will quickly habituate to the use of a raptor, whether or not the raptor is the natural predator of the species concerned. Therefore at best, the raptor option can only be seen to be appropriate as part of a wider control system. For landfill sites and airport runways where multiple scaring techniques are commonly used, the raptor may be effective up to a point. For urban applications where scaring techniques are rarely used due to the potential for human disturbance, anti-perching products would be a far more appropriate option rather than the use of a raptor or any other scaring device. Raptors are only as good as their handlers and a poorly trained bird will do little work and as a result will pose little or no threat to the target species. Even well trained birds will sometimes fly away and sit on a building some distance from the client site (which the raptor is supposed to be protecting), in some cases taking hours for the bird to return to the handler. Hawks and falcons can be trained up to a point, but when in flight or away from their handler their natural instincts take over and the handler can do little or nothing if the bird chooses to attack a protected species of bird or sit and refuse to fly. The client still pays for the service, however, whether the hawk works or not.
Negative publicity has dogged the use of raptors in the pigeon removal sector with barbaric spectacles such as the hawk handlers in Trafalgar Square ‘throwing’ their birds at juvenile, sick and injured pigeons in front of children and visitors to London constantly making the headlines. This type of macabre sight, where a hawk tears a live pigeon to bits as tourists look on, is anything but ‘green’ and ‘in tune with nature’ and as such cannot be taken seriously as a pigeon removal option. Similarlly, the use of a raptor by Nottingham City Council in 1999 attracted extremely negative publicity for the Authority. The Council brought the hawk in for a 2 month contract costing ratepayers £5000, in an effort to remove pigeons from Nottingham city centre. The hawk had no effect whatsoever on the pigeon population, but was the subject of a TV documentary as a result of the fact that the bird was tearing pigeons to piecesin front of the general public in broad daylight. The negative publicity generated was extremely damaging for Nottingham City Council and the £5000 of public money spent on the programme could clearly have been put to better use.
Harris Hawk with Kill
The use of a raptor for the purposes of pigeon removal is a bandwagon that many falconers and enthusiasts are jumping on and yet in most cases, these individuals know little or nothing about bird control. Even renowned falconry experts such as Jemima Parry-Jones are highly critical of the use of raptors for the purposes of bird control, in the main due to the potential for injury to the raptor. The use of a raptor may appear to be a humane and natural bird control option but in reality it is very far from that. Handlers require no training in either pest control or falconry in order to offer their services as raptor-specific bird control experts and yet the novelty of this method of control has ensured that the marketplace is overflowing with experts making astonishing claims about the effectiveness of the service that they offer. Falconry may have been popular in the middle ages but it is clearly not perceived as being an appropriate nor politically correct means of controlling and killing pest birds in the 21st century.
DEFRA’s view:
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the UK’s Government body that oversees the Wildlife and Countryside Act and produces legislation to which the pest control industry must adhere. The following information is taken from a document provided on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’. By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan.
“The success of this method of bird control is based on the fact that many birds have a natural fear of falcons and hawks as predators, so their presence in the area encourages problem species to disperse. The natural reaction of most prey species is to form a flock and attempt to fly above the falcon. If this fails, they will attempt to fly for cover and leave the area (Transport Canada, undated).”
“The species of falcons and hawks used depend on the bird pests present. They should preferably be a bird predator of the pest bird species as occasional kills will reinforce the perception of danger (Grubb 1977, cited in Erickson et al. 1990). The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and the goshawk (Accipiter gentiles) are most often used (Erikson et al. 1990). Raptor use is mainly limited to airports where the risk of birdstrikes is high and a variety of measures are taken to ensure aircraft safety, though in the UK, falcons are also frequently used to deter birds from landfill sites (Baxter 2002c).”
“When using falconry for bird control on airfields, the raptor must be clearly visible to discourage target birds from entering the area and to chase away birds already present. Actual capturing or killing of a bird is not the object (Roeper 2001). Falconry is an expensive method of bird control as the birds require special care and training and a specialist handler, and often a number of falcons must be provided to operate at different times of the day. For many aerodromes the additional time and expenditure cannot be justified (CAA 2002). However, falconry is popular with the public as it is environmentally friendly and considered humane as the target birds are not killed but merely chased from the area (Dolbeer 1998), though the most effective falconry does involve the occasional killing of the prey species.”
“Roeper (2001) analysed the mean number of bird strikes reported per 100 landings and 100 departures at Travis Air Force Base, California, before and after the introduction of a falconry programme. His results indicated that falconry reduced the number of strikes and also reduced the severity of strikes in terms of mean dollar costs of aircraft damage. However, these cost savings appeared to be less than the cost of the falconry programme. He recommended that research be continued to determine when habituation to the falcons occurred and to determine which species of birds were not deterred by the falcons.”
“Successful bird control using falconry was achieved on military air bases at Istres, France. Between 1979 and 1983, the numbers of bird strikes were reduced from 16 to zero (Briot 1984). Dolbeer (1998) evaluated the effectiveness of shooting and falconry for bird control at JFK International Airport, New York. The study indicated that shooting reduced bird strikes but falconry did not.”
“The use of falcons and hawks on landfill sites in the UK has been evaluated by Baxter (2000e; 2002c; undated), and has shown varying success. Numbers of scavenging gulls and corvids were reduced when falcons were flown, particularly from dawn to dusk, though poor weather conditions when the birds could not be flown allowed the gulls and corvids to return to feed. Hawks (red-tailed hawk and Harris hawk) were less successful. These raptors generally take ground prey like rabbits when hunting, so their interest in pursuing corvids and gulls was minimal (Baxter, undated). Habituation to the hawks occurred quickly and within four weeks gulls and corvids resumed feeding at the landfill.”
“Although expensive and time consuming, falconry has the potential to remove hazardous birds from areas of land more quickly than can be achieved using conventional bird control methods, and they can also extend their influence into surrounding land where access may be restricted. However, other bird-scaring methods are often equally or more effective and economical (Erickson et al. 1990). Falcons appear to be more successful than hawks at bird control due to differences in prey species. Like many other control techniques, poor visibility and bad weather restricts use, and the birds must be flown regularly to sustain their effectiveness.”
Price range:
The cost of this service varies considerably from company to company. Most providers of the service will insist on a demonstration prior to quoting due to the fact that when a hawk is first introduced into a flock of feral pigeons it will have an immediate effect. Charges range from £60-£80 per ½ hour – 1 hour through to £150 per visit for up to 3 hours.
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for raptor control services but we will update this section as and when user reviews are made available to us. If you are able to provide a user review for raptor control services please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Editorial comments:
Harris Hawk
The use of a raptor as a bird control option is clearly a highly debatable and expensive method of control with few, if any, guarantees of success. In most cases the cost of the service alone renders this control option prohibitive for a majority of property owners and the issue of negative publicity for the client is a further consideration. The fact that the client will need to use the service virtually every day and for several hours each day in order for the raptor to have any effect on the target species will necessitate an indefinite contract, potentially costing over £1000 a week. To put this figure into perspective, the average budget put aside for pest control services by most commercial property owners for a small to medium sized building, which will include the control of rodents as well as birds, is normally less than £1000 a year.
The most worrying aspect of the ever-increasing use of raptors in the pest control marketplace is the fact that most of those offering the service know little or nothing about bird control, particularly those with a background in falconry. When a client is asked to pay out large sums of money for a control system that is not only considered to be ineffective but which also requires the contractor to provide the service indefinitely, the reputation of the industry as a whole is compromised. The average building can be effectively proofed with an industry standard product such as the anti-roosting spike for a fraction of the cost of a one-month contract for a raptor control service. The essential difference is that once the building has been protected by effective anti-perching products such as anti-roosting spikes the property owner can forget the problem. When using raptor control services the contract is open-ended and the effectiveness of the service is, at best, questionable.
Harris Hawk
Experts within the field of falconry, such as Jemima Parry-Jones, an international authority on the subject, have been highly critical of the use of raptors for the purpose of bird control, which speaks volumes about this method of control. Real concerns exist over the safety of raptors used for bird control, particularly when being flown in urban environments. In town and city centres the sheer volume of overhead cables and wires and buildings with mirrored frontages present very considerable dangers to birds that have no history of flying in these environments. Raptors such as the kestrel are sometimes seen in city centres, with small numbers breeding and hunting exclusively in urban environments, but this is the only species of raptor that is regularly seen in town and city centres in the UK. Urban kestrels will feed almost exclusively on small birds, rarely pigeons and never gulls, and therefore this species presents no danger to the most common urban pest species. When a large raptor is introduced into a foreign environment such as city centre where sights, sounds and moving objects abound to distract the birds, the safety of the raptor is brought into question, irrespective of how well trained the bird may be.
A good example of a handler unable to exert control over a raptor is the case of a raptor that was being used by a falconer as part of a pigeon removal operation in a suburb of Norwich in 2005. When the bird decided that it had had enough of working it flew off into Norwich city centre where the bird attacked a pigeon, bringing it down in front of horrified shoppers and diners at lunchtime where it proceeded to tear the pigeon to pieces whilst still alive. The pigeon was apparently alive for some 15 minutes whilst being eaten, according to onlookers. The negative publicity surrounding this type of botched pest control operation simply acts to bring the pest control industry into disrepute. Similarly, the actions of the hawk handlers contracted by Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, in Trafalgar Square have done little to persuade the public that falconry is anything other than an inhumane bloodsport.
Harris Hawk Eating Live Pigeon
1
Horrified Shoppers Look On
Horrified shoppers look on as raptor eats a pigeon it has attacked and brought down in Norwich City centre, 2005.
These photos appeared in the Norwich Evening News 1st December 2005 and are provided courtesy of the Norwich Evening News.
Flying a raptor as a method of control cannot be considered to be an effective nor a cost-effective means of controlling any species of pest bird. The service appears to be an outlet for falconry hobbyists in the main and even where the service is provided by a bona fide pest control company, such as the company used in Trafalgar Square, the standard and public acceptance of the service is far from guaranteed. The Pigeon Control Resource Centre cannot recommend this service other than for use on airfields and waste disposal sites and even then there is doubt as to the effectiveness of this control. For the control of pigeons and gulls in urban environments the service is simply a waste of money and in virtually every case those experiencing problems with pest species of birds would be better advised to install anti-perching products or look at other scaring options.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 6, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
OvoControl P Pellets
OVERVIEW
Oral birth control is not commonly used for the control of birds and previous attempts to find an effective and humane oral contraceptive for the control of feral pigeons have been unsuccessful. Research is ongoing, however, to produce an oral contraceptive drug that can be fed to pigeons and other problem birds in an effort to reduce flock size humanely and in a cost-effective manner. Other methods of birth control that are commonly used to control pigeon flock size include the removal and replacement of eggs (fromartificial breeding facilities) and, to a lesser extent, ‘egg oiling’. Egg oiling is an extremely effective method of bird control which involves immersing newly-laid eggs in paraffin BP to block the pores of the egg, denying oxygen to the undeveloped foetus. Egg oiling and egg removal/replacement are both tried and tested methods of birth control that are considered to be highly effective in the control of pigeons and other birds alike. The use of ‘egg oiling’ as a method of control is discussed, in detail, in a dedicated product/service review entitled ‘Egg oiling’. Schemes involving egg removal/egg replacement from artificial breeding facilities are discussed in the ‘Artificial breeding facilities’ product review.
At present there are no oral contraceptives available in the UK that are licensed for use with pigeons or any other birds. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has confirmed that although it has commissioned research into contraceptives for animals, it has not been in a position to commission research into contraceptives designed to be used for birds. This is because all species of birds are protected in the UK whereas the same cannot be said of animals and their lack of legal protection allows trials of this nature to be carried out.
Oral contraceptives for birds are far from common and those that have made it into the commercial marketplace have not been popular nor sold well. The best known avian oral contraceptive is a drug called Ornitrol that was developed for use as a bird and animal contraceptive on the back of its development as a cholesterol inhibitor in humans. The active ingredient diazacon (20,25 diazacholesterol) is a cholesterol mimic that inhibits cholesterol production and blocks steroid hormone formation. The reason that the drug was first considered for bird control was based on the fact that as eggs contain cholesterol, diazacon may lower cholesterol at the same time as inhibiting reproduction. More importantly, diazacholesterol 20,25 may have the ability to block the production of hormones (estrogen, testosterone and progesterone), all necessary for reproduction. Tests were carried out using sparrows and pigeons and it was found that diazacholesterol 20,25 was effective in reducing reproduction in both species. As a result the product was registered as a means of controlling pigeon populations under the trade name of Ornitrol.
Ornitrol was designed to be used in the same way that narcotic baits such as Avitrol are used to kill pigeons, by feeding non-treated grain on the chosen site for 7-10 days and then substituting the treated grain for grain treated with Ornitrol. This treatment was sufficient to make female pigeons sterile for up to 6 months. The process is then repeated every 6 months indefinitely. Ornitrol administered to pigeons acts in the same way as a human birth control pill, if the drug is not consumed every 6 months female pigeons become fertile once more and continue to breed unhampered.
