Written By:  Bruce Thain

A mum-of-two claims a housing association has ignored her plea for help to stop pigeon droppings outside her front door.

Zoe Powell, who lives in a block of flats in Canterbury Road, Borehamwood, says the pigeons nesting on the walkway outside her front door pose a serious health risk to her children.

Last year Affinity Sutton, which operates the property, put up netting to stop the birds from landing on the rear balcony of the flat.

But the housing association did not do anything to prevent them nesting at the front.

The 26-year-old said: “It’s just disgusting and I’m so frustrated with the way it’s been dealt with it. “It’s like Affinity Sutton don’t want to know.

“We just feel we aren’t being listened to and they don’t care about our problem.

“When we had pigeons on the back balcony, at least we didn’t have go out there and use it. But now they’re at the front, we can’t help but walk through the bird mess.

“I’m worried my children will end up catching something. It’s such a health and safety hazard and you can’t keep your eye on them all the time.”

Ms Powell says she has contacted the housing association a number of times, but has had no response over how the situation will be resolved.

She says she would like Affinity Sutton to at least clear away the pigeon mess, as well as do something to stop the birds from nesting at her front door.

She added: “When they put up the netting at the rear, all the neighbours said the birds were just going to move to the front of the building. Now they have and there is mess everywhere.”

The Borehamwood and Elstree Times is awaiting a comment from Affinity Sutton.

CBS News) We’re visiting VENICE, a city built on more than 100 islands, and which suffers from a chronic problem – and I’m NOT talking about the water. Seth Doane now with a Bird’s Eye View:

Venice is home to Vivaldi . . . masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture . . . and at its center, a spectacle that defies definition.

Feeding – and photographing – thousands upon thousands of pigeons.

One visitor, Olivia, said that of all the things she’d done in Venice, feeding the pigeons ranked at the top.

Tourists flock to the magnificent Piazza San Marco to pose with pigeons.

“If you was not feeding the pigeons – you was not in Venice,” said another woman.

Katharine Hepburn marveled at the birds in the 1955 movie “Summertime.” Sir Laurence Olivier fed them while touring Europe. And even an 1875 watercolor showed pigeons have seemingly always had a place here.

The odd appeal seems to cut across cultures (and confuse reporters), and the constant eating and eating has caused a population boom.

“Pigeons are disgusting, they’re like flying rats, said author John Berendt,

Still, Berendt – who just published a book on blue jays – was inspired to write about pigeons in his novel set in Venice.

“I saw some trappers with a net trapping pigeons and carting them off to kill them,” he said.

That was in 1996. Berendt said the city doesn’t normally admit taking such drastic measures.

“I went to see the commissioner of animals or whatever his position was – and he was very forthcoming with me – he said, ‘Usually we deny that we trap and kill these pigeons. But since you saw it, I can’t very well deny it. Yes, we do,’” said Berendt.

“We have 120,000 pigeons who live in Venice – and they are disgusting.”

Pigeons outnumber Venetians two to one. The bird droppings corrode the historic architecture and spread disease.

But cracking down on birds has befuddled many city administrators. Pier Francesco Ghetti, the latest to tackle the pigeon problem, recalled a system installed to emit very high pitch sounds that “terrorize” the birds, “We’re thinking (about) forced sterilization,” he said, “but the easiest thing is to stop feeding (them).”

Today, Venice has banned the sale of feed in the square. But it’s hard to stop tourists from sharing their lunch – and easy to find folks still selling feed in plain sight.

READ PAGE 2 / THE COMPLETE ARTICLE FROM CBS NEW HERE

While it’s fun to feed pigeons at parks and courtyards, pigeons and similar pest birds can create all sorts of problems. They cause millions of dollars in damage to buildings, facades and mechanical structures–like air conditioning units, telephone, electrical and lighting systems. Pigeons can also create a health hazard. Because their poop, besides being corrosive, can carry any of 60 known diseases.

Fortunately, man has devised all sorts of clever pigeon and pest bird deterrents. And unlike the days of old when property owners used poisons or shotguns to cull down pest bird populations, today’s methods are far more humane. One way to discourage pest birds from “taking over” an area is to exploit their natural fear of predators. And few predators are as despised among pigeons and most pest birds as the Red-tail Hawk.

