by Ryan Ponto | May 14, 2017 | Bird Netting
Bird strikes can cause costly damage at airports and are dangerous to aircraft, and the effect of a collision with an aircraft can even be fatal.
But a Canadian airport hopes to resolve this problem by using ‘Robird’ – a drone that mimics the flight of a falcon.
The lifelike falcon drone can be used to chase off birds, convincing them that it’s a real life predator.
The Robird will scare real birds away from Edmonton International Airport, Canada’s largest airport in terms of surface area, starting at the end of May.
Flocks in the vicinity will be scared off by the combination of silhouette and wing movement.
In essence, the manufacturers say, the birds believe that one of their natural enemies is eyeing them up, as the Robird has the appearance and weight of a real falcon.
Robird – which is propelled by flapping wings – will has already been tested at Dusseldorf Weeze airport in Germany to help protect aircraft as they take off and land.
‘This is a historic step for the Robird and our company,’ says Nico Nijenhuis, the CEO of Clear Flight Solutions, a spin-off company of the University of Twente in the Netherlands that produces the Robird.
‘We currently operate our Robirds in a variety of places, but taking the step towards full integration within daily operations at an airport is huge.
‘For years, there has been a lot of interest from airports.
‘To now officially start integrating our operations at a major Canadian airport is absolutely fantastic.’
The Robird will become part of a large-scale drone project at Edmonton Airport, which includes using drones to observe wildlife, inspect buildings and take 3-D measurements.
Currently, Edmonton Airport uses sound effects and lasers to keep birds away, nut the problem with existing bird control solutions is that birds get used to them, and quickly learn to fly around them.
So Clear Flight Solutions has been looking at how the Robird can be combined with these techniques to reinforce one another.
For the first three months, the Robird’s effectiveness at keeping birds away will be carefully monitored, and the project further optimized.
There will also be consultations with pilots and airline companies who need to become familiar with the procedures surrounding the robotic bird.
Birds are also a problem for the agricultural industry, waste disposal, ports and the oil as gas industry, and the Robird could help those sectors too.
‘The applications to an ecologically friendly and impactful technology such as the Robird are huge,’ said Jordan Cicoria from Aerium, a Canadian company that is collaborating with Clear Flight Solutions for the Robird project.
‘Airports, tailings ponds, wind farms, agriculture to name a few.
‘The results are real in terms of safety, environment, and economics.’
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 Ryan Ponto | May 13, 2017 | Bird Netting
Canada’s Edmonton International Airport (EIA) has deployed a full suite of unmanned aerial system (UAS) services to enhance its daily operations.
Beginning in the second quarter of 2017, bird control service provider Clear Flight Solutions (CFS) and ‘UAV-as-a-service’ provider AERIUM Analytics will focus on safely incorporating Robird and integrated drone technology at the airport.
The UAS solutions will be integrated to improve EIA’s wildlife management plan, while ensuring continued growth of the Edmonton Metro Region’s ‘aerotropolis’.
CFS’s Robird technology will guide birds safely away from air traffic, while ensuring that they do not nest near airside operations and glide paths.
Robird is a proven technology that offers effective, ecologically friendly solution for bird control.
The robotic system imitates the flight of an actual falcon and easily convinces other birds of the presence of a predator in the area.
“We currently operate our Robirds in a variety of places, but taking the step towards full integration within daily operations at an airport is huge.”
CFS chief executive officer Nico Nijenhuis said: “We currently operate our Robirds in a variety of places, but taking the step towards full integration within daily operations at an airport is huge.
“For years, there has been a lot of interest from airports. To now officially start integrating our operations at a major Canadian airport is absolutely fantastic.”
As part of the deployment, CFS AERIUM will provide UAS mapping and inspections services to help EIA in its maintenance programmes and future economic development efforts.
The UAS missions, which were conducted under tight supervision within 400m of active runways, have already proven competency and met safety and hazard identification risk assessment requirements.