Ornitrol is now no longer produced but its development as a reproductive control has led to the current research and development of drugs such as OvoControl G and P, relatively new birth control drugs designed for use with Canada geese and feral pigeons respectively. Ornitrol was discontinued due to concerns about the long-term use of the drug and the fact that in the form it was produced it was easily and quickly consumed by non-target species. For use on birds like pigeons that breed all year round, Ornitrol would need to be used continually throughout the year and it was found that the drug caused muscle tremors in pigeons when used over long periods. Not only this, but the drug was also extremely expensive to provide on this basis.
OvoControl P is a drug produced by an American company called Innolytics that is designed to control the “hatchability of eggs”, according to the manufacturer. The active ingredient of the contraceptive is nicarbazin, a drug originally used to control enteric disease in chickens. OvoControl works by interfering with the vitelline layer of the egg, separating the egg white from the yolk. The vitelline layer is a membrane that is vital for the development of an egg and without it the egg will not hatch.
Unlike Ornitrol, OvoControl P is fed to pigeons from day 1 but during the acclimatisation process (normally lasting between 5 and 14 days) OvoControl P is fed at a reduced level of 1 ounce (28 grammes) per 30 birds. As pigeons become acclimatised to feeding on the site OvoControl P can then be increased up to a maximum of 1 ounce (28 grammes) per 5 birds. The main criteria for the use of OvoControl P is a site where pigeons can be encouraged to feed on a daily basis, ideally at the same time each day and where there are no non-target species present. The manufacturer suggests that OvoControl P should be fed in the early hours of the morning and ideally on flat rooftops or, if rooftops are not available, on flat paved areas that are consistent with the restrictions imposed on the use and distribution of the drug. Wherever possible OvoControl P should be fed to pigeons close to their roosts or daytime perching places.
The following chart outlines dosage per pigeon with the basic calculation being: estimated pigeon population x 0.2 ounces (5.5 grams) of OvoControl P = amount of OvoControl P to be fed daily.
- 2 ounces (56 grammes) of bait = 10 pigeons
- 8 ounces (224 grammes) of bait = 40 pigeons
- 1 pound (0.4 kilogramme) of bait = 80 pigeons
- 5 pounds (2.2 kilogrammes) of bait = 400 pigeons
- 10 pounds (4.4 kilogrammes) of bait = 800 pigeons
- 30 pounds (13.6 kilogrammes) of bait = 2,400 pigeons
- 2 cups of bait = 14 ounces (0.3 kilogrammes) = 70 pigeons
- 1 gal of bait = 112 ounces (3.1 kilogrammes) = 560 pigeons
Mechanical Distributor
for OvoControl P
The manufacturer suggests that OvoControl P can be fed to pigeons using a variety of methods. Options include the use of various sized and shaped containers containing the drug in order to accommodate all pigeons feeding on the site, including dominant cock birds and submissive/juvenile birds. Containers must be perforated to allow drainage. This method is only recommended on sites where the flock consists of less than 50 birds. Other methods include hand feeding (broadcast distribution) where the drug is distributed over an area not more than 20 feet radius (6 metre radius) and mechanical feeding, a method used for pigeon flocks of more than 50 birds. The broadcast limit for mechanical feeders must be set to a radius of no more than 20 feet (6 metres). Mechanical feeders should only be used on flat roof areas or flat paved areas that have restricted public access.
The recommended use of mechanical feeders suggests that OvoControl P can be used without the need for a human presence but this is not the case. Clearly a human presence is required to identify non-target species birds, to assess flock size prior to distributing OvoControl P, to remove OvoControl P in wet conditions and to ensure that children and pets do not come into contact with the drug. The suggested use of mechanical feeders, outlined on the OvoControl P website, is misleading and may result in some users simply ignoring the operational requirements of OvoControl P and distributing the drug indiscriminately.
There are a number of restrictions involved with the use of OvoControl P which include:
- OvoControl P must be used throughout the entire breeding period – in pigeons this is 365 days a year and OvoControl must be distributed every day
- The human applicator must visit the site early in the morning to distribute OvoControl P
- The human applicator must thoroughly assess pigeon activity on the site prior to distributing OvoControl P and undertake a pigeon head count each day
- The human applicator must reduce/increase the volume of OvoControl P fed each day according to the results of the head count to ensure optimum coverage for the whole flock
- The human applicator must ensure that children and pets do not come into contact with OvoControl P
- The human applicator must remain on site for up to one hour to ensure that all the bait is eaten and to ensure that non-target species do not attempt to exploit the bait
- The human applicator must ensure that no non-target species are feeding on site during the distribution process and whilst the bait is being consumed by pigeons or the applicator may be committing an offence. In the USA it is an offence to feed treated bait to protected, threatened and endangered birds
- Daily observations for non-target species birds must be carried out throughout the 5-14 day acclimatisation period and once a week thereafter
- OvoControl P must not be used in rain and neither should the drug be used within 20 feet of any body of water including ponds, rivers and lakes – when distributed on rooftops or paved areas in wet conditions the area in which OvoControl P is to be distributed must be dry and ideally beneath some type of canopy
- OvoControl P can only be used in urban applications and on flat roof areas or paved areas where public access is restricted
- Health and safety must be assessed and health and safety restrictions include: wearing protective eyewear (as OvoControl causes moderate eye irritation), washing all contaminated clothing before re-use, washing thoroughly after handling OvoControl P and before eating, drinking or smoking. Gloves, long-sleeved shirt and long trousers must be worn at all times when handling or distributing OvoControl P
The manufacturer confirms that OvoControl P will render all birds that take the bait sterile, including protected species, but claims that OvoControl P is manufactured and provided in a format that will only be palatable to pigeons. The manufacturer provides a very long list of restrictions for use, however, suggesting that exploitation by non-target species is a real concern and yet no formal training is required for human applicators. The most significant concerns raised in respect of all orally fed contraceptive drugs are their impact on non-target species. Although the manufacturer suggests that that there is little likelihood of exploitation by non-target species, as a result of the size and shape of the bait, there is still an admission that the drug can be ingested by protected birds. The manufacturer suggests that a bird the size of a songbird or sparrow would not be interested in OvoControl P, but there is no advice or comment made in respect of larger birds exploiting the bait. The only mechanism available to stop non-target species exploiting the bait is the human applicator and the ability of that person to identify non-target species and to scare them from the site. Identification and the scaring of non-target species is also dependent on the human applicator remaining on-site, in all weather conditions, for the requisite 1 hour period following distribution. The only positive aspect of OvoControl P over drugs like Ornitrol is the fact that secondary toxicity cannot take place. According to the manufacturer, non-target effects can only result from direct ingestion of OvoControl P.
Health and safety guidance provided by the manufacturer also suggests that OvoControl P can cause “moderate eye irritation” to the human applicator. If the human applicator is required to wear protective eyewear as a result of concerns over safety, what affect will OvoControl have on the target species? It must be assumed that if OvoControl can cause moderate irritation to the human eye the same must apply to the avian eye, bringing health and safety of the target species into question. No mention is made of this fairly obvious welfare concern on the Innolytics website . Animal protection laws in the USA are far less comprehensive than equivalent legislation in the UK and the criteria required to attract a licence for a new drug in the USA may be less challenging than criteria necessary for a similar application in the UK. If OvoControl P can cause irritation in the avian eye there is clearly the potential, in extreme cases, for sight to be compromised with potentially lethal consequences.
The most obvious problem associated with the use of OvoControl P to control pigeon populations is the cost of the control, not only in terms of the cost of the drug itself but, more importantly, the cost in human time. For an individual to be expected to attend a rooftop site every day, 365 days a year and in all weathers, to spend upwards of an hour assessing pigeon activity, distributing bait and then watching for non-target species is a big ask for any property owner. The early hours of the morning are considered to be anti-social hours and therefore premium rates would have to be paid to employees undertaking the required tasks and protective clothing would also need to be provided. Not only this, but contaminated clothing must be washed prior to re-use and showering facilities may need to be provided on site. There is a great deal of responsibility placed on the individual/s carrying out the daily distribution and assessment works, not only to carry out a pigeon head count but also to ensure that non-target species do not exploit the bait and that no children and pets access the distribution area. If rain starts to fall it must be assumed that the human applicator must also be available to sweep up all the OvoControl P pellets before they become contaminated with water.
Any option to control pigeon flock size humanely and effectively must be viewed as a positive development and although trials suggest that OvoControl P can be effective in reducing pigeon flock size, the cost of the control and the question of welfare is inevitably brought into question. Following in the footsteps of Ornitrol, a poorly performing and extremely expensive contraceptive drug, it was incumbent on the manufacturer of OvoControl P to provide an option that outperformed Ornitrol in every department. To an extent Innolytics has achieved this by providing a drug that has few known side effects and which, they claim, is unlikely to be exploited by non-target species. If the drug is as effective as the manufacturer claims and assuming that the drug is unlikely to be exploited by non-target species, will the sheer cost of human interaction render it too expensive to use? Based on the information supplied by the manufacturer the answer to that question has to be a resounding “yes”. Pest control budgets are notoriously low with most property owners budgeting only a few hundred pounds for all their pest control needs (including budgets for rodent control) so it seems highly unlikely that any company or individual will be prepared to put aside what must be considered to be a huge annual sum in order to use OvoControl P.
Although OvoControl P appears to have clear advantages as a means ofreducing the breeding potential of the feral pigeon, the product offers little in the way of relief for the property owner experiencing entrenched pigeon-related problems. The manufacturer confirms that OvoControl P should be used as part of an overall control system rather than as a stand-alone control, but this begs the question – why would a property owner choose to use OvoControl P as well as conventional control options? The cost of using OvoControl P for one year would almost certainly allow most property owners to comprehensively protect their entire property with an industry standard anti-perching product. Once a property is protected with a product like the anti-roosting spike, the property owner would have anything from 10-30 years of relief without the need to spend more money. If the same property owner used OvoControl and anti-perching products to protect their property the cost would not only be extreme in the first year (with the cost of spikes and OvoControl P) but the property owner would have to continue spending large sums every year for the continued use of OvoControl P.
For a city council or a government body that has responsibility for area-wide pigeon control, the use of OvoControl P may be considered as an option in an effort to reduce the size of urban pigeon flocks. For the individual or the commercial property owner, however, the product must be considered to be prohibitively expensive to use, offering far less value than conventional anti-perching and exclusion products. It is possible that council or government bodies could undertake area-wide trials, offering grants to property owners to trial the use of OvoControl P on their sites or properties, but it is hard to see any application for the product for the average property or site.
DEFRA’s view:
As there are no avian oral contraceptive drugs available in the UK at present, DEFRA does not discuss this control option on its website. A spokesperson for DEFRA did confirm, however, that should a product like OvoControl P be made available in the UK, all the science involved with the drug as well as details of the preferred delivery mechanisms would be required in order to make a decision as to whether that drug was suitable to be licenced for use in the UK.
The Health and safety Executive (HSE) confirmed that any employer using a birth control product on their site must carry out an in-depth risk assessment confirming that the product is safe to use and also confirming that the use of the product on-site conforms to Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The HSE also confirmed that the manufacturer of the product has a duty to divulge any and all information about the product via a detailed data sheet. Any drug used to induce sterility in a bird would be listed as a product that is potentially hazardous to human health and as such would be listed as such under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act.
Price range:
The cost of OvoControl P is $4.88 per lb. In real terms this equates to approximately $6 a day to treat 100 pigeons Mechanical feeders are available for automatic distribution of OvoControl P:
- Durable Baked on Green Scatter Feeder $500.00
- 22 gauge Galvanised Finish Feeder $450.00
- Optional Green or Galvanised Solar Panel $75.00
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for oral contraceptives but we will update this section as and when user reviews are made available to us. If you are able to provide a user review for oral contraceptives please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Comments from the Manufacturer/Distributor:
The following is taken from the Innolytics website:
“Innolytics, LLC has developed an innovative and humane technology to help control the population growth of pest avian species. The technology, developed in collaboration with the USDA/APHIS National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), essentially represents oral contraception for birds. There is no comparable technology on the market in the USA today. The product is called OvoControl.
Originally developed to help manage the burgeoning resident Canada goose population in the Northwest, Mideast and Northeastern areas of the United States, the US Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) recently registered the product for use in pigeons.
Pigeons, the ubiquitous bird that populates virtually all cities, towns and industrial sites are typically managed with exclusion techniques, poisoning or trapping. While the exclusion devices will keep birds away from a specific building or location, the underlying bird population continues to grow. The use of OvoControl complements exclusion techniques – nets, spikes and electrified strips – and provides an alternative to poisoning or trapping birds.
OvoControl for pigeons is ideal for use at large scale sites and facilities, areas where some birds can be tolerated, but where a significant reduction in the population is desired. Potential sites include urban areas, schools, airports, power plants and refineries. Large scale field studies at urban sites in Italy demonstrate a population decline of nearly 50% in just two years.
The core technology for OvoControl centers on the proven ability to significantly decrease the hatchability of eggs by feeding treated bait to birds during the reproductive season. The effect is fully reversible and care has been taken to develop a feeding system which will limit exposure to non-target species. The USDA conducted extensive research on this technology and continues to evaluate further applications in other pest species.