All the more reason why a Red-tail Hawk decoy can be particularly effective in ridding an area of pest birds. Pigeons instinctively recognize the aerial outline of this highly skilled hunter. Armed with razor sharp talons and eyesight eight times as acute as a human’s, a Red Tail can dive after its prey at up to120 miles per hour (they can spot a pigeon from 150 feet above the ground and snatch birds right out of the sky).

A medium-sized bird of prey, the Red-tail Hawk is the most widespread and common member of the American family of large soaring hawks. It’s also one of the largest hawks, typically weighing between 2 and 4 pounds. The female is nearly 33 percent larger than the male and may have a wingspan as wide as 56 inches. These birds prefer to soar at high altitudes using their sharp eyesight to zero in on their prey below. An aggressive hawk, the Red Tail will tenaciously fight to defend its territory. All of which is bad news for any pigeons and pest birds that dare to invade the Red Tail’s space.

Pigeons and similar pest birds will quickly recognize the Red-tail Hawk for it can be found in a wide range of habitats and altitudes. This includes deserts, marsh-shrubs, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields, and even urban areas. It is a very adaptable bird, equally at home in varying heights above sea level, and capable of breeding throughout much of North America—from western Alaska and northern Canada all the way down to Panama. Red Tails can also be found in cities, perched along highways on utility poles and other lofty structures. So pigeons and other pest birds will always be on the lookout for this highly skilled predator.

Once you’ve purchased a Red-tail Hawk decoy, correct positioning is essential for maximum effectiveness. That’s because hawk decoys rely on their outline in the sky and the shadow of their body and wings on the ground to be instantly recognized by pigeons and pest birds. For this reason, hawk decoys should be suspended as high as possible above a pest bird’s area for maximum threat posture. This can be accomplished using a suitable pole, open tree branch or other extension above the problem area. The decoys should also be moved around at least once a week, otherwise pest birds would grow accustomed to them and no longer regard them as a threat. Also, when purchasing a hawk decoy, opt for one that is made of durable weather-resistant plastic. One other tip: the overall effectiveness of a hawk decoy can be magnified when used in conjunction with ultrasonic or audio deterrents. So it pays to talk to a pro about which deterrents to use with any particular type of pest bird.

Finally, hawk decoys are an environmentally friendly alternative to ridding an area of pigeons and other pest birds. They don’t harm anything or anyone. They just rely on a pest bird’s natural instincts to keep them away.

Written By: Talia Ralph April 27, 2012 18:36

Pigeons’ brains appear to contain “GPS neurons” that help them navigate, according to a new study published in Science journal.

Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas have discovered a group of 53 cells in the birds’ brains that respond to the direction and strength of the Earth’s magnetic field, BBC News reported.

Le-Qing Wu and David Dickman, the study’s lead researchers, found that the neurons “buzz” at different levels depending on how strong the magnetic field is and which direction it’s pointing in, Discover Magazine’s blog reported. 

More from GlobalPost: Pigeons can do math

“It is still unknown what exactly acts as a receptor within the bird; however, in our current study we are able to show how neurons in the pigeon’s brain encode magnetic field direction and intensity,” Dickman told blog TG Daily. “This is how we believe birds know their position on the surface of the Earth.”

The scientists worked with seven awake pigeons, and used a Tesla coil to cancel out the effects of Earth’s magnetic field on the birds, Popular Science explained. They put the pigeons in a dark room to eliminate the effects of light polarization, which are commonly thought to help animals navigate magnetically. The researchers also stabilized the birds’ heads to prevent them from relying on inner-ear cues for direction, according to Popular Science.

The researchers then created magnetic fields of their own, altering their strength and direction, and recorded the pigeons’ individual neuron activity in an area that connects the brain and spine, and helps with birds’ balance, according to Discover.

The scientists found 53 neurons that fire at different strengths depending on how strong the magnetic fields around them are; the birds were found to be most sensitive to the range of intensity that the Earth produces naturally, according to Discover.

However, researchers have hypotheses that navigational neurons are not the only directional mechanisms pigeons use; they are also looking into features in the birds’ ears, eyes and beaks that may help the animals find their way, Slate reported.

Henrik Mouritsen of the University of Oldenburg in Germany has received the study’s results with skepticism, according to BBC News.

