by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 9, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
Pigeon birth control might be imported to deal with the out-of-control bird population in a seaside suburb on Auckland’s north shore.
Reports of the birds scaring local school children as well as concerns around hygiene have prompted the call to control the burgeoning population.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chairwoman Julia Parfitt said pigeon contraceptive is not licensed for use in New Zealand.
But the board is investigating and it could be introduced within the next six months, although it is not cheap, Parfitt said.
“We don’t want to go to this expense but we have a problem…Unfortunately the ratepayers will be expected to pick up the bill.
“We would prefer people just stopped feeding them.”
Parfitt said the board has been assured by council officers the pigeons would spread out and find their own food.
A local woman from Rothesay Bay who began feeding the pigeons in the Browns Bay Village Green last year said a contraceptive-laced seed would be a humane way to control the population.
She said she raised birth control as a possible solution with Auckland Council four years ago but nothing was done.
The council is trying to “starve out” the birds, she said, as the pigeons only flock to people because they are desperate for food.
“When the birds are well-fed and contented they sit quietly under the trees.”
Signs asking people not to feed the pigeons were installed in the village green in March but have since disappeared.
The local board has ordered replacements.
To add to the issue, schools have also noticed the pigeon population growing.
Northcross Intermediate acting principal Kim Sloane said the birds are coming into classrooms.
“They don’t voluntarily go out, they have to be chased out and they fly into windows. Children and staff are scared of them, there’s just so many of them.”
Students take their rubbish home and are instructed not to feed the birds.
Sloane said there are safety concerns around the pigeons swooping down on people.
When one flew at her she fell backwards onto a rubbish bin.
Issues with the birds were raised in April, after which, Parfitt was contacted by cafes and restaurantsstruggling to cope with the pigeons.
“It’s ruining their lives because the birds don’t know boundaries,” she said.
Another issue raised by Parfitt in April was the hygiene problems caused by feathers and excrement in the village green where community events are held.
The village green is in the heart of Browns Bay, Parfitt said.
“A village green is provided as a green space for the community, it wasn’t provided as a bird feeding station.”
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 8, 2015 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
ENGRAVER Vince Ayris has called on the support of a kettle of hawks to deal with Havelock Street’s pesky pigeon problem.
The 52-year-old, who owns the firm at the heart of a favourite haunt for the airborne pests, grew so fed up with the pooey white-wash he’s asked Phil Voller, of Wings Over Wiltshire, to unleash one of his five birds in the town centre.
“The problem is that people feed them,” said Vince. “And of course when you feed birds it has to come out the other end, and they end up pooing all over the place.
“They have the market there and it’s not hygienic, but credit to them the council has been out to jet wash the area.
“But the trees in the square are well established and of course that’s the pigeons’ homes.
“They have even started walking into the shop.”
Phil, who works for pest control company Prokill, owns five hawks which he has unleashed in Regent Circus to bring the numbers down there, and now Vince is urging him to come to the town centre proper to tidy up the area.
“It looks horrible,” said Vince. “All the birds are horrid too, they’ve all got broken feet and are in quite a sorry state.
“It’s much better in my opinion to use hawks rather than a gun because it’s more natural. I’m not into hunting or guns of any kind.
“I’m an animal lover so natural is best.
“You don’t want to be there when it happens though. It is a bit messy.”
It isn’t the first time the critters have faced death by hunting after Swindon Borough Council listed the help of the bids of prey to encourage them to abandon their nests around the central library.
In 2012 two Harris hawks, Nessa and Duke, from specialist firm Prokill, descended on the town as part of a four-month bid to rid the area of vermin.
But the council said they had no plans to use the birds in the town centre because of the risk they could also pose to innocent pedestrians.
A spokesman from Swindon Borough Council said: “Pigeons can be a problem in any town centre. Swindon is no different, and we try to keep on top of the problem by using a high-pressure washer on what they leave behind.
“They congregate in areas where they think they will find something to eat, which can often be places where people stop and eat food. The problem wouldn’t be as bad if everyone put what they don’t eat in the bin, but often they don’t, and we’d certainly not encourage anyone to throw their last bit of pasty crust to the nearest hungry-looking bird.
“We use hawks from a pest control company to discourage pigeons from nesting on the roof of the town hall and library, but that’s a different problem, and we can do it without affecting members of the public who are walking nearby. It would be more difficult to do that in a pedestrianized area, and not everyone wants to see a pigeon being despatched by a large bird of prey while they are out shopping, which would always be a risk.”
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 7, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
SQUAWKING seagulls have proved to be an unlikely success in safeguarding shoppers at a historic North-East market from pigeon droppings.
In recent weeks, visitors to Darlington’s Covered Market may have noticed the sound of seagulls cawing while doing their daily shopping.
The noises, which come from a number of speakers hidden in the market, are part of a bird-scaring system designed to disperse pigeons who nest in the canopy.
