8 mistakes property owners make selecting bird proofing installers

Let’s face it, proofing a building against birds does not feel like money you want to spend. It does not provide an immediate return on investment, and there is a fear that you could be feeding a bottomless pit.

What if these bird proofing measures do not work? You will just have to spend more money in the hope that the next bird pest control idea do the trick.

That is why it is important to select the right bird proofing installation specialist from the word go. A company that knows what it is doing. Will recommend first time fixes, not an approach that allows them to return again and again to earn more money. Also, one that will do the job safely and efficiently.

To guide you on how to select the best bird pest controllers to work with, here are 8 common mistakes made when selecting bird proofing and deterrent strategies. If any of these points ring alarm bells, you should be concerned.

 

1. Selecting the cheapest bird proofing equipment and materials.

   Plastic bird spikes may be a bit cheaper than stainless steel bird spikes. However, they often turn yellow and brittle under the sun’s UV light. They are also much more visible, as plastic bird spikes are about 6mm thick, as opposed to 1mm for stainless steel bird spikes. It’s a false an unslightly economy. We recommend you should not be tempted to take.

2. Accepting the idea of installing plastic owls and hawks.

   They do not work. It is a waste of money. Period. Birds are not stupid. They know when a real bird of prey is in the area and will make themselves scarce. Once they are gone, they are very likely to return. Plastic birds of prey do not behave like the real ones, so pest birds quickly learn to ignore them.

3. Failure to assess the level of pressure of the bird pest problem.

   And then select the right bird proofing measures. If you put spikes (used to counter a medium pressure bird pest problem) in an area where birds are nesting (a high pressure bird pest problem) they will simply nest on the spikes.

4. Bird pest controllers who do not have the right skills.

   Stone substrates can be badly damaged by failure to use penetrative fixings properly. Drilling stone with SDS drills needs experience to avoid causing quite serious damage that can look unsightly and allow water ingress.

5. Damage to stone substrates using expansive fixings.

   Most penetrative fixings gain purchase through a process of expansion, which in turn exerts a splitting force on the stone or brickwork. Again, experience is needed to avoid causing serious damage, as well as ensuring the fixing itself is secure.

6. Underestimating the ability of the pest bird.

   The quick fix may not overcome the ingenuity of the bird to carry on perching or nesting on the property. Feral pigeons have evolved from birds that used to cling to sheer cliff-faces. That means they can still perch on very steeply-sloping ledges or roofs. Birds have a relatively large brain compared to head size. They are also mainly visual and auditory creatures. Put together, they are better problem solvers than most humans think. It takes a bird pest control expert who understands bird behaviour and the latest thinking on bird intelligence to be one step ahead.

7. Poor attention to the clean-up side of the business.

   The fouling and nesting debris associated with pest bird species is what makes them pests. Most bird pest control companies do a poor job of removing, cleaning and sanitising the fouled and nested areas, which is unfortunate, because this is the primary hazard for any given site. All bulk fouling/nesting material needs to be safely cleared. Uric acid staining needs to be cleaned and sanitised with a QAC disinfectant. This ensures viruses and bacteria associated with the infestation have been reduced to background levels. Any half-measures in any of these steps will result in the failure to reduce these risks and hazards.

8. Inadequate attention to site health and safety.

   All pest birds fly. They are most likely to occupy high-up places beyond the reach of humans. Safe working at height is therefore a critical element of any bird proofing. Bird proofing installers do not fly. So, working at height represents a very significant hazard, which all too often is not adequately controlled. Working at height with access equipment, whether ladders or cherry pickers, needs training, expertise and experience, thorough risk assessment, selection of the right equipment, and adequate procedural controls. If you add in the significant slip hazards associated with bird fouling, as well as its biological hazards, then bird proofing is a far more potentially hazardous activity than most people think.

 

Carrying out bird proofing can be expensive, and will result in additional costs if it is not done properly. Risks associated with the process can result in even more serious consequences if the process goes wrong. Selecting the right bird pest controllers is the critical first step to having the peace of mind that the bird pest problem will be solved quickly and cost-effectively. With minimal fuss.