“[Magnetism-sensitive neurons] must be in the brain in several places… and maybe Dr. Dickman has found them, “Mouritsen told BBC. “If he has, it’s a very, very important finding, but only time will tell. There have been lots of claims of something similar to this, and so far every one has turned out to not be independently reproducible.”

The study hasn’t revealed how pigeons sense the magnetic fields in the first place, TG Daily reported, though Dickman believes that an as yet-undiscovered magnetoreceptive cell in the animal’s ear could be responsible, he told Discover.

“Maybe there are two or even three receptors that come together in the brain to work together,” Dickman said.

More from GlobalPost: China launches Beidou, a Chinese rival to GPS

by Alex A. Kecskes

If your home has been besieged by gulls, you know what a nuisance they can be. These scavengers will eat just about anything that’s on your patio, boat dock or backyard. That includes fish, insects, mollusks, worms, mice, young birds, bird eggs, and berries. When gulls feast and gather, they’ll leave an awful mess. They can cover your backyard and patio area with smelly, disease carrying droppings and rotting fish. If they use your rooftop to tear apart their prey, they can dislodge and damage roofing tiles and other rooftop structures.

Like most birds, it’s not just one type of gull you have to worry about. There are over 45 species of gulls. Your typical gull is a medium to large bird with a mostly white body and grey or black markings on the wings and tail. Their stout, orange bills and webbed feet make them easily recognizable. While gulls are often found near large bodies of water like bays, inlets and lakes (as well as the ocean), they have been known to venture inland for food. So don’t be surprised to see them on the roof of your home or patio if your home is miles inland.

To keep gulls away from your home, you should first remove any open food source such as open trashcans or pet food. After that, you’ll need some effective bird control measures to keep them away. Here are three gull deterrents the pros use:

Bird Spikes for Gulls

Gulls regularly choose the roof of a home or structure to roost on. The peak of a roof is an especially desired area as it provides a nice look out point for food and predators. Bird Spikes are a humane product used to keep gulls off roof lines, parapet walls, pilings and other areas. Bird Spikes simply create an uneven surface that gulls know they cant land on. Spikes that are pre-assembled, such as the Bird B Gone Stainless or Plastic versions are easiest to install.

Bird Spiders

Bird Spiders have spindly arms that whip about in the wind. Gulls see these and will simply move on to a friendlier landing perch. Bird Spiders are easy to set up on decks, posts, atop light fixtures, rooftops, fixed umbrellas and awnings. These bird deterrents are available in 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-foot arm lengths to create larger and larger areas of bird deterrence. Look for bird spiders that feature a glue-on base, which can be attached to most surfaces.

Sonic Gull Control

No gull likes to hear his fellow gulls being attacked. Or the sound of Peregrine falcons screeching in for the kill. Sonic Bird Deterrents exploit these fears and drive gulls away. These devices broadcast prerecorded distress and predator calls that resemble normal bird sounds to humans. One popular device features a built-in speaker that covers up to one acre. The unit can be programmed to turn on or off at night, and you can even adjust the volume.

For additional advice on how to keep gulls away from your home, consult an expert like the folks at Absolute Bird Control.

Written By: Steve Begnoche – Managing Editor

Monday, April 9, 2012

Feeding the birds can be enjoyable. I had a pileated woodpecker, red-bellied woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, juncos and the first cowbirds of the season at the feeding station this weekend.

I do follow the following advice so I don’t harm the birds that visit:

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds bird-feeding enthusiasts that regularly cleaning and disinfecting the feeders are just as important as filling them – especially in efforts to prevent salmonellosis, a bacterial disease that kills many small birds.

Salmonellosis occurs when a food source is contaminated with fecal matter. Since 1970, when this bacterial disease was first diagnosed in Michigan, die-offs around bird feeders have become more common and have been witnessed in many bird species throughout the world.

According to the DNR, bird watchers have reported finding dead birds around their feeders and, on occasion, having seen “sick-acting” birds. Observable signs range from sudden death to a gradual decline of health over one to three days, accompanied by huddling of the birds, fluffed-up feathers, unsteadiness and shivering.

“We have received several calls from people who are finding dead goldfinches,” said Brian Piccolo, a DNR wildlife biologist based in Roscommon. “The best thing you can do is remove and clean your bird feeder.”