The EPA granted the first registration for egg hatch control for resident Canada geese in 2005 and subsequently registered the product for pigeons in 2007. Ducks and other development projects are underway for a range of other bird species.
Innolytics’ OvoControl technology enjoys the full support of the leading animal welfare and conservation organizations in the US and abroad.”
Editorial comments:
The use of oral contraceptives for bird control has been debated internationally for decades with early research in Europe drawing few conclusions about their effectiveness or whether chemosterilants should be used at all. Swiss trials found that it was impossible to isolate feral flocks in order to assess whether contraceptives could be used to reduce breeding. Because pigeons are highly mobile, using multiple feeding sites each day, the same birds could not be relied upon to visit test sites each and every day, particularly at the precise time that treated grain was being offered. Pigeons from specific feeding flocks were also found to integrate with other feeding flocks on an irregular basis, rendering any data collected corrupt. Laboratory experiments can be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of contraceptives, but laboratory environments do not, in any way, mimic the pigeon’s natural habitat.
The only oral contraceptive available that is designed specifically for use with pigeons is OvoControl P with its sister product OvoControl G, used for the control of Canada geese. Both products have been passed for use in the USA by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but standards adopted by EPA are unlikely to be considered acceptable in the UK and some other European countries. Trials undertaken by the manufacturer of OvoControl P in Italy have apparently provided some quite astonishing results with reductions of up to 50% in under two years, but no detailed information is available about these trials on the Innolytics website. As Innolytics suggest that OvoControl P should be used as part of a comprehensive control regime it is quite possible that culling was used as an additional control to compliment the use of OvoControl P. This may account for the unusually large reduction in flock size in such a relatively short period. It should also be noted that many US companies trial their products in Italy and although there is no obvious reason why this should be the case, it is possible that Italy has relaxed animal protection laws as does the USA.
Other methods of breeding control do achieve extraordinary results, such as the use of artificial breeding facilities where eggs are removed and replaced withdummy eggs on a weekly basis. This control, pioneered by the UK-based Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PiCAS International), is now used extensively across Europe and has been found to reduce flock size dramatically and within short time frames. The egg removal/replacement method of control is not labour intensive (5 minutes a week to remove and replace eggs), costs virtually nothing and stops all breeding talking place within the breeding facility. OvoControl P, relative to this control option, is extremely expensive, is not guaranteed to be effective and offers the property owner on whose building the problem exists, no relief whatsoever. Pigeons will quickly learn to use artificial breeding facilities, even if their existing roosts are left unprotected and once established within lofts the birds will breed openly, irrespective of whether their eggs are interfered with or not.
OvoControl P is a good idea but fatally flawed in terms of its operational costs and the need to continue to offer the control indefinitely. OvoControl must be provided every day, 365 days a year, no exceptions. Most property owners that experience problems with pigeons do not have pigeons roosting overnight and breeding on their property, they simply have daytime perching problems where pigeons are using their property for the purposes of exploiting a food source. For these property owners to use OvoControl P as well as installing anti-perching products does not make sense. OvoControl P is designed to reduce flock size by birth control, a long-term goal, whereas anti-perching products will provide any property owner with instant and comprehensive relief, assuming that the product has been installed as per manufacturers’ recommendations. For local authorities to use oral contraceptives in order to reduce flock size in an effort to provide property owners with some long-term relief (and spend less on purchasing deterrents) makes perfect sense and is a control option that would justify the use of public money to provide. To expect individuals and property owners to employ controls of this nature is simply pushing the envelope a little too far.
Although the manufacturer of OvoControl P suggests that there is little if no chance of non-target species taking the bait, there is no doubt that if this were the case the product would be recommended for much wider use. OvoControl P has been designed in such a way that it is difficult for smaller birds to exploit, but not impossible. There is also the issue of larger birds taking the bait. Whether or not non-target species are able or inclined to take the bait is critically important to the success of any type of contraceptive and until such a time as a product is designed that is species-specific and that cannot be exploited by non-target species, this control option will inevitably have its critics.
The issue of health and safety, not only for the human applicator of the product but also for the target species, is another issue that needs further research and investigation. A product that can cause “moderate irritation” to human eyes will almost certainly have the same effect on avian eyes. Although it must be borne in mind that the USA, where this product is approved for use, has far more relaxed animal protection laws than the UK, there is no doubt that this issue of potential suffering will be a cause for concern in the UK and many European countries. It is unlikely that OvoControl P will be introduced into the UK in the foreseeable future and if the product was introduced in its present format it is unlikely to be approved for use by DEFRA or the HSE.
Also commonly known as:
Ornitrol, OvoControl, OvoControl P, ovoControl G, the pigeon pill, pigeon contraceptive
Relevance to pigeon control:
Oral birth control is used as a method of pigeon control
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 5, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
Liquid Paraffin BP
Egg oiling with liquid paraffin BP is approved for use under the Control of Pesticides Regulations(COPR) but can only be used under licence provided by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) under Section 16 (1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
It is an offence to interfere with a nest or its contents and therefore, before taking any action to remove a nest with or without eggs or chicks, or to oil eggs within a nest, permission must be sought from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Egg oiling is considered to be an extremely effective method of non-lethal and humane bird control but is not commonly used for the control of urban species such as the feral pigeon. Egg oiling is a method of egg treatment that is normally used for the control of ground nesting birds and is considered to be 100% effective if carried out at the correct time of year. The only exception to this rule would be where egg oiling is used for the control of roof-nesting birds such as the gull. Although the gull does not nest at ground level the process has been successfully adapted to be used as part of a gull control programme where birds are nesting in accessible areas at height.
Egg oiling involves the use of liquid paraffin BP to coat the shell of the egg in order to stop the embryo from developing. Liquid paraffin BP is a white mineral oil, commonly known as paraffin oil, which is available from chemists in small quantities or from chemical suppliers in 500 ml+ bottles for larger applications. When an egg is removed from the nest and fully immersed in liquid paraffin BP the oil blocks the pores of the egg, coating the underlying egg membrane and depriving the fertilised egg of oxygen. In order for the process to be completely effective the whole of the egg must be coated leaving no gaps or ‘dry’ areas.DEFRA recommends the use of a wide-necked container or small bucket for dipping the eggs. Once immersed in the liquid paraffin BP the egg must be turned 360° several times to ensure that the whole egg is coated. DEFRArecommends that the operator should wear protective gloves and a facemask to comply with Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) but confirms that a gloved hand will not remove liquid paraffin BP from a coated egg. Liquid sprays or sponges should not be used to coat the egg as these methods of coating may leave some areas of the shell untreated.
Once the egg has been dipped in liquid paraffin BP it should be allowed to drain before being replaced in the nest. The nests and eggs that have been treated should be marked to ensure that they are not revisited and re-oiled more often than is necessary – this reduces both labour and the quantity of liquid paraffin oil used. The major benefit of this method of egg treatment is that the parent will be unaware that the egg has been interfered with and will continue to incubate the eggs for the requisite period. Other methods of egg interference include the following:
- Breaking eggs (in the nest)
- Pricking eggs (using a pin or needle to make a hole in the shell of the egg that will allow bacteria to enter the egg as well as desiccating the contents)
- Removing eggs
- Cracking eggs
- Shaking eggs
- Removal of eggs and the provision of dummy eggs
All of these methods of egg interference are not only illegal, unless a licence has been obtained from DEFRA, but they are also ineffective, with the possible exception of removing eggs and replacing them with dummy eggs. When eggs are interfered with by any means other than egg oiling with liquid paraffin BP, the parent will normally re-lay another clutch of eggs immediately, rendering the process of interference pointless. Dummy eggs are likely to be accepted by the parent but only if the dummy egg is an exact replica of the real egg, not only in size and colour but also in weight. When using egg oiling it is important to be aware that if the target species commonly lays more than one clutch of eggs per season it is possible that re-laying will occur once the parent has incubated the treated eggs for the normal period (ie. for pigeon control this period would be 19 days).
As each and every species of bird lays a particular number of eggs (within a range), and as each species will spend varying periods laying and incubating their eggs, the timing of each egg oiling operation is critical. Some species of birds lay 12-15 eggs, some only 2 or 3. Some species breed all-year round others only produce one clutch per year. It is therefore also critically important to have in-depth knowledge of the target species before applying for a licence to oil eggs and before undertaking any oiling operations. As egg oiling operations can be highly labour-intensive, particularly where the control of waterfowl is concerned, a well planned and structured species-specific progamme must be provided. Failure to do so will compromise the success of the operation and dramatically reduce cost-efficiency.
Where the control of species such as the feral pigeon is concerned egg oiling can be an extremely effective method of control when combined with a loft-based control system. A system of this nature would normally involve the use of an artificial breeding facility such as pigeon loft where pigeons are encouraged to roost and breed as an alternative to their normal roosting and breeding sites. As pigeons breed all-year round any control system involving the use of egg oiling would need to be provided throughout the year with particular attention paid to the period March-October, this being the height of the breeding period. Although human interaction would be required throughout the whole year the act of oiling and marking eggs and nests in a loft-based environment would only take minutes per week.
Egg oiling is most commonly associated with the control of Canada goose populations due to the fact that Canada geese are becoming a growing problem in the UK with static populations of non-migratory birds increasing every year. As with the control of most species of bird, effective Canada goose control systems involve the use of several control techniques with egg oiling being considered to be one of the most effective options. Egg oiling regimes must be well planned and require nesting sites to be monitored prior to nests being built and clutches being laid. Clutches must be oiled immediately after the final egg has been laid on sites where multiple nests exist and for single breeding pairs the eggs should be oiled 3 days after the last egg has been laid. Canada geese start to lay in the second half of March with most eggs being laid in the first half of April. It would therefore be necessary to visit the breeding site 3 times; at the end of March, mid-April and the end of April. All eggs should be oiled throughout this period and by doing so it is highly unlikely that the parent will re-lay once past the end of the normal incubation period.
For the control of large gulls in urban environments egg oiling can be an extremely effective method of control, particularly when used as the main control option alongside the installation of deterrents and anti-perching devices. Gulls are normally colonial, sometimes breeding in mixed colonies and laying their eggs between mid-April and late June. Gulls will either breed on flat-roof areas, normally in numbers, or solitarily on or beside chimney pots or other difficult-to-access areas at height. Nests will need to be visited several times during the course of the breeding period to ensure that all the eggs are oiled. Clutches should be oiled as soon as incubation has started. As with Canada geese, constant monitoring will be required but as gulls tend to habituate to the same nesting site each year the monitoring process may be more straightforward. Although the installation of deterrents and anti-perching devices may be required, egg oiling, if carried out consistently and thoroughly, will be 100% successful as a birth control option. It may also have the effect of moving the birds on to other breeding sites permanently due to their lack of success in rearing young on the site concerned. This process is likely to take 2 to 3 seasons before the birds permanently desert the site.
Egg oiling is a cheap, humane and 100% effective method of control that can be used in a variety of situations and for the control of a wide variety of bird species. When used for the control of some species, such as wildfowl in rural areas, the act of oiling may be labour-intensive, thereby increasing the cost of the operation. However, the fact that this method can be 100% effective relative to conventional controls such as shooting, which are completely ineffective (and in some cases act to increase population size as a result of rejuvenation), egg oiling has to be considered to be one of the most effective methods of control available.
DEFRA’s view:
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the UK’s Government body that oversees the Wildlife and Countryside Act and produces legislation to which the pest control industry must adhere. The following information is taken from a document provided on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’. By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan. For the purpose of this review we have included a section on nest destruction as this control option is often tried and found to fail prior to resorting to egg oiling.
Egg Destruction and Oiling
“Egg destruction is used to reduce the local population of pest birds and in the UK it requires a licence from Defra. Eggs can be destroyed by several methods. Straightforward egg removal can encourage re-laying unless the eggs are replaced by hardboiled or wooden replicas (Baker et al. 1993). The pricking of eggs with a needle allows bacteria to enter the egg as well as desiccate its contents (French and Parkhurst 2001), but some pricked eggs may still hatch and birds may abandon clutches to relay.
Egg oiling is a cheaper, more effective and more humane method of egg control. It involves coating the egg shells with oil such as liquid paraffin (Baker et al.1993). This stops air from passing through the shell to the embryo and prevents it from developing properly. Baker et al. (1993) tested this method on Canada geese and achieved a 100% success rate; none of the 231 treated eggs hatched. They also pricked some eggs and these too did not hatch, but they were incubated for significantly less time, allowing the adults to relay elsewhere.”
“This technique, using white mineral oil, was also effective on ring-billed and herring gull eggs, though some eggs (8-9%) sprayed early in incubation or sprayed with only a small quantity of oil late in incubation, did hatch (Christens and Blokpoel 1991). For total success, it was recommended that spraying should be undertaken three times during incubation. Although this should be more effective it is more labour-intensive and so less cost-effective.”
