Mr. Meek

Security & Safety

Birds Can be a Common Pest - How to Repel them

By Frank Meek, International Technical & Training Director, Orkin, LLC

Why Are Birds a Big Deal?

At the very minimum, birds can annoy guests, especially if they appear in large numbers. Have you ever sat on a patio that was overrun by pigeons, for example, or perhaps a beachfront deck crowded with sea gulls - and their droppings? If too many birds begin roosting or nesting on your property, guests will begin to look elsewhere.

More importantly, birds cause expensive property damage. Pigeons, the most common pest bird in urban areas, are responsible for millions of dollars each year in property damages. The uric acid in bird droppings is highly corrosive to building exteriors, and debris from roosting flocks often clogs gutters and drains, causing extensive damage to roofs and other structures. Bird droppings and debris can also damage air-conditioning units and other rooftop machinery.

Finally, birds can pose a health risk to hotel guests and staff. Their droppings contain parasites and fungi that have been linked to more than 60 human diseases. Dried bird droppings are particularly hazardous because they can become airborne and cause serious respiratory diseases like histoplasmosis. In 2001, for example, a CDC investigation into 220 cases of histoplasmosis traced the origin of the outbreak back to an Acapulco hotel where the victims had spent their spring breaks, and where construction had likely stirred up bird droppings. Health risks are greatest in hotels where droppings or nesting materials have accumulated around air vents or where birds can access food-service areas.

Birds Behaving Badly

If birds begin roosting or nesting on and around your hotel, they probably will be difficult to remove. To understand why, you have to understand a bit of bird behavior. Pigeons, sparrows and starlings are the most common pests birds in the United States, and they share several traits that make them common to commercial facilities like hotels and difficult to get rid of once they settle in.

First, all three are flocking species, meaning parents and young stay together, and non-migratory, which means that they live in place year-round. Non-flocking species, by comparison, are less of a problem due to sheer lack of numbers in one place, and migratory birds will leave a place naturally on their own, allowing time for cleanup and installation of prevention measures while they're away. Second, flock numbers of pigeons, sparrows and starlings are directly related to the availability of food and shelter in a certain place. In other words, if you feed them, they will come - in droves. And third, resident birds will work extremely hard to reclaim a site from which they've been dispelled.

Stopping Bird Problems Before They Start

So, prevention is of the utmost importance. Exactly how hard birds will fight to stay in a particular place is driven by several factors:

• Food and water - Hotels with outdoor foodservice areas, water features in the landscaping, rooftop puddles, or just guests who like to feed the birds will be highly attractive to bird populations because they provide the essentials for survival in one place. By removing standing water where possible and keeping foodservice and waste disposal areas free of food debris, you can remove some of this temptation.
• Shelter - Birds, like humans, prefer to spend time in areas that are protected from the elements. To prevent birds from nesting and roosting in such areas, hotels can install various physical deterrents, to be discussed in greater detail below.
• Alternative sites - Often, birds can be relocated to a nearby site that offers most of the same qualities as the original site. But, if they have nowhere else to nest nearby, naturally they will fight harder to return to an old nesting site. The availability of alternative sites will determine how far a hotel has to go with physical deterrents to keep returning birds away.
• Nesting birds - Birds who are merely loafing or feeding at a hotel property are much easier to move than roosting birds. Nesting birds are by far the most difficult to relocate, so dispersing them before they get too comfortable is critical.
  -Nearby flocks - When other flocks of birds are nearby, dispersal techniques that move the resident flock out but don't include prevention tools will likely result in a new flock simply moving in to replace the old one. Be sure to pay attention to the presence of other flocks before planning a bird control program.

Hotels with an existing bird problem would do well to consult a professional before implementing physical countermeasures, as some bird species are protected, but in any case, the person responsible for ridding the property of birds will start with an evaluation of the above factors to determine the best course of action.

The next step will be to disperse any resident birds and clean the area thoroughly to remove debris and droppings. It is critical to wear protective gear during cleanup to keep the dust from dried bird droppings out of the eyes, mouth, lungs and any skin abrasions.

Tools of the Trade

Once birds are dispersed and the area has been cleaned and disinfected, physical deterrents must be installed to make the site unattractive to returning birds or new flocks. In hotel settings, such countermeasures must be effective in repelling birds without being an eyesore. There are a number of tools and techniques you can use to repel birds discretely:

• Simply changing the ledge angle to 45 degrees or more is a very effective way to prevent roosting, if it's an option.
• Netting might also be used to remove potential perches, and if installed properly, can be nearly invisible.
• Bird spikes are also an effective bird repellent used on ledges, although they can sometimes be too visible. Where netting or spikes are not an appropriate option, hotels often opt for monofilament line instead. Monofilament lines can be strung in a hard-to-see grid over outdoor foodservice areas to discourage larger, soaring birds from entering. It is often strung between tiny metal posts along exposed ledges, where it is virtually invisible to guests.

A number of other control measures exist, but the best plan will depend heavily on the species of bird in question and the specific characteristics of the property. An inspection by a reputable and certified pest management provider is an easy way to identify your bird problem and learn more about how to stop it.

Birds are a natural and healthy part of our environment, but the pest birds you're most likely to encounter are far from endangered, and your property and guests shouldn't be put in jeopardy to provide a home for them. So minimize the factors that attract birds to your property, and take precautions to stop developing bird problems before they get out of hand. Your general manager - and your guests - will thank you.

An industry veteran, Frank Meek has been with Orkin since 1986. In 2003, he was named among the future leaders of the pest management industry in Pest Control Technology magazine’s “40 Under 40” ranking. Currently, as the International Technical and Training Director, Mr. Meek provides technical support and training in both sales and service to Orkin's international franchises, helping them grow and develop in their specific markets. As a board-certified entomologist, Mr. Meek teaches Integrated Pest Management principles and can explain how to use all available methodologies to prevent pest infestations in various commercial settings. Mr. Meek can be contacted at 404-888-2898 or fmeek@rollinscorp.com Extended Bio...

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