Piccolo said this bacterial disease is most common in house sparrows, pine siskins, American goldfinches and common redpolls, due to their habit of crowding onto the feeding area and remaining there until the food supply is exhausted – greatly increasing the number of bacteria a bird comes in contact with. It also appears that these four species of birds are inherently more susceptible to the bacteria than other wild birds.

The DNR advises that the most important control method for this bacterial disease is to disinfect all feeders and birdbaths weekly with a 10-percent bleach solution. If the bacterial disease is suspected, bird feed should be removed from the area for two to four weeks to allow birds to disperse; this includes encouraging neighbors to also clean and remove feeders. By allowing the birds to disperse, birds infected with the disease can separate from healthy birds. Seed that is under the feeders and on the ground should also be raked or dug up in order to remove contaminated soil.

Fortunately, salmonellosis is not a cause of significant decline in the population of any wild bird species. This disease is of interest to people feeding birds and the symptoms are sometimes mistakenly thought to be the result of poisoning.

“Feeding wildlife congregates them in a way that is not natural,” explained DNR wildlife biologist/pathologist Tom Cooley. “Disease transmission is higher when wildlife is concentrated and in closer contact with each other.”

Salmonellosis outbreaks around bird feeders generally subside with the milder weather of spring. During the spring and summer, when people typically do not feed birds, birds will forage individually while remaining in the same area.

Learn more about salmonellosis and other wildlife diseases typically found in Michigan at the DNR website, www.michigan.gov/wildlifediseasemanual.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

A former chef at the Villa Victor in Syosset who claimed he was attacked by a goose sued the restaurant for $1 million. Richard Braue insisted that he was standing by a pond on the restaurant’s property when he was charged by a Canada goose. In a fruitless attempt to stay clear of the attacking goose, Braue fell and broke his back.

In Jacksonville, Florida, a goose created somewhat of a ruckus outside an office building on Salisbury Road. Having built its nest near the perimeter of the building, the goose attacked passersby. Some say the bird is just protecting its nest. But police recently reported that the goose actually bit a woman’s ear.

Residents in Gotwals Pond in Kimberton, Chester County, Pennsylvania reported that there were 500 to 600 Canada geese on the pond. In fact, Jeff Effgan, part owner of the Kimberton Country House restaurant–which is a stone’s throw from the pond–said that one day there were so many geese on the pond, the water wasn’t even visible. Needless to say, the pond smelled pretty ripe that day.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, the growing numbers of resident Canada geese pose a threat to public health and safety and cause damage to property, agriculture and natural resources.

Without effective goose control measures, geese will typically flock around lakes, reservoirs, large ponds, and near rivers and seashores. They like to feed on aquatic vegetation, grasses, seeds and grain. When adult geese molt their flight feathers in the summer, they can’t fly and simply gather in huge annoying flocks, pecking and bumping into anyone who they regard as a threat to “their territory.”

Even when not attacking people or knocking down children, geese will leave an awful mess. The smelly, disease-carrying droppings can contaminate ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. And they’re not exactly welcome around golf courses and business parks.

Fortunately, there are a variety of goose deterrents available to commercial property owners. These are humane, since many species of geese are protected by federal and local statutes.

For large, open spaces, one popular goose deterrent is the Goose B Gone Sonic. This easy-to-use device plays recorded goose-distress calls every ten minutes to alert geese that danger is nearby. Geese hear these calls and their natural instinct makes them leave the area. The device comes with one internal speaker that will cover up to an acre. Additional speakers can be added to cover larger areas up to 5 acres. This goose deterrent is weather resistant and can be programmed to turn on or off at night.

For lawn areas, try a goose repellent. Migrate Goose Repellent for example is made from a non toxic grape extract. When geese go to graze on your lawn they will find the smell and taste of Migrate unbearable and move on to a new food source.

To deter geese from pools and other bodies of water, Predator Eye Balloons can be partially filled with water and allowed to skim the surface with their predator eyes facing up to frighten geese.

The time to implement these goose deterrents is now, before flocks of geese arrive. It’s also a good idea use goose deterrents in tandem. And to move them around for best deterrent effect.