The system has several programmes, from seagulls to birds of prey, and uses a natural distress call to ward off the problematic pigeons, whose droppings have become an issue for traders and visitors to the market.
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Senior markets officer, Albert Nowicki, said: “We’re trying to disperse the pigeons from places where they cause a health and safety issue in a humane way.
“It’s good to see that out scare crow acoustic system is starting to eradicate the problem, but I would like to encourage people to think before feeding the pigeons near food and retail establishments.”
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 6, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News
Ulster Rugby chiefs are using one of nature’s top predators to get rid of pigeons threatening the pitch at their Kingspan Stadium.
Shadow, a 12-year-old harris hawk, is “scaring” off the flying pests to stop them eating grass seed laid to improve the ground as well as nesting in the rafters and making a mess.
The bird of prey has been flying around the Ravenhill facility for several days letting local pigeons this is not the spot to settle down.
Neil Brittain, communications manager at Ulster Rugby, said the hawk is a “pretty effective” way of keeping the pigeons at bay.
He added: “It flies about and scares the pigeons basically. It doesn’t kill them or eat them it just lets them know it’s about and that seems to be enough to stop them nesting in the rafters. As well as the obvious mess if they were nesting in the stadium, there’s grass seed that’s just been laid for the pitch to be in great condition in time for the season.
MORE: Runners and hikers warned to steer clear of Mournes trail in wake of buzzard attacks
“As you can imagine, the pigeons are loving all this grass seed, so we had to do something to warn them off so they don’t eat it all. It’s completely humane.”
The female hawk is owned by Stephen Devlin, whose firm Gull Clear, keep pigeons out of public buildings including shopping centres and schools.
He says Shadow just chases the pigeons away.
He added: “You fly the bird around the place once or twice a week and the pigeons think there’s a bird of prey feeding in here, or nesting in here so they’re not too keen on coming back.”
Harris hawks are known for their intelligence meaning they are easier to train and therefore popular for use in falconry.
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 5, 2015 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
OVERVIEW
The ‘Bird Slope’ bird repellent is an anti-perching product that has been designed to be provided on any flat surface where birds are creating a nuisance by perching or roosting. The Bird Slope bird repellent is an extremely basic product that simply creates a slope upon which birds cannot perch and would normally be installed on a flat (or angled) surface where a 90° angle exists behind – a good example would be an ‘I’ beam (or RSJ). This product is manufactured and distributed by a company in the United States called Bird-B-Gone.
The Bird Slope bird repellent is constructed from lightweight durable UV protected plastic and comes ready to use but can be cut to size where required with a hacksaw or a pair of snips. The Bird Slope bird repellent is provided in a standard grey colour but can be painted to blend in with the structure or building upon which it is installed. The Bird Slope bird repellent is available in one size only and is 5.5” high protecting an area 5.5” wide. An ‘extender’ is available which increases both height and width by a further 5″. With the extender installed the Bird Slope bird repellent will protect an area 10″ wide. The Bird Slope bird repellent and the optional extender are only available in 2 foot sections with the extender increasing the scope of the product so that it will protect a wider surface but with a resultant increase in height which may restrict its application. An ‘end cap’ is available for both the Bird Slope bird repellent and the extender. The end cap is installed at both ends of a single run of the product to stop birds getting in behind the product where they cannot be detected. The Bird Slope bird repellent is not suitable for installation with a silicone adhesive and the manufacturer recommends an ‘outdoor construction adhesive’ for the purpose. The manufacturer also recommends that the product should cover the whole of the surface to be protected, not just the perimeter or ‘leading edge’.
One of the main applications for the Bird Slope bird repellent is for use under railway or river bridges where pigeons and starlings are often found roosting and breeding on ‘I’ beams and other infrastructure. These areas normally have difficult or restricted access and therefore a maintenance-free product like the Bird Slope bird repellent is ideal. On bridges constructed with a steel framework the Bird Slope bird repellent would be installed on the lower flange of an ‘I’ beam creating a 45° angle upon which birds cannot gain a foothold. As a bird attempts to land on the Bird Slope bird repellent it will simply slide off as soon as its feet come into contact with the smooth plastic surface. The main criteria for a successful application of the Bird Slope bird repellent is that a vertical surface exists behind the horizontal surface to be protected (creating a 90° angle) and as a result a majority of areas under a bridge, or canopy, can be adequately protected with the product. Another application for the Bird Slope bird repellent is for use on historic buildings that are Grade Listed and where restrictions are imposed in relation to what can or cannot be done in respect of the fabric of the building. In many cases non-invasive and reversible anti-perching devices such as the Bird Slope bird repellent and the anti-roosting spike are the only options allowed when protecting this type of building. Any type of anti-perching device that requires installation by drilling or bolting is normally deemed inappropriate by local government Listed Buildings Officers, particularly in the case of Grade 1 Listed Buildings.