“The sole use of egg destruction is unlikely to reduce a local population in the longterm. It is a time-consuming process as all nests have to be located and treated, and this may be hindered by problems of access. The timing of destruction is important and any reduction in a population caused by the loss of young birds may well be offset by immigration of new birds from nearby non-treated areas.”
“The technique has been approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) but can only be used under a licence issued by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) under Section 16(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.”
Nest Destruction
“Nest destruction, like egg destruction, requires a licence in the UK. It is a time consuming though relatively inexpensive control technique, and may help to control a local pest species. This technique was used to control double-crested cormorants in America, and reduce their negative impacts on the nesting habitats of other colonial waterbirds, as well as help to restore the fish community (Farquhar et al. 2000). During weekly visits nests on the ground were removed by hand and those in trees dislodged with a telescopic pole. The nesting material was scattered to discourage rebuilding. Since the nest removal programme began there has been no successful cormorant breeding in the area.”
“Ickes et al. (1998) recommended nest and egg removal for ground-nesting colonies of gulls but found that the technique was unlikely to reduce the number of nesting gulls in a given area, but it moved the problem as the gulls dispersed to recolonise other sites. Nest and egg removal and just egg removal were found to be equally effective but the former technique was approximately 60% more labour intensive. This made it more expensive.”
“In general, the use of other scaring methods in addition to nest disturbance and destruction is more likely to cause abandonment of an area by a bird pest species (Blokpoel and Tessier 1992, cited in Ickes et al. 1998).”
Price range:
Paraffin BP is widely available through high street chemists or in large quantities from chemical suppliers. The cost for larger quantities varies considerably but for a 180 kilo drum of liquid paraffin BP, from a large chemical supplier, the cost would be approximately £300.00. To put this in perspective, 1 kilo would be sufficient for most users to oil a considerable number of nests several times in one season.
For small quantities the price of a small bottle of liquid paraffin BP from a chemist is £1.10 for a 150ml bottle.
User reviews:
The following comment is made by a spokesperson for the Pigeon Control Advisory Service, an organisation that has widely recommended the use of egg oiling as a means of controlling a variety of avian species:
“Many of our clients have used egg oiling to great effect for the control of gulls, ducks, Canada geese and pigeons. This method of control is completely effective when the user is prepared to undertake regular monitoring and oiling according to the breeding habits of the target species. In fact this is the only method of bird control that we have found to be 100% effective.”
“The user has to be prepared to make the effort to monitor and identify nests, as well as undertake 2 or 3 oiling operations per year, but if clients follow the advice they are given they will be rewarded with an extremely effective control system that is humane and non-invasive.”
“Where artificial breeding facilities are used by clients for the purpose of pigeon control we will normally offer the option of using egg oiling to treat eggs as an alternative to egg removal and replacement with dummy eggs. Both methods are effective and in each case the adult is unaware that the eggs have been interfered with, but egg oiling has the edge over the use ofdummy eggs. In some cases dummy eggs are rejected by the parent and they have re-laid as a result, but to date we have not had an instance where oiled eggs have been deserted. The only possible down-side of egg oiling, relative to removal and replacement with dummy eggs, is that it takes a couple of minutes longer per week, but this is the only negative.”
Editorial comments:
Egg oiling is a rare phenomenon in the world of bird control – it is a control that is 100% effective. Although there are anti-perching products, such as the anti-roosting spike, that are 100% effective when installed according to manufacturers instructions, there are no other scaring, deterring or birth control products that are anything like as effective as egg oiling. Egg oiling is a versatile control option that can be effective with a wide variety of bird species and in countless applications.
Although the monitoring process and resultant oiling operations may be time consuming in some applications, the long-term advantage is that the target species may simply cease using the site for the purpose of breeding if they have been unsuccessful in breeding for several consecutive years. This is particularly the case where roof-nesting gulls are concerned. Mature roof nesting gulls return to the same breeding site each year and unless physically prevented from doing so are unlikely to be persuaded to go elsewhere. If their eggs are oiled for several consecutive years and they produce no young, the birds may associate the unsuccessful breeding attempts with the site rather than with any other factor. As a result the birds may move on to another site without the need to resort to any other control option. When egg oiling is combined with the provision of anti-perching products and possibly some type of visual or bio-acoustic scarer, the user will have a highly effective and comprehensive control system.
Egg oiling will hold appeal for a majority of those experiencing bird-related problems as the process of oiling is extremely simple to undertake without the need for special training or protective clothing other than gloves and a facemask. Paraffin oil is also extremely inexpensive to buy and very little is used during the course of an oiling operation. Therefore the main cost implications are simply man-hours required to monitor nest sites and oil eggs.
One of the major advantages of egg oiling is that it is humane and non-lethal. Egg oiling offers the user a bird-friendly product that is not only inexpensive to provide but that is also highly effective as a control option. Lethal control has historically been used to control many of the species that we commonly associate with egg oiling, including Canada geese and roof-nesting gulls, but lethal control is a completely ineffective and often controversial control option. In a majority of cases where lethal control is used in an attempt to reduce population size on commercial sites, employees will react in an extremely negative way to what they see as unnecessary killing. This, combined with the fact that lethal controls such as shooting and cage trapping can actually have the opposite effect and increase population size, demonstrates the effectiveness of egg oiling as an excellent all-round and popular alternative to invasive controls.
For anyone considering egg oiling as a control option it must be stressed that an in-depth understanding of the target species and its breeding habits is essential. Once the user is satisfied that he or she is fully conversant with the target species and is in a position to provide the necessary time to monitor breeding and undertake oiling, this method can be used by virtually anyone. Egg oiling can clearly be used in large-scale commercial applications but it can also be used to great effect by the individual who has a minor problem with, for example, nesting pairs of ducks in their waterside garden. In this application monitoring would be simple and straightforward and the benefit would be that there would be virtually no cost associated with the control. Neither would this form of birth control cause any controversy based on the fact that it is non-invasive and bird-friendly.
Sources:
DEFRA quotes:
PDF on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’. By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan.
Also commonly known as:
Egg dipping, birth control, egg interference, egg control, contraceptive control
Relevance to pigeon control:
Low relevance to pigeon control for conventional applications but this method is increasingly being used where loft or dovecote-based pigeon control systemsare being employed. Egg oiling is more commonly used for the control of waterfowl such as Canada geese and in recent years for the control of roof-nesting gulls
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 4, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, UltraSonic Bird Control
Helikite Vigilante
OVERVIEW
The ‘Helikite’ is a combination of a helium balloon and a kite with two models recommended for the purpose of bird control. The two versions of the Helikite offered for bird control are the ‘Vigilante’ Helikite and the ‘Lightweight’ Helikite. The essential difference between the two products is that the ‘Vigilante’ Helikite has a tough mylar protective cover that will prevent the balloon from becoming damaged if it falls to the ground in strong winds or in rain. The Lightweight Helikite is designed to be used in conjunction with lightweight collapsible aluminium Helikite Poles for use on buildings, landfill sites and for the protection of high-value crops that have good crop cover. The Lightweight Helikite cannot be used on winter crops, overnight or anywhere where the balloon may come down on bare ground when wet. The Lightweight Helikite is ideal for use in hot climates due to the lighter construction. The Vigilante Helikite is a more versatile balloon due to its protective heavy-duty mylar cover and therefore can be used for all agricultural applications irrespective of crop-type and for most other bird-scaring applications.
Lightweight Helikite
The Helikite, unlike conventional kites, will fly when there is no wind at all due to the helium gas used to inflate the balloon. Unlike most balloons that are shaped like kites, the Helikite is fat and rounded which is essential to provide good helium lift. A conventional kite-shaped balloon will collapse when it hits cold air due to shrinkage of the gas inside the balloon and subsequent loss of pressure required to retain shape. This is not a problem for the Helikite due to its unique shape. The Helikite will also fly in winds of up to 25 mph unlike a conventional balloon, with the wind actually generating uplift rather than bringing the kite down. In winds of above 25 mph the drag caused by the Helikite will bring the balloon down. Although the Vigilante Helikite will come down in rain, the protective mylar cover supplied with the product will ensure that the balloon is not damaged. Once the rain abates and the Vigilante Helikite dries out the balloon will re-launch itself. The Lightweight Helikite is more vulnerable and may become damaged when falling to the ground.
Lightweight Helikite
As previously mentioned, the Lightweight Helikite is designed for use with the Kite Pole, a 13 metre, lightweight collapsible aluminium pole with just over 12 metres of line extending from the top of the pole to which the Helikite is attached. Each section of the Kite Pole has a ring attached to the side of it through which the Helikite flying line runs. The benefit of the Kite Pole is that in the event of strong wind or rain, the Lightweight Helikite will remain tethered to it rather than plunging to the ground and becoming damaged. The Kite Pole will collapse down to 130cm x 4cm x 8cm allowing it to be transported easily. The pole can be tethered to a fence post or a similar vertical object or it can be held in place with guy ropes.
The Helikite is really just a variation on the predator balloon theme with the product being marketed as a device that mimics the flight of a bird of prey as it hunts. The Helikite would normally be used for agricultural applications with one of the main benefits of the product being that it will climb to a very considerable height and, as a result, is visible over a large area. The Vigilante Helikite will cover and protect an area of up to 8 hectares (20 acres) and will ascend to 60 metres (200 feet) in ideal conditions. The Lightweight Helikite will achieve a height of up to 300 metres (1000 feet) in ideal conditions. Although the Helikite is not shaped or coloured to resemble a bird of prey, the manufacturer suggests that due to the erratic flight pattern of the balloon it will be perceived as a danger by most species of birds. Although most birds rapidly habituate to conventional predator balloons, the manufacturer of the Helikite suggests that there is considerably less chance of habituation with this product.
Helikite Kite Pole
According to the manufacturer the Helikite has many applications for use as a bird scarer including agricultural sites such as arable farms, livestock farms, fish farms and fruit farms as well as numerous urban applications including sports centres, office blocks and hotels. Broadly speaking the manufacturer recommends Helikite for virtually every bird control application, rural or urban. The manufacturer also suggests that the product can be used for the control of a wide variety of bird species including widely controlled urban/rural species such as the pigeon and the gull.
The main advantages of the Helikite is that it is silent, unlike many conventional scarers, requires little or no maintenance other than topping up helium gas and it is easy to move, a strong requirement for bird scarers. Although the Helikite looks quite fragile it is in fact quite rugged with the mylar cover on the Vigilante model protecting the balloon when it falls to the ground. The Helikite balloons are also easy to transport with the Vigilante fitting into the boot of a standard saloon car with ease. Running costs for the Helikite are relatively low with the manufacturer suggesting that the Vigilante will only use “…a few pence worth of gas a day.” This combined with the relatively low purchase price of both the Lightweight and Vigilante Helikites make the product a cost-effective option when considering bird scaring products. The disadvantages of the Helikite is that it cannot be flown in the rain and the device will require human interaction if it is to be moved regularly to reduce habituation. The Helikite cannot be flown in strong winds either and therefore, if sited in a rural location and some distance away from human habitation, the user will need to be in the position to be instantly responsive in the event of gales or high winds to prevent potential damage to the balloon.
DEFRA’s view:
Helikite Vigilante
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the UK’s Government body that oversees the Wildlife and Countryside Act and produces legislation to which the pest control industry must adhere. The following information is taken from a document provided on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’. By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan. We have included the relevant sections on both balloons and kites as the Helikite range is part kite, part balloon.
Balloons
“Balloons tethered in a crop are an inexpensive method of bird deterrence, but studies show that they are not very effective and birds quickly habituate to them. Blue balloons were used in an attempt to deter oystercatchers from a Naval airfield. The birds attacked the balloons and burst them (Wright 1969).”
“Toy balloons were also used to reduce damage to cherries and blueberries (Pearson 1958). Tied to branches of the trees, the balloons deterred starlings, but robins and Baltimore orioles were seen to continue feeding only a few feet away. Balloons were also found to be ineffective in deterring waterfowl from the sites of oil spills (Greer and O’Connor 1994, cited in Reilly 1995).”
“To increase the effectiveness of balloons, eyespots, consisting of a circular pattern that resembles the general appearance of vertebrate eyes, can be printed on the side. These eyes mimic the eyes of large raptors, but may also mimic the eyes of conspecifics, which is alarming as many avian species have frontal threat displays in which the eyes are prominent (Inglis 1980). Two circular eyespots arranged horizontally, each containing concentric rings of bright colour appear to be the most alarming. Those that have a three-dimensional appearance may enhance the effect, and large eyespots are better than small ones (Inglis 1980).”
“At present there are a number of different designs commercially available and may either bear a single pair of eyes on one side or multiple eyespots encircling the entire balloon. Studies indicate that the deterrent effect of eyespot balloons varies between bird species, the eyespot design and with the mode of presentation. In New Zealand, numbers of house sparrows Passer domesticus visiting a bird-feeding table were significantly reduced by deployment of both a commercially available balloon and a homemade device (eyes painted on a beach ball) (McLennan et al. 1995). The commercial device had a greater deterrent effect than the beach ball. The effect of both devices decreased with distance and was negligible at 40m. The deterrent effect increased when reinforced with a rotating light and playback of alarm calls. With continuous use, however, the deterrent effect declined and ceased after nine days.”