Each year thousands of Golf Courses, Parks, Green Belts, Back Yards, Baseball Fields and even cemeteries are inundated with messy, slippery Canada Goose droppings.   Canada Geese can be found on any type of grassy area that surrounds water, from backyard ponds, to large lakes and rivers.  They breed throughout North America. Spring migration usually starts in late winter and will take several weeks to complete.  The fall migration will begin when the water and soil begins to freeze.  Geese feed mainly on land grazing on grassy plants and our lawns.  In the spring and summer they can feed for up to 12 hours a day.  This extended feeding leads to a lot of waste; a goose produces up to a pound of droppings a day.  Multiply that by hundreds of geese and you have a big problem with goose droppings.  This can lead to public health concerns in parks, golf courses, and other public areas.

One method of goose control are goose sound deterrents. 

They are relatively inexpensive methods to deter geese.  Goose Sound Deterrents are designed to change the bird’s habits before they “settle-in” and nest for the season.  It is important to employ Goose Control Sonics as soon as the first geese appear or even before.  If your property has been plagued with pest geese every year, then as soon as the frost is gone implement a sonic goose control system. Sound deterrents will play the sound of distressed geese and predator calls to scare the geese away.

The Goose Chase Super Sonic by Bird-B-Gone, Inc. is ideal for use in open areas where geese are a problem. It plays recorded goose distress calls in addition to predator calls to scare geese from large open spaces such as golf courses, parks, waterfront areas, corporate parks and more! The system is weather resistant making it ideal for outdoor use.

The Goose Chase Sonic unit does not require hiring a service company to come out and operate the system, you simply program it and let it play. You can choose a day only setting and the system can cover between 1-5 acres. Each system comes with a 30 day money back guarantee!

Written By: By Carolyn Kissoon

Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Written By: Victoria Kim, March 19, 2012 | 10:17 am

The air may still be chilly from the weekend’s winter storm, but San Juan Capistrano is gearing up for spring by celebrating the annual return of the swallows.

Monday marks Swallows’ Day for Mission San Juan Capistrano, where lore has it cliff swallows arrive each year after wintering 6,000 miles away in Argentina, just in time for St. Joseph’s Day. Although the birds have hardly been seen at the mission in recent years, they nest in small numbers elsewhere in town in the eaves of a college, a shopping mall, and underneath freeway overpasses.

The Orange County city will hold its annual Swallows’ Day Parade and street fair Saturday, featuring more than 400 horses and 11 marching bands. The theme of this year’s festival, according to organizers, is celebrating the Old West.

The swallows depart San Juan Capistrano for their winter home in October, around the Day of San Juan, and are said to circle the mission bidding farewell.

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For humane solutions to prevent swallows from nesting on your home or business, visit the  Absolute Bird Control swallows page on our site found HERE. The best way to deter swallows from nesting is to psychically block them from a nesting site using bird netting, bird slope, no nasty nest, or other similar products.  If you need help with installation, call us at (877) 820-8205 for a qualified installer in your area.

Written By: Fran Prisco

These beautiful birds begin to build their mud nests on our buildings, barns, homes and other areas like bridges.  Swallows typically build mud nests close to overhead shelter in locations that are protected from both the weather and predators. Many cave and cliff dwelling species of swallow nest in large colonies.  These large colonies have been known to take over the sides of bridges, railroad trusses and even buildings.

Swallows are excellent fliers, and use these skills to attract a mate and to defend territory. In general, the males select a nest site, and then attract a female using song and flight, and guard their territory. The size of the territory varies depending on the species of swallow; in colonial-nesting species it tends to be small, but it may be much larger for solitary nesters.
Pairs of mated swallows are monogamous, and pairs of non-migratory species often stay near their breeding area all year, though the nest site is defended most vigorously during the breeding season. Migratory species often return to the same breeding area each year, and may select same nest site if they were previously successful in that location. First-year breeders generally select a nesting site close to where they were born and raised.
Most species hunt over open country or near water.
In the United States, all swallows are classified as migratory insectivorous birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.  Swallows are also protected by state regulations.  It is illegal for any person to take, possess, transport, sell, or purchase swallows or their parts, such as feathers, nets, or eggs, without a permit.  As a result, certain activities affecting swallows are subject to legal restrictions, such as removing nests, capture and release or destroying the birds.