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 Ryan Ponto | May 12, 2017 | Bird Netting
Kit Columbidae, a third-year biology major at the College of Creative Studies, has turned to a classic form of communication following the loss of his iPhone. Columbidae, whose phone was broken in a bike accident, says he got the idea when he looked up from the pavement and saw a pigeon staring at him.
“I had read about homing pigeons before, of course,” he said. “They were vital back in the day, especially during wartime. I thought they had all died out. But looking into those beady, intelligent eyes, I knew that they shouldn’t be too hard to train.”
Columbidae began his project by visiting Atkinson Farms, a local hatchery. Though the owner of the hatchery mainly raises and sells chickens and ducks, she has a longstanding personal interest in homing pigeons and decided to take Columbidae under her wing.
“Ms. Atkinson has been so helpful throughout this entire process,” he said. “Her grandfather raised carrier pigeons during World War II, so I guess you could say it runs in her family.”
Toby, the homing pigeon Columbidae has been working with — named after Atkinson’s grandfather — will be taking his maiden voyage next week.
“Toby’s done a few short flights so far, just to the apartment across the way and stuff like that. You’d think the travel time would make communication slower, but people are much more likely to respond to you when there’s a pigeon flapping about in their face.”
Zoey Brandt is a third-year English major who recently broke her phone.
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 Ryan Ponto | May 11, 2017 | Bird Netting
The ubiquitous bird of cities and towns was designed for a different environment. The pigeon’s distinctive style of flight is adapted for maneuverability in tight places – near vertical takeoffs and quick changes of direction. This adaptation to cliff and mountainside environments serves them well among our urban cliff dwellings. Curt Stager and Martha Foley discuss.
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 Ryan Ponto | May 10, 2017 | Bird Netting
NORWAY — Pigeons. Dead pigeons. Many dead pigeons and pile upon pile of pigeon poop.
According to the USDA, that much pigeon poop indicates years of pigeon populations.While the years of emptiness of the historic 1910 Odd Fellows Hall has been a thorn in the side of Main Street, a glimpse through the storefront windows yields an even more concerning problem.
According to town records, the building at 380 Main St., and its owner – Jasim LLC of Westbrook – have been cited numerous times by the town code enforcement officers since April 2013 for broken windows – access points for the pigeons.
Cruel
The most recent citation by CEO Scott Tabb in March has resulted in the windows being boarded up, according to Tabb.
However, this adherence to safety has been done at the expense of the pigeons already inside the building.
Consequently, it appears that those live pigeons trapped in the building are dying a slow death.
Town Manager David Holt says he has received complaints and referred them to the CEO.Looking from Main Street into the building numerous pigeon bodies can be seen, as well as live, barely moving birds.
In addition to pigeons, there may be structural issues with the building.
The pigeon droppings can carry the risk of disease if exposed. These include histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis and psittacosis. However, these are risks primarily for anyone cleaning the droppings as opposed to the general public.
The USDA in Augusta says it can clean up and pigeon-proof with the owner’s permission if the town is willing to pay for the service.
Holt indicated he will look into that.
Update
A call from Tabb just before press time heralded positive news for both the town and the pigeons.
“I spoke with the owner of the building, Sam Patel, and he told me coincidentally, he was planning on having someone in over the weekend to clean up the poop,” said Tabb.
Patel, a retailer in southern Maine, purchased the empty, partially renovated three-story brick building in 2012 from TD Bank. It was transferred to Jasmin LLC on Dec. 14, 2012. Since then, no action has been taken to reuse it.
In July 2013, Patel was notified the town would take court action because of broken windows in the building that had become a public hazard. Patel eventually fixed the windows, but some of them were broken again, prompting him to board many of them. It was believed that pigeons trying to escape were breaking the windows.
Tabb said he understands a nearby property manager has a key to the Odd Fellows Hall and he is reaching out to see if the building could be opened so the remaining live pigeons could be rescued.
In 2013 Maine Preservation listed the building as one of Maine’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places List.
The Odd Fellows Hall in Norway once housed businesses and offices, as well as a ceremonial space for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 16. The basement and first floor were built in 1894 after fire destroyed much of the downtown business district. The other floors were added in 1910. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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)