“McLennan et al. (1995) also evaluated eyespot balls as a bird deterrent in vineyards. In the first three weeks the balls repelled 90% of all birds except song thrushes, which had started to ignore them in the second week. Their deterrent effect had almost ceased after four weeks, but by this stage the grapes had ripened and become increasingly attractive to the birds. It could not be determined whether the balls failed because the birds had habituated to them or because the lure of food overcame the deterrent effect.”
“McNamara et al. (2002) found that scare-eye balloons failed to protect the plastic film surrounding bales of silage from bird damage, though ‘eyes’ painted onto the black plastic reduced damage by 65% compared to control bales.”
“Although easy to set up and move around, balloons can be easily damaged in high winds and can deteriorate in sunlight leading to a loss of helium and thus height. They also need to be regularly checked to ensure they cannot break free from their moorings and present a hazard to aircraft. In the UK, the flying of balloons is governed by the Air Navigation Order, which states that without the written permission of the Civil Aviation Authority, a tethered balloon can not be flown at a height of more than 60 m or within 5 km of any aerodrome (CAA 2002). Their effectiveness at scaring birds appears to be dependent on the species concerned and effects are only short-term.”
Kites
“Kites and kite-hawks work as mobile predator models, which birds perceive as a threat. The kites bear an image of a soaring raptor and are tethered to the ground. Conover (1983, cited in Harris and Davis 1998) tested four designs of hawk-kites, but none effectively deterred birds from feeding on corn. To be effective, kite-hawks need to be ‘flown’ beneath helium balloons in order to possess sufficient ‘threatening’ movement (Conover 1984). When this was done, the kites became more effective at scaring birds from the cornfields.”
“Other studies have found kite-hawks to be ineffective or are quickly habituated to (Inglis 1980). Hothem and Dehaven (1982) tested a hawk-kite resembling an immature golden eagle, suspended from a helium balloon. Although there was a slight decrease in percent of grapes damaged, it was effective only over a very small area, and damage increased elsewhere in the vineyard.”
“Helium-filled bird scaring kites have been deployed between dawn and dusk at landfill sites. Numbers of gulls, corvids and starlings on sites remained relatively unchanged and there was little evidence that birds were deterred from the sites (Baxter 2002c; undated).”
“Like balloons, kites and hawk-kites can be damaged by strong winds and may be difficult to keep up in the air when wind speeds exceed 8 km/hr (Hotherm and Dehaven 1982). As they pose no real threat to birds, do not behave like raptors and remain visible for long periods of time, birds quickly habituate to them. They are effective only over a small area and for a short period of time. As with balloons, their use in the UK is governed by the Air Navigation Order, requiring the written permission of the CAA for kites within 5 km of an aerodrome or at a height of more than 60 m.”
Price range:
The ‘Vigilante’ Helikite is available in the UK at a cost of: £113.00 + VAT
The ‘Lightweight’ Helikite is available in the UK at a cost of: £98.00 + VAT
The ‘Kite Pole’ is available in the UK at a cost of: £150.00 + VAT
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for The Helikite but we will update this section as and when user reviews are made available to us. If you are able to provide a user review for The Helikite please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Comments from the Manufacturer/Distributor:
The manufacturer says the following of the ‘Vigilante’ Helikite:
“A unique combination of kite, helium balloon and protective balloon cover, the Vigilante Helikite flies up to 200 feet with up to 20 mph or without any wind to scare birds over areas as large as 25 acres.”
“The hovering Helikite mimics the action of birds of prey as it moves around the sky. Helikites have been shown to be the most powerful bird-scarer available in all the comparative bird-scaring trials they have participated in. The instinctive fear created within bird pests is very hard for them to overcome and so the bird control effect is extremely long lasting and over far larger areas than normal startle reaction bird-scarers.”
“The Vigilante Helikite will come down in the rain but the protective cover protects the balloon from punctures until it dries out and automatically re-launches itself again. They are very frugal with helium – only using a few pence worth of the gas per day. We consider Helikites to be the best bird-scarers in the world and we offer a money back birdscaring guarantee if birds get used to them within two months. As far as we know, no other birdscarer manufacturer in the world offers such a guarantee. If you have critical bird problems or large areas to control the Vigilante Helikite is the answer.”
The manufacturer says the following of the ‘Lightweight’ Helikite:
“Unlike a simple balloon, the Lightweight Helikite is a true aerostat, capable of keeping station steadily in winds up to 25 mph. It has 30 grams of pure helium lift and far more in a breeze. The Lightweight Helikite flies reliably near buildings, trees, etc. The Lightweight Helikite is formed by combining an extra large Mylar balloon with a specially made kite to form a Helikite which is aerodynamically sound and pushed up by the wind rather than pushed down. These Helikites have excellent helium holding properties so that topping up is only necessary once a week. Lightweight Helikites are very portable. When uninflated they can be folded up to fit in a coat pocket and yet will fly to over 1000ft once inflated.”
A US-based distributor of the Helikite range says the following of the Helikite range:
“Until now, bird control has always been a hit or miss affair, with old fashioned scarecrows or even the more modern noise makers and flashing scarers giving variable protection, making it impossible for property managers to rely on them for long to prevent expensive damage and often crippling losses. Birds are unpredictable and planning for them is difficult. However, unlike other scarers, the Vigilante Helikite will control birds even after they have acclimated to an area and started to eat a crop.”
“The scientifically designed, patented Vigilante Helikite is the first and only bird control system that really works well over a long period of time because birds find it extremely difficult to overcome the innate terror of predatory hawks that Helikites create. Wild hawks reinforce, so habituation is very unlikely – even after months without shooting. If you have a difficult bird problem, the powerful Vigilante Helikite is probably the only scarer really capable of protecting your livelihood.”
“With the Vigilante Helikite, angry neighbors, frightened livestock, and visits from the noise complaints authorities are a thing of the past. Noise is not required for effective bird control. Sight is the major sense in birds and so they are affected far more by an instinctive visual stimulus than by anything they hear – just like the human fear of snakes and spiders. Silent control makes Bird Scaring feasible in many previously impossible situations – like pig and cattle facilities, grain storage, land fill sites, or near built-up areas. Humane to all, and safe no explosive gas.”
“You can launch a Vigilante Helikite next to populated areas where noisy bangers or wailers would cause objections. Local people will appreciate your concern for them and the environment. You will get a better night’s sleep as well!”
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Editorial comments:
Helikite Vigilante
The Helikite is an interesting variation on the predator balloon and offers the user a relatively inexpensive and maintenance-free bird scaring option for more entrenched bird-related problems. The device provides a good bird-scaring option for applications where noiseor other visual media has the potential to cause disturbance to humans or farm animals. The Helikite can be used for urban bird control applications as a complementary control but there will be numerous logistical problems inherent with this usage. The ‘Lightweight’ Helikite is recommended for urban applications and it is likely that in most cases the product would be tethered to a ‘Kite Pole’ where it is less likely to cause problems when the balloon is brought down in strong winds or rain.
Helikite in Car Boot
The Helikite is extremely easy to transport with the ‘Lightweight’ Helikite fitting into a coat pocket when uninflated. The ‘Kite Pole’ is also relatively easy to transport reducing down to just 1.3 metres by 8cm when collapsed. Most bird scarers will need to be moved regularly in order to be effective and to keep habituation down to a minimum, so the ease with which this product can be transported is a major plus point. The range of birds that will be deterred by the Helikite is also impressive making the product ideal for use in areas such as landfill sites.
Helikite Deployed
Over Landfill
The Helikite is praised for its effectiveness as a bird scarer on both manufacturer and distributor websites but these views are not shared by DEFRA where the use of balloons and kites are concerned. DEFRAsuggests that habituation to these products is normal, in some cases within a matter of days, and that both kites and balloons pose no real threat to pest species of birds. DEFRA also suggests that kites and balloons are only effective for a short period in small areas. As with all bird-scaring products, it seems likely that the Helikite will only be effective if provided as part of an overall control system involving other scaring products with, where appropriate, anti-perching products.
Helikite Vigilante
Operational problems include the requirement for the user to apply for a written licence from the CAA if flying the Helikite within 5 kilometres of an aerodrome or airport and the obvious problems inherent with the Helikite coming down in strong winds or rain. The Helikite will also need to be moved regularly, again in an effort to reduce habituation, and this will require human interaction. The helium gas will also need to be topped up from time to time but we have no information on how easy or difficult this process will be and how often it will need to be carried out. We have contacted the manufacturer with several questions about The Helikite but they have failed to provide the information and therefore this review is less than comprehensive as a result.
Sources:
DEFRA quotes:
PDF on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’. By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan.
Also commonly known as:
Bird kite, kite, helium balloon, bird blimps, aerostat, deterrent balloon, helikite scarer, bird balloon, vigilante helikite, lightweight helikite, pigeon kite, heli kite
Relevance to pigeon control:
The ‘Helikite’ is not commonly associated with pigeon control but the product is marketed for the control of feral pigeons. The ‘Helikite’ is more commonly used for agricultural applications but could be used to compliment an existing pigeon control system
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 3, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
Ajay Sood is one amongst many professional Kabootarbaaz, whose family has lived in the gullies of the Dhobi Bada, Kinari Bazar in Old Delhi. Everyday, he spends hours training his flock of pigeons in kabootarbaazi. Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal New Delhi 291215
Scarecrow Bird Scarer
OVERVIEW
‘The Scarecrow’ bird scarer is a multi-purpose bird and animal deterrent that is designed to be used in a garden to deter larger species of birds and animals. The Scarecrow bird scarer is a water-based deterrent that operates on a 24/7 basis and uses a passive infra-red motion sensor to detect both heat and movement. The Scarecrow bird scarer is triggered when the infra-red sensor beam is broken and the unit will shoot a stream of water, at garden hose pressure, for 3 seconds. The Scarecrow bird scarer then re-sets itself after 7 seconds. The Scarecrow bird scarer is designed to be used in a garden but could, in certain circumstances, be installed on a building as a pigeon control device. The Scarecrow bird scarer is sold with several decals that mimic the eyes and beaks of predatory birds. These decals are designed to be applied to the ‘head’ of the unit as an additional scaring technique but one supplier warns that these decals could scare small garden birds. If small birds are fed in the garden the decals should not be applied.
Scarecrow Bird Scarer
Mounting Bracket
The Scarecrow is powered by a 9-volt battery within the unit which powers both the infra-red sensor and the ‘high flow’ valve. The Scarecrow bird scarer will operate under normal circumstances for up to 6-months (or 3000 + activations) on one 9-volt battery. The Scarecrow’s water source is provided by a garden hose which is attached to a valve on the base of the unit. For larger areas several Scarecrows can be ‘daisy-chained’ using a single hose as the water source courtesy of the ‘flow through’ valve. The Scarecrow bird scarer will protect an area of up to 10 metres (90 square metres in total) from the unit in an arc ranging from 0°-300°. The Scarecrow bird scarer will use the equivalent of 2 – 3 cups of water during each activation making the unit extremely economical. The Scarecrow’s heat and motion sensor allow the unit to operate at night as well as during the day with the main benefit being the deterrence of nocturnal birds and animals.
Scarecrow Bird Scarer
Deterring Cat
The Scarecrow bird scarer is intended to operate at water pressures of between 30 and 80 psi (2-5.5 Bar) but if water pressure exceeds 80 psi it will be necessary to fit a pressure-reducing valve to the tap. The Scarecrow bird scarer cannot be operated in sub-zero temperatures or heavy frosts due to the potential for water to freeze in both the hose and the Scarecrow bird scarer unit itself. The infra-red sensor window on the top of the unit must be kept clean and free of dust and dirt in order to maintain maximum sensitivity. If operating in an area of hard water the sensor window will need extra attention to ensure that calcium does not build up on the lens. The Scarecrow bird scarer should not be pointed at flowing water, in the direction of a road with moving traffic or, if in a particularly windy area, in the direction of the prevalent wind. The unit may be triggered by any of the above. As false triggering of the unit reduces battery life, the on-board optics automatically reduce sensitivity to reduce false triggering of the unit during daylight hours. When false triggering occurs the unit will re-set itself to a lower sensitivity setting within 5 minutes.
The Scarecrow bird scarer is designed to be installed in a garden and therefore the base of the unit reduces to a spike so that the unit can be pushed into a lawn or flower bed. A footrest is provided near the base of the spike for the purpose of pushing the spike into the ground. An optional mounting bracket is also available that will allow the unit to be installed onto a vertical surface such as the wall of a house if no appropriate soft ground or lawn is available. This optional bracket could be used to install the device on any area of a building to deter pigeons from perching.
Scarecrow Bird Scarer
Deterring Dog
The Scarecrow must be assembled prior to use and once assembled the unit must be set-up to enable the unit’s sensor to ‘see’ the target species within its 10-metre operating range. This operation is undertaken via the unit’s sensitivity knob. The sensitivity settings allow the unit to be calibrated to ensure that the unit will operate effectively once motion or heat is detected within the 10-metre range. Once The Scarecrow bird scarer has been positioned correctly and calibrated for sensitivity, the arc and distance of the water spray must then be adjusted. When operating correctly the sprinkler head will cycle back and forth from side to side effectively protecting the 10-metre area in front of the unit.