One of the major benefits of the Bird Slope bird repellent is that it is non-invasive to install and is completely reversible should access to the area or surface be required for the purpose of maintenance. The product is also simple to install negating the need to instruct a specialist contractor and lending itself to a DIY installation. Large areas can be quickly protected with the Bird Slope bird repellent based on the simplicity of the product and the fact that it can be glued in place rather than requiring a system of complex fixings. The Bird Slope bird repellent is also a completely humane product that will not harm birds but just physically prevent them from gaining access to sensitive areas.
DEFRA’s view:
The Bird Slope bird repellent is not discussed on the DEFRA website.
Price range:
There does not appear to be a distributor for the Bird Slope bird repellent in the UK at this time. We are awaiting confirmation from the manufacturer of current retail costs for the Bird Slope bird repellent and this section will be updated as soon as that information is available.
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for the Bird Slope bird repellent 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 Bird Slope bird repellent please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Comments from the Manufacturer/Distributor:
At present we have been unable to obtain the manufacturer’s comments.
Editorial comments:
The Bird Slope bird repellent is a product that has limited applications but which has the potential to be a highly effective anti-perching device. Its limitations are restricted to use where a 90° angle exists and generally in areas where aesthetics are less of an issue. The Bird Slope bird repellent can be painted to reduce visibility but the product is still physically large, particularly with the optional extender installed, and is more visible than many other anti-perching products. The Bird Slope bird repellent is ideal for use under canopies and bridges and once surfaces have been prepared the product is quick and easy to install. The industry standard method of excluding birds from the underside of a bridge or canopy is to use nylon bird netting. Bird netting can be extremely expensive and invasive to install requiring regular access for the purposes of maintenance. In most cases a product like the Bird Slope bird repellent is an excellent alternative that requires no maintenance and does not degrade nor have a limited life-span as nylon netting has. As access is normally the most expensive element of any bird exclusion operation, particularly when proofing areas at height, a product that will stand the test of time and which requires no maintenance should always be the first choice.
The Bird Slope bird repellent is a good option for historic or Grade Listed buildings due to the fact that it is non-invasive to install and if painted with a textured masonry paint will blend in with the architecture around it. The product lends itself to a DIY installation and can be installed quickly and easily on almost any property or structure. The Bird Slope bird repellent is limited to applications where the surface to be protected is less than 10” wide and therefore may not be suitable for some period properties where windowsills and architectural features such as ledges often exceed 10” in depth. It must also be understood that if the extender is used to increase coverage to the maximum depth the product will be considerably more visible.
The creation of a slope on a flat surface is not a new idea. In many cases a commercially available product such as the Bird Slope bird repellent can be replicated using any number of different materials to create a slope. A simple plywood slope can be created in minutes using scrap wood and installed using silicone for a quick and easy installation. If using a material such as plywood, which lacks the smooth surface offered by the Bird Slope bird repellent, the slope may need to be provided at a more acute angle in order to be effective. Alternatively a smoother material can be sourced. The benefit of a DIY slope is that it can be ‘made to measure’ rather than having to cut a ready-made product to fit the area concerned. Once painted with an appropriately coloured paint the slope will be virtually invisible from the ground.
Also commonly known as:
The slope, bird slide, slippery slope, pigeon slope
Relevance to pigeon control:
The ‘Bird Slope’ bird repellent is a pigeon-specific anti-perching product
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 4, 2015 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
AUGUSTA | As bids were being opened this week in the next phase of renovations to older parts of Augusta Independent School, officials were also being made aware of a support problem with the school clock tower.
And there is an issue with pigeons which had found a portal into the tower, leaving unsavory debris deposits, official said.
“There is screening in the tower to prevent birds from getting in but apparently there was a small opening on the clock that they used to get in,” said AIS Superintendent Lisa McCane. “There are literally buckets and buckets of bird feces that have to be properly removed.”
The cost of removal and other essential tower repairs will cut into the budget for the project, possibly delaying the replacement of interior doors on the oldest part of the school.
“The doors were the highest cost on the bid, because so many of them are different sizes,” she said. “We have a contingency amount built into the budget for the project so, depending on the cost, we should still be able to complete the entire project and the tower.”
Combined, the two phase project, which saw an old smoke stack demolished last week and roofs, windows, doors, lighting and tuck pointing yet to be done, is expected to cost around $1 million.
In order to finance both phases of the project, the AIS Board passed a resolution on June 17, relating to and providing for the issuance of $1.055 million principal amount, which may be increased 10 percent, of the school building revenue bonds, she said.
Trace Creek Construction was the successful bidder June 17, for future renovations, McCane said.
Trace Creek Construction provided the lowest cost bid at $357,000 including a $30,000 credit for extending the window delivery and installation schedule, she 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)
Pigeon birth control might be imported to deal with the out-of-control bird population in a seaside suburb on Auckland’s north shore.