One supplier of The Scarecrow bird scarer recommends that in order to mitigate water damage risks to the property, the amount of water available to the unit should be limited. This can be achieved by opening the hose valve to a maximum of ¾ of one turn, using a good quality hose pipe (or ideally using hard-plumbed irrigation pipes) and ensuring that the water pressure is within the normal operating range.
The Scarecrow bird scarer has some disadvantages in respect of its ability to provide year-round protection, particularly when used in a climate with cold winters. In some areas the unit will be out of action for 4-6 months due to the potential for frost damage and yet it is in the winter when birds need to forage more widely for food and therefore may become a problem in the domestic garden. Another minor disadvantage of The Scarecrow bird scarer is that the unit cannot face in the direction of a road where there is constant motion as this may trigger the device. Neither can the unit be used close to running water. This may reduce the potential for the unit to be used to protect ponds from predation by herons and the like. The Scarecrow bird scarer may also be triggered by human motion or pet activity in an adjoining garden.
Scarecrow Bird Scarer
The Scarecrow bird scarer may have one application that is not discussed by the manufacturer or its suppliers and that is for use as a pigeon deterrent on buildings. Clearly the unit would have certain limitations in this respect, particularly in relation to use over the winter and in sub-zero temperatures, but The Scarecrow bird scarer is available with a mounting bracket and providing that a water supply was readily available the unit could potentially be used for deterring pigeons from the roof of a building. Protecting the roof of a building from pigeon occupancy is one of the most challenging problems facing any property owner and yet The Scarecrow bird scarer appears to offer an extremely low-cost option. The conventional method of protecting the roof of a building is to install nylon bird netting but this product is not only extremely expensive to install, in most cases costing several thousand pounds, but the system is prone to failure if not maintained. The Scarecrow bird scarer may offer property owners a method of protection that could be used alongside anti-perching products such as the anti-roosting spike to provide a greater level of protection at a much lower cost. The Scarecrow bird scarer could also potentially be used to protect flat roof areas as well as light-wells and inner-courtyards, all areas which suffer extensively from pigeon-related problems. A further application for The Scarecrow bird scarer might be large flat roofs that are used by gulls for the purpose of nesting. Gull-related problems of this type cause major problems for property owners. The Scarecrow bird scarer is unlikely to be effective as a stand-alone deterrent in this application but if combined with anti-perching products and/or other scaring products the unit may have some value.
DEFRA’s view:
Water-based deterrents are not discussed on the DEFRA website.
Price range:
The Scarecrow bird scarer is widely available in the UK with a recommended retail price of £69.95 but The Scarecrow bird scarer can be sourced for as little as £54.00 from a UK-based supplier called ‘Deteracat’.
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for The Scarecrow bird scarer but we will update this section as and when user reviews are made available to us. If you are able to provide a user review for The Scarecrow bird scarer please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Comments from the Manufacturer/Distributor:
One US supplier of The Scarecrow bird scarer said the following of the product:
“The Scarecrow bird scarer protects any open area of the garden or yard that receives the unwanted attention of animals. Its sprinkler directs water accurately up to 10 m (35 feet), protecting a 90 square meter (1000 square foot) area. The Scarecrow bird scarer can see large animals farther away than it can small animals.”
“The Scarecrow bird scarer uses a passive infrared sensor to ‘see’ the temperature difference between an animal and the background. However, if the animal and the background are similar temperatures the Scarecrow bird scarer will have difficulty detecting movement.”
“When an animal or person moves into the field of view, the Scarecrow bird scarer notices the change and opens an electronic valve to release a three second burst of water through the sprinkler. The Scarecrow bird scarer then pauses for 8 seconds before resuming sensing. This pause creates an element of randomness and unpredictability preventing animals from becoming used to the device.”
One UK supplier of The Scarecrow bird scarer said the following of the product:
“The Scarecrow bird scarer is the smartest scarecrow ever invented. When it sees an intruder, it instantly sprays the trespasser with water under full garden hose pressure. It is completely harmless but extremely effective. The effect is both startling and immediate! Animals quickly get out of the area and avoid it in the future. Scarecrow protects day and night for up to 6 months (or 3000+ activations) on one 9 volt battery.”
“Besides being one of the most effective deterrents available today, the Scarecrow bird scarer is an alternative to smelly, poisonous, or visually disruptive products available. It is widely endorsed and less expensive than physical barriers. If you’ve tried other solutions that failed, you’re ready for a Scarecrow. You will love how it works! Sprinkler deters: Cats, Dogs, Rodents, Squirrels, Garden Pests, Deer, Rats/ Mice, Moles, Geese, Heron, Cranes or just about any outdoor animals!”
“Specifications: sensitivity setting, fully adjustable water spray up/down and side to side, battery operated; water conserving design (only uses about 2 cups of water per activation); runs for months, fires 100’s of time on a single 9v battery; safe and environmentally friendly; up to 10.5m (35 ft) range ahead and an impressive 50° either side of centre; go to bed at night knowing nothing is going into your flower beds!”
“Other reasons why the Scarecrow works:
- Training/repelling is consistent at the location, 24 hours a day.
- It is the environment rather than a person or other animal doing the ‘conditioning’.
- The water spray is sufficiently surprising and unpleasant to communicate an immediate, ‘Leave now’ message. Sudden unexpected noise unexpected movement, and water spray.
- The animal immediately associates this unpleasant experience with the location. To avoid similar surprises, they begin to avoid the area. While humans flee several steps after activating a Scarecrow motion-activated sprinkler, animals are scared to a much greater degree, run much further and stay away longer. We attribute this difference in part to the inherent fight or flight survival response found in most animals and their lack of intelligence or ability to figure out what caused the annoying noise and motion.
- Fully Automated.
- Safely and effectively repels animals without chemicals, visually objectionable barriers or shock. Operates unattended and ‘sprays’ when movement is detected (Day and Night).
- Works when motion is detected.
- Scarecrow bird scarer protects day and night for up to 6 months (or 3000+ activations) on one 9 volt battery.
- 2 year warranty.”
Editorial comments:
Scarecrow Bird Scarer
Deterring Dog
The Scarecrow bird scarer is a unique and well designed deterrent that can be used for both the control of birds and animals in a variety of environments. The main application for The Scarecrow bird scarer is the domestic garden where scaring larger species of birds and cats is the main requirement but the unit also has the potential to be used as part of a conventional pigeon or gull control system. The Scarecrow bird scarer is inexpensive to purchase at just over £50.00 and as a result must be seen as worthy of a trial on the basis of cost alone.
The Scarecrow bird scarer is straightforward to use but setting up the unit may require some time and patience. Once The Scarecrow has been assembled and positioned correctly, the sensitivity must be set to ensure that the unit can ‘see’ the target species within its 10-metre operating range. Once the sensitivity has been set the arc and distance of the water spray must then be set. Once these parameters have been correctly set the unit is more or less maintenance-free. The unit can be switched off to allow the user to enter the area protected by The Scarecrow bird scarer without triggering the unit. The one main requirement for The Scarecrow is an outside tap as the unit needs the benefit of mains water pressure to operate. Due to the fact that The Scarecrow bird scarer is a water-based device and requires a hose to feed the unit one minor disadvantage of the product is that it cannot be used in frost or in sub-zero temperatures. This may or may not be a disadvantage based on the proposed usage. Another potential disadvantage of The Scarecrow bird scarer is the fact that the unit may be triggered by passing traffic on a road or by activity in a neighbouring garden. In most domestic applications, however, these issues should not be a problem.
If larger areas need to be protected, such as large gardens or possibly flat roof areas on a building, The Scarecrow bird scarer has the added advantage of being simple to ‘daisy-chain’ with additional units. Due to the fact that the device uses mains water pressure one hose will service countless units for more extensive applications. The Scarecrow bird scarer is extremely economical product where both power and water usage is concerned with the unit operating for up to 6-months on one 9-volt battery and only using 2-3 cups of water per spray.
The Scarecrow bird scarer is an extremely versatile device offering limitless applications for the domestic user as well as having the potential to be used commercially for the control of pigeons and gulls. Clearly the only limiting factor is the need to have a water supply close to hand (and where the domestic garden is concerned an outside tap), but in most cases this should not be a problem. Even in the event that an outside tap will need to be installed in order to install and operate the device, the effectiveness of the product and the low purchase price would almost certainly justify the outlay.
Also commonly known as:
Water jet, water scarecrow, hose spray, water gun, cat spray, water spray gun, water deterrent, scarecrow water jet, scarecrow sprinkler, scare crow water jet
Relevance to pigeon control:
‘The Scarecrow’ is a general bird scarer and although there is potential for the product to be used for the control of pigeons it is not commonly used for this purpose
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 2, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
Flashing Buddha Eyes
OVERVIEW
Flashing Hawkeye (FHE) and Flashing Buddha Eyes (FBE) are two visual scaring products produced by a UK-based company that combine the use of mirrors and predator/human images with movement to deter a wide variety of birds. Although both products would normally be associated with use in agricultural applications, where they can be extremely effective, the addition of a roof-mounted option renders both products considerably more versatile. Both the FHE and the FBE are effectively identical products but with different scaring images. The FHE uses a predator image for scaring and the FBE uses a human image – both images use bright primary colours to increase effectiveness.
Flashing Hawk Eyes
Both products comprise a plastic thermoformed aerofoil-shaped board, printed with images of predator eyes or human (Buddah-type) eyes, mounted on a metal post. Below the board a series of 4 reinforced high-impact mirrors are provided in a pyramid-shape and at an angle of approximately 45°. Both the board and the mirrors rotate courtesy of a series of high-quality sealed bearings in a bracket at the top of the post and according to the manufacturer will rotate in even the lightest wind. The products are solely wind powered with no motor or mechanical drivers. As the units rotate in the wind the light reflected from the mirrors produces a bright flash, even in dull or cloudy conditions, which can be seen from a considerable distance. The flash of the mirrors combined with the flashing colourful images printed on the board (at a rate dictated by wind speed) will have the effect of making any birds in the vicinity feel unsafe.
Flashing Hawkeye
on Roof
Both products are extremely simple to install irrespective of which installation option is chosen. For ground installations the unit is quick and easy to install via the optional and inexpensive post driving and crossbar/post removal tool. The post driving and crossbar/post removal tool (weighing 4.25 kilos) is a robust metal bar with a crossbar at one end which allows the user to drive the central post into the ground by pumping the bar up and down. The same tool allows the unit to be removed, with relative ease, from the ground. Both the FHE and the FBE have a finned spike base, which ensures that once the post is driven into the ground it will remain in situ and continue to stand upright even in strong winds. This is because the fins on the spike stop the unit from moving laterally once installed into the ground.
Flashing Buddha
Eyes in Field
In order to operate as designed both the FHE and the FBE must be installed vertically. Once the spike has been driven into the ground a spirit level must be used on each side of the base of the spike to ensure that the unit is standing at 90°. Once the unit is standing vertically the final adjustment is made courtesy of 4 adjustable locking screws located at the base of the unit. Assuming that the unit is provided in a vertical position even the lightest wind will rotate the board and mirrors.
The major benefit of the FHE and the FBE is complete lack of running costs. No batteries to charge or power sources to worry about, the unit will continue operating 24/7 with little or no human interaction required other than to check the vertical alignment of the unit periodically to ensure that it is maintaining its vertical position. Of course the downside of this is that the unit will not operate on days when there is no wind. The FHE and FBE will be effective on cloudy days, according to the manufacturer, and even at night as the mirrors will reflect light from the moon as well as the sun. This would allow the unit to be used against night-time predation of crops or fish from fish farms. Another major advantage of the FHE and the FBE is completely silent operation, allowing the unit to be used in areas of human habitation.
Applications for the FHE and the FBE include use with all types of arable crops, vineyards, horticultural applications, landfill sites, fish farms and as scarers for the protection of soft fruit. Both products can also be used in urban and semi-urban applications courtesy of the roof-mounted model, which allows the unit to be installed on the roof of an industrial building or any commercial site where the reflection of the mirrors will not cause human disturbance. The roof-mounted option differs from the ground spike-mounted option in that the vertical post is considerably shorter than the ground spike-mounted post (which stands at chest height). The plastic aerofoil-shaped board on the roof-mounted version also has a lower profile than the ground spike-mounted board. This is to reduce wind resistance and potential damage to the board in extremely strong winds based on the fact that the unit will be provided at height. The special bracket supplied with the roof-mounted model provides the user with a number of mounting options, further increasing the versatility of the product, certainly where installation is concerned. The FHE and FBE can be installed in the following ways when using the mounting bracket:
- on a flat vertical surface
- into the corner formed by two adjacent vertical surfaces
- onto the top of a wall/post and embracing the two adjacent vertical sides of a corner
Flashing Hawkeye
in Field
Although bird scarers are normally designed and used in rural and agricultural applications where they are considered to be reasonably effective as part of an overall scaring operation, their use in urban environments is less common. This is, in the main, due to their potential for human disturbance. The FHE and FBE roof-mounted models are designed to be used in this application, which sets them aside from conventional scaring products. The most obvious problem associated with their use in urban environments is the flashing created by the mirrors revolving and the potential for the visual disturbance of motorists and those within line of sight of the product. Other than this potential problem there would appear to be no reason why the FHE and FBE could not play a major scaring role as part of an existing control system. Although the product could be used as part of a pigeon control system it is more likely to be effective for the control of roof-nesting gulls. The fact that the unit employs movement combined with two types of visual stimulus make it a good option for gull control.
Habituation is an ongoing problem with all scaring products, but the added advantage of the FHE and FBE is movement. Not only do the units revolve in light winds but, unlike many scarers with flashing lights, the FHE and FBE are intermittent in operation, certainly in as much as they will speed up and slow down according to the strength of the wind or stop if there is no wind at all. A light that flashes constantly and with timed flashes will be habituated to far more quickly than an intermittent light source.
This straightforward and well-designed product has a number of applications for a variety of different birds, making it a good choice for anyone experiencing problems with more than one species. The product is also sensibly priced, making it a good option to trial – if it proves to be ineffective the loss will not have been great. As with all the products manufactured by this company, high quality components have been used and although the products could have been produced at a lower price point, the emphasis has been placed on quality, not price. Whether the product proves to be visually disturbing in urban applications is an unknown, but even if the product can be used on industrial sites where human disturbance would be kept to a minimum, it would be an interesting and potentially effective tool.
DEFRA’s view:
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the UK’s Government body that oversees the Wildlife and Countryside Act and produces legislation to which the pest control industry must adhere. The following information is taken from a document provided on the DEFRA website entitled ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’ by J. Bishop, H. McKay, D. Parrott and J. Allan.
As both products involve the use of both mirrors and (in the case of Flashing Hawkeye) raptor images we have included relevant sections on both types of scaring:
Reflective Mirrors
Mirrors and reflectors work on the principle that sudden bright flashes of light produce a startle response and drive the bird from an area. However, the response of free-living birds to mirrors has been investigated in only a handful of species.
Foraging by black-capped chickadees Parus atricapillus at feeding stations was depressed by the presentation of either a standard mirror or an aluminium foil covered mirror; feeding was depressed the most by the standard mirror (Censky & Ficken 1982). When placed in nesting territories mirrors evoked aggressive responses from blue grouse Dendragapus obscurus (Stirling 1968) and glaucous-winged gulls Larus glaucesens (mirror combined with playback of gull calls) (Stout et al. 1969).
Reflective objects have been reported as being effective in deterring raptors, such as sparrowhawks and goshawks, from game release pens. Experiments in Europe showed that large silvered balls were effective in protecting reared game and chickens from diurnal raptors, particularly sparrowhawks and goshawks (Mansfield 1954; Pfeiffer & Keil 1963, cited in Lloyd 1976). Various gamekeepers in the UK also advocate the use of reflective objects. Opportunistic trials using such suspended materials successfully ended sparrowhawk predation at three different release pens.
Mirrors and reflectors have also been found to be inexpensive but effective against waterfowl, gulls and some herons (Greer and O’Connor 1994 cited in Reilly 1995). However, although aluminium pie plates suspended on varying lengths of twine deterred some waterfowl species, ducks were regularly seen to swim within 4-5 m of the reflectors (Boag and Lewin 1980).
In a survey of 336 fish hatchery managers in eastern USA, eight reported using tin reflectors of which seven said they had limited or no success as a depredation control technique (Parkhurst et al. 1987). In the same survey only one manager used mirrors and that was unsuccessful. Mirrors placed inside nest-boxes did not deter starlings from nesting within (Seamans et al. 2001).
A device consisting of a rotating pyramid of mirrors has been recommended for preventing crow damage to seedling corn (Anon. 2002d). This device is available in the UK and the manufacturer claims it is effective over four hectares against pigeons, blackbirds, starlings and crows on a variety of crops, but no scientific research has been can carried out to substantiate these claims (Anon. 2000a).
Although easy and inexpensive to put up and easy to relocate, the effectiveness of mirrors and reflectors as a bird scaring technique is variable. As they are only effective when they reflect sunlight and so are useless before sunrise (Nakamura 1999), they are best combined with other methods of scaring.
Raptor models
The basis for this deterrent is mimicry of real predators and evocation of fear and avoidance in the target species. Most potential prey species react to predator models; the strength of the response, however, varies between species (Conover 1979), and in some cases raptor models can attract rather than repel birds as species like blackbirds and crows often mob owls or owl models (Conover 1983, cited in Harris and Davis 1998).
Model raptors fail to incorporate behavioural cues, which may be critical to the induction of fear and avoidance in the target species. Falcons which are “in the mood” to hunt are said to be “sharp set”; such bird are invariably hungry enough to fly at quarry. Although it is difficult for human observers to differentiate between a falcon when it is sharp set and conversely well fed, birds will mob a hawk more frequently when sharp set than when well fed. Thus, model raptors will be inherently less threatening and consequently less effective than live raptors (Inglis 1980).
In the USA, museum-mounted models of a sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus and goshawk Accipiter gentilis both reduced the numbers of birds visiting feeding stations. Habituation to the models, however, was relatively quick with birds reentering the feeding area after only 5-8 hours exposure (Conover 1979).
For some bird species the avoidance response to large avian predators appears to be, in part, a learned behaviour. Juvenile gray jays Perisoreus canadensis showed little response to a model great horned owl Bubo virginianus, whereas adult jays reacted intensely (Montevecchi & Maccarone 1987). Interestingly, with repeated exposure, juveniles developed a greater fear toward the model whereas adults habituated to the decoy.
As for scarecrows, movement can enhance scaring effectiveness. An animated crowkilling owl model was more effective in protecting vegetable plots from crows than an unanimated model (Conover 1985). This model consisted of a plastic owl model with a plastic crow model in its talons that either had wings that moved in the breeze or battery-powered wings that could move in the absence of wind. Both versions of this device reduced crop damage by 81%. The deterrent effect was maximised by combining movement with an implicit risk. No indication is given of how long the deterrent effect lasted.
In general, raptor models are inexpensive (£5-£25 for plastic owl models, Network Pest Control Systems Ltd.) and easy to deploy. Their effectiveness is increased if they are animated and if they are moved frequently. However, birds quickly learn that the model poses no threat and rapidly habituate to it.
Price range:
Flashing Hawkeye/Flashing Buddha Eyes for ground mounting: £134.00 + VAT
Flashing Hawkeye/Flashing Buddha Eyes for roof mounting: £151.00 + VAT
Optional post driver and crossbar/post removal tool: £16 + VAT
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for Flashing Hawkeye or Flashing Buddha Eyes but we will update this section as and when user reviews are made available to us. Anybody that can provide a user review for Flashing Hawkeye or Flashing Buddha Eyes please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Comments from the Manufacturer/Distributor:
The following information about the use of Flashing Hawkeye and Flashing Buddah Eyes is taken from the scaringbirds.com website:
“The Flashing Hawkeye (and Flashing Buddah Eyes) with mirrors comprises a thermoformed aerofoil-shaped board which is secured in a bracket mounted on the top of a metal post which revolves in the lightest wind on high quality sealed bearings. Hanging downwards from the same bracket is a multi-angled series of reinforced high impact mirrors shaped like a lampshade which rotate with the aerofoil board.
As the Flashing Hawkeye revolves in the wind, it reveals an image of a pair of menacing and vibrant coloured predator’s eyes in contrasting colours on either side which gives a blinking effect as it rotates. At the same time, the mirrors provide a powerful and very eye-catching flash which can be seen at great distances, thus protecting large acreages. In conditions of bright sunlight, this can be equivalent to looking directly at the sun, but even on more overcast days and at first light of dawn, it reflects sufficient light to be significantly eye-catching. It can also be effective at night time under a full moon when it can resemble a flash from a powerful torch.
The optional driving tool and crossbar/post remover is a heavy bar with a cross-bar fitted through one end which provides an easy way of driving the post into the ground by pumping the bar up and down in the mouth of the post. Just as importantly, it enables the spike to be moved without resort to lever bars and spades. This is achieved by inserting the crossbar through the side of the metal ground spike, thus providing a horizontal surface against which to swing upwards with the heavy bar and the spike then lifts out with comparative ease.”
Editorial comments:
Flashing Buddha
Eyes in Field
Bird scarers are not normally associated with use in urban areas and this is what sets the FHE and the FBE apart from a majority of other scaring products. As scarers for agricultural applications the FHE and the FBE offer the user a good solid product that has been designed and manufactured to stand the test of time rather than being manufactured to a price. Even so, the units are relatively inexpensive to purchase, with the optional post driver offered at an extremely keen price, allowing for quick and easy installation and removal.
Habituation is always a worry with scarers and no more so than with the roof-mounted model due to the fact that the installation bracket supplied with this model requires a permanent fixing. Therefore, if the product has to be moved due to habituation, or for any other reason, it is likely that another suitable site will need to be found where the bracket can be installed. This may not always be easy. The advantages of a heavy-duty mounting bracket, however, is that it will provide the unit with an extremely strong base and dramatically reduce the potential for the product to be blown down in high winds, a constant headache with wind-powered scarers. The mounting bracket also allows for a variety of fixings into different surfaces, which increases its versatility where re-siting is concerned.
The unit may cause human disturbance in urban areas and this may restrict its use, but in the event that the Hawkeye or Buddah eye images are effective in their own right, the mirrors could be blanked off to stop reflected light causing problems. It may even be possible to detach the mirrors altogether. Movement is a critical factor when scaring birds and intermittent movement is much more effective than pre-timed operations from battery or mains powered devices. Due to the high quality bearings used for the FHE and the FBE the unit will revolve in very little wind and if installed on top of a building, where there is usually considerably more wind than at ground level, the unit should continue to move even on still days. On a windy day the unit will revolve a staggering 70,000+ times a day.
The FHE and the FBE are not guaranteed to be effective, neither will they be effective as a stand-alone bird control, but they represent excellent value for money and have the potential to be effective in a wide variety of applications. Of all the bird scarers this is one of the most simple to power and install and other than regular checks to ensure the product is aligned correctly to the vertical, it can be left to operate without human interaction. When compared to the excessively high price of some bird scaring products, particularly electronic products, the cost of the FHE and FBE pale into insignificance and must be worth consideration as a result.
Sources:
DEFRA quotes:
PDF on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives.’ By J. Bishop, H. McKay, D. Parrott and J. Allan.
Also commonly known as:
Mirror scarers, flashing scarers, wind scarers, predator scarers, flashing hawks, human scarers, scarecrows, predator scarecrows
Relevance to pigeon control:
Both products are suitable for use as general scarers in virtually all agricultural applications and with all species of birds. The roof-mounted version of the products can be used to scare both feral pigeons and gulls in urban applications
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jan 1, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
Council officers say they think killer bait has been put down to tackle pigeons – but warn it is a danger to children, pets and wildlife
Lives have been put at risk after rat poison was scattered on a busy city street, say council officers.
Twice this week large quantities of pellets were found on the pavement of Great Cheetham Street East in Higher Broughton, Salford.
It is suspected it was put down to kill pigeons but the council says the culprits are putting local children, pets, and wildlife at risk – and say the bait is not effective for tackling pigeons.
They have warned that those responsible could face criminal charges for littering and are asking the public to come forward with information to help catch the culprit.
A spokesman for Salford council said: “We’ve had four previous reports of someone scattering rat poison pellets in Great Cheetham Street East at the junction with Bevendon Square, near the Oriental Pearl takeaway.
“We cleaned it up on Monday and the following day had to go back again and clean up an even more widespread scattering. We estimate about half a bucket load was put down.
“We’re not sure why someone would do such an irresponsible thing but we suspect they think it will kill pigeons roosting on the roof of the Oriental Pearl takeaway.
“The pigeons are unlikely to touch pellets like this but if children or pets or wildlife ate a lot of them they could become seriously ill.
“The most effective way to get rid of pigeons is for local people to stop feeding them. People may think it’s harmless to throw a bit of bread out for the pigeons or throw down bits of their lunch for them but it only encourages them to hang around the area. If there is no food for them they will move on elsewhere.
“Though these pellets are widely available to the public, council officials only use them after a careful risk assessment.
“We make sure they are placed where rats and mice can get to them but other wildlife and humans can’t. To simply throw them down in the middle of a busy street is totally irresponsible and it must stop immediately.”
The pellets are thought to contain difenacoum which has been used in Europe for over 30 years and is particularly effective against rodents.
However it is a potent poison for all mammals and should be kept well away from non-targets animals and humans. Anyone with any information should call 0161 909 6500
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 31, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
Earlier this week Senator Denis O’Donovan became the second Fianna Fail senator to raise the issue of tackling the “vicious seabird”.
Speaking in the Seanad he said that seagulls were “invading the towns and the villages.”
“Seagulls have actually killed lambs and they’ve killed rabbits and I think it is coming to the stage where they are actually endangering society,” Mr O’Donovan said.
He added that “maybe we should look at a cull on this vicious seabird.”
However, animal rights organisation Aran has said that killing the animals won’t keep them away from urban areas.
“Calling for an all-out assault on seagulls is completely irresponsible, cruel and short-sighted,” Aran said in a statement.
The group highlighted that nothing has been done to tackle the real problem of people and businesses leaving out rubbish which “lures the birds in.”
The statement continues: “We are destroying their ecosystem and taking their food from the seas to feed ourselves and the gulls are only doing what is necessary to them by coming inland to try and get food.
“Maybe we, as in society, should take a step back from sucking our seas dry of marine life and letting the fish to the birds and laying off.
“Maybe laying off Senator O’Donovan might not be a bad thing either.”
Speaking to UTV Ireland Senator O’Donovan said some of his comments in the Seanad have been misconstrued.
“I haven’t called for the army to come in. I don’t agree with killing seagulls but a cull can be done in a different way.”
“Their [Aran] response by attacking me is not the response I have been getting from the public,” he added.
He said he had asked for a debate on the issue in the Seanad, and unless a solution can be put forward “people will take the law into their own hands” by poisioning and shooting the animals.
Asked if he would accept Aran’s offer to help draft a humane plan, he said: “I’m willing to meet with them once they acknowledge there is a problem.”
Last year Senator Ned O’Sullivan told the Seanad seagulls had “lost the run of themselves” – and were taking lollipops from young children.
Mr O’Sullivan said while the topic might seem funny to some it was a serious issue in Dublin.
Speaking to UTV Ireland, an expert from Rentokill explained that seagulls are actually protected under animal protection laws.
He admitted the company do receive callouts regarding the marine bird, but rather than killing them there are non-deadly methods like nest removal, netting, bird repellent gels and larus gull wires.
The stainless steel spring wires are apparently effective in preventing birds from roosting on exposed ledges and rooftops.
Nest removal, meanwhile, requires permission under Section 22 of the Wildlife Act.
Removing the habitat without sanction is an offence and breaks wildlife conservation legislation.
“There are very high populations [of seagulls]. Climate and behaviour wise these birds are becoming more established.”
“But from that point of view we are encroaching, we provide food,” he said.
Regarding any cull of the bird, he added that “the last you want to do is to kill, and you have to look at other methods first.”
He said the best course of action would be for an environmental assessment to be carried out, to see how bird populations could be reduced.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 30, 2015 | Bird Netting, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
SWANSEA Council has denied its fines for feedings birds could be offensive to some religions.
It follows a decision by Conwy Council not to impose such fines for just that reason.
The north Wales council tweeted that it had been told there was a right to feed birds in certain religions.
But a spokesman for the Swansea authority said: “The council has never been advised of any aspect of feeding birds being related to religion.”
Seagulls and pigeons have become a menace in the city centre with people complaining they are being dive-bombed by the birds and having their food stolen.
Now, anyone caught feeding the birds in the city centre could face a £75 fine.
“However, it is worthwhile noting that the rules do not prevent people from feeding birds, including pigeons and gulls, in Swansea as they only apply in places like the city centre,” added the council spokesman.
“They do not affect people feeding birds on their own property or land.”
He said gulls and pigeons left a mess on shops and street furniture and food on the ground encouraged more of them to circle the city centre.
“There have even been cases where people say they have been attacked by gulls in the city centre for their snacks.”
But he added: “People issued with fixed penalty notices are entitled to appeal against the decision.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 29, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
People are being warned not to dye pigeons pink after several of them were spotted in London and around the UK.
The brightly-hued pigeons have been spotted as far north as Northumbria, and as far south as Bristol, with sightings of the birds also reported in Manchester, West Yorkshire, and in London.
Pink pigeons were first seen in Walthamstow and at Royal Ascot last month, and the sightings continue, with a bird spotted in Stockport, Greater Manchester just two days ago.
Pictures of the birds have been posted on twitter, with people cooing over their distinctive plumage.
Pink Pigeon in Liversedge in Kirklees, Yorks
A pigeon in Kirklees, West Yorkshire (Ashleigh Richardson)
However, the birds have ruffled feathers at the RSPCA, where it is suspected fowl play may be behind the unusual colouring.
A spokeswoman said: “This is a cruel and unnecessary thing to do to an animal.
“Dyeing a bird could cause allergic reactions and compromise the animal’s’ ability to communicate with other animals of their own and other species and make them more vulnerable to predators.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 28, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
MONDOVI, Wis. (WEAU) — It looks like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s famous movie “The Birds,” pigeons flying from building to building in downtown Mondovi.
“I look up and the pigeons are kind of swooping around and I have to dodge in the door really quick because they’re really creepy,” said Heidi Michels of Mondovi.
People aren’t taking issue with pigeons’ creepiness, but rather what they are leaving behind.
Tuesday night, the Mondovi City Council will meet to talk about some options to get rid of the birds.
“The droppings were getting dragged into my business on my carpet and it’s just a mess and it’s really gross,” said Lorie Larson.
Larson has owned Petal Pusher Floral and Gifts for five years.
“I would have to clean my sidewalks at least twice a week with bleach water because the pigeon droppings were so bad,” Larson said.
“They like to roost and sit at the very top,” Brian Evans explained, talking about the top of his building.
“We had a lot of issues with droppings and being on the sidewalk and having to scrape them up,” Evans said.
This isn’t the first time the city has had an issue with pigeons.
“We tried Owl decoys, we had some stuff you painted on the sills (window sills) downtown. It was supposed to give them discomfort in their feet,” said City Administrator Dan Lauersdorf.
Lauersdorf explained the city is also dealing with a geese dropping issue.
“They’re dropping their droppings all over the park; I don’t know how you get them out of there,” Lauersdorf said.
No decisions will made at Tuesday night’s meeting, but Lauersdorf says cost will be a factor in the option the city chooses.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 27, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
If it seems there are a lot less pigeons in Washington Square Park, it’s because there are.
Earlier last week, on Tuesday afternoon, birdnappers were reportedly out in force on the park’s far west side. In an orchestrated maneuver taking just minutes, the peaceful pigeons were lured to a spot near the Washington Place park entrance, where they were captured by net — they netted three batches — and then whisked away in a van.
Larry the Birdman was near the fountain and missed the abduction of possibly more than 200 birds.
“It happened so fast,” he said. “It was a silver-colored van.”
One member of the cadre who hang out on the park’s western side near the Holley monument said, “We know these birds and some of us have relationships with individual birds.”
Doris Deither, a Community Board 2 member, is among the F.O.B. (Friends of the Birds). She said the pigeon she calls Opal likes her and comes to her as she walks assisted by a walker. Deither said, thankfully, “her bird” is still in the park.
“But they got two of William’s birds,” she said, explaining that William cares for pigeons that are injured.
Seven years ago, the New York Post wrote about “pigeon netting,” the black-market act of snatching pigeons off the streets and selling them for $5 and $10 each, mostly to legal, out-of-state (frequently Pennsylvania) pigeon shoots.
It was believed that the purloined Washington Square pigeons were destined for a similar fate. Diether said word was that the van had New Jersey license plates.
Phew! Some of the lucky survivors, thanking their tail feathers they weren’t scooped up by the birdnappers.
Phew! Some of the lucky survivors, thanking their tail feathers they weren’t scooped up by the birdnappers.
Saturday afternoon at the Holley bust, a memorial service was held for the avian abductees organized by Tina Trachtenberg, an artist and animal advocate. She creates the felt pigeons at Washington Square.
Days later, flowers marked the memorial site and a weathered sign read: “This park is a safe haven for many animals. Today we mourn the tragic death of 200-300 resident pigeons. We loved and cherished their magical presence. They will be deeply missed.”
By Tuesday, flowers and sign were gone.
Joyce Friedman the New York City coordinator at The Humane Society of the United States, read on social media about the memorial and came to the park to learn more.
“I reported it to the N.Y.P.D. Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad,” she said. “We can’t give out any more detailed information, because now it’s an ongoing investigation.”
She reiterated that the investigating officers take it seriously, also mentioning that the same sort of birdnappings took place a couple months ago on the Upper West Side and are also under investigation.
For four days, Tuesday through Friday, security at the Parks Department office at Washington Square Park, the bicycle police on patrol and police in a van watching on Sunday morning were totally unaware of the birdnapping. As of this Tuesday, not all the local patrolling police or Parks employees were aware of the nefarious netting.
However, on Tuesday, Parks spokesperson Crystal Howard warned the pigeon pluckers to beware.
“Don’t steal our animals!” she said in a phone interview. “Pigeons are core to the character of New York City, and it is illegal and dangerous to remove animals from New York City parks.”
Friedman also emphasized that birdnapping is illegal.
“If you see someone doing it, take a picture of the license plate,” she said. “Then call 911. If you become aware afterward, report it by calling 311.”
Early Sunday evening, Haley, a friend of Larry, swung by the park to see if he was all right.
Larry now sits on his usual bench, but no longer bedecked with birds, keeping a vigilant eye on the park’s Washington Place entrance to see if there are any more lurking vans.
“There are surveillance cameras,” he said, hoping they would have caught useful information to bust the birdnappers.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 26, 2015 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, UltraSonic Bird Control
A gullA gull
If you are about to take a holiday in Cornwall beware – the gulls there are said to be on the warpath. Local papers in the south west are full of stories about them robbing people of ice-creams and other snacks, and generally making a nuisance of themselves.
At first sight there is nothing really unusual about this. So far as I am aware gulls have always behaved like this, both here and in other parts of the world. They are very general feeders and instinctive raiders, taking food not only from us but also from other birds. What seems to be different in this case is that most unfortunately (and unusually) they are said to have killed both a small dog and a tortoise. This is enough to involve the Prime Minister: David Cameron has said, somewhat patronisingly, that we need a ‘big conversation’, whatever that is, about the issue.
This was in response to local MPs who are demanding a change in the law so that gulls and their nests can be destroyed. Not only will this not help (more gulls just move in) it is not necessary. The law already provides for control of otherwise protected birds through a licencing system. The answer lies in making buildings and other places where the birds nest or roost unwelcome to them. This is already done with both pigeons and starlings by the use of strips of spikes where they would otherwise perch.
Of course, people being people, whilst some want to kill the gulls others encourage them by feeding. In West Bromwich town centre a large flock of pigeons, boosted by this, has become a mixed flock of pigeons and gulls. This is something I have not previously seen, although the species do have a lot in common. Feral pigeons are rock doves and, as the name suggests, they originally nested on cliffs alongside gulls.
You may have noticed that I have not described the birds as ‘seagulls’, a name never used by ornithologists, and rightly so. Gulls are at home almost anywhere in Britain, witness the breeding colonies in Birmingham city centre and elsewhere locally, where the buildings are just surrogate cliffs to them. Guard your lunch box carefully if you take your break in St. Phillip’s churchyard!
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 25, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
Carnegie Library project manager Jack Sandezer had the gathering on Monday all agog.
He was taking the Patchogue-Medford Library staff, Friends of the Carnegie Library, Greater Patchogue Historical Society members and Legis. Rob Calarco and his staff, as well as library trustees, through some of the building’s areas.
“We’ve had the demolition contractor in and there were things revealed,” said Sandezer, who works for the Facilities Management Group, of some of the surprises.
For example, he pointed out a support issue that needed tackling.
“It’s hard to tell what’s original and what’s changed,” he said of the building’s past lives. “This would be a header, but it’s not shored up and we have some framing issues.” Sandezer was standing over by the rear entrance. “We had pigeons living on the upper story,” he added. The pigeons have been vacated humanely.
Patchogue-Medford Library director Lauren Nichols said they were now hoping for a winter or spring grand opening.
The Patchogue Carnegie Library opened in 1908 and led the state in circulation in 1915. Tritec, who owned it, donated it to the village and paid for its move to its current location in August 2012. The library’s new address, on the corner of West Avenue and West Main Street, was secured by Calarco. The village turned it over to the Patchogue-Medford Library two years ago for use as a young adult library; it will also be the home of the Greater Patchogue Historical Society. The library board committed to allow $1.5 million for renovations and Nichols said funds were achieved through the Knapp-Swezey Foundation and Priscilla Knapp Teich’s own private donations, as well as grants and fundraising from Friends of the Carnegie Library.
“I spent many an hour here as a kid,” reminisced Teich, who was looking at the gutted interior.
Historian Hans Henke was also among the interested parties. “One of the most important details was the interior woodwork,” he said.
Sandezer pointed out where there will be a wheelchair lift. “The floor will get demolished and dropped two feet,” he said, pointing to the side that faces Main Street.
The balusters made of mahogany that encircled the main entrance steps will be replicated. “I enjoy the details the old craftsmen have done, and it’s interesting to talk to people who can replicate them,” Sandezer said. “With these balusters, I’ll look for something close.”
The next steps would include redoing the outer brickwork and trim and the remainder of the demolition work.
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