Nesting Sites
It is not yet fully understood what creates an ideal nesting site for swallows, it seems that architectural design does influence site suitability.  Buildings with overhanging eaves at right angles with the wall are usually chosen sites.  Sites where the overhang and wall meet at an odd angle or are rounded or concave are rarely used as nesting sites.  The width of the overhang can also be important, few nests have been observed with a overhang of less than 6 to 8 inches.
The texture of the wall is also a factor; wood, stucco, masonry and concrete surface are preferred sites for attaching nests than say to metal.  Swallows are known to move to nearby structures when control methods are applies at an existing nesting site.

Damage

Swallows such as Cliff Swallows nest in colonies and are often found where humans live. Swallow colonies on buildings and other structures can become a major nuisance, causing thousands of dollars of damage from their droppings and nesting residue.  Besides the unsightly mess that swallow droppings leave, they can also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Their mud nests eventually will fall to the ground and can cause similar problems.  Parasites can also be found in swallow nests, including swallow bugs, fleas, ticks, and mites; these may bite human and domestic animals such as dogs and cats.

Control Methods

Exclusion:
Exclusion refers to any method that denies the bird physical access to a nesting site.  It is a permanent solution that should be done before nesting begins.  Plastic netting such as Ultra Netting available at Absolute Bird Control, is a good barrier between swallows and a nesting site.  You should use a ¾ inch mesh size.  The netting should be pulled taut to reduce flapping in the wind.  Install net before the swallows arrive.  It may be left up all year or taken down after the nesting season.  It is best to secure the Ultra Netting using the Ultra Netting Poly Clips.  Attach the netting to the outer edge of the eave of the home down to the side to the wall creating an 45 degree angel.  This will keep the bird from getting into the sheltered space under the eaves of homes and buildings.
There are four methods that can be used to deter pest swallows from building their nests under the eaves of your home.
1.    Netting attached from the outer edge of the eave down to the side of the building.

2.    A curtain of netting attached to the eave, hanging about 4 inches out from the side of your home.

3.    Projections, such as plastic or stainless steel bird spikes, along the junction of the wall and eave of your home.

4.    A slippery panel, such as Bird Slope, to form a smooth surface under the eave of your home

Substrate Modification:

Swallows like to build their nests on surfaces that will provide a good foothold for attaching the nesting materials. This would include rough surfaces like stucco.  Creating a slick surface on the nesting walls will discourage the birds and they will look elsewhere to find a good nesting spot.  You can use the Bird Slope product available at Absolute Bird Control to keep the swallows from building nest under the eaves of your home. It is easy to install and can be left up all year and painted to match the sides of the building.  The bird slope creates a “slippery” surface for the birds, so they cannot build their nests under the eaves of your home or commercial building.
The best advise to keep swallows off of your home or commercial building is to do something before the swallows arrive.  Put up netting, bird spikes, bird slope or other means of deterring nest building before the building begins.  Once the birds arrive and start building, it is nearly impossible to get rid of them.  There is a myth that hosing down the nests as they build will keep them from finishing.  Not true.  They are tenacious birds and will keep on building until the job is done.  You must also be aware of the laws that protect these birds, you do not want to be fined!  If you feel that you cannot do the work yourself, contact Absolute Bird Control, Inc. at www.absolutebirdcontrol.com, they have a network of Certified Installers that can help you get the job done.

References:
W. Paul Gorenzel, Terrell P. Salmon. “Swallows”, from Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage – 1994. United States Department of Agriculture.

Now a group of Walney residents are calling for the council to take action over a pigeon infestation blighting their neighborhood.

Hundreds of birds have taken up residence on the houses of Lord Roberts Street and surrounding area since their nesting place – the former Vickerstown Methodist Church – was demolished.

The street was recently cleaned by Barrow Borough Council, but before that residents said the muck-ridden pavements were a no-go area.

Vicky and Dan Sharp live in the street with their four children Savannah, eight, Lexi, six, Elliot, four, and baby Hallie.

She said: “The mess comes in the house on my pram wheels and it gets on the kid’s shoes. With the little one crawling, I get worried about her touching it.”

Christine and Neil Clark have lived in the street for more than 30 years.

Mrs Clark said: “We have trouble with the seagulls as it is but now we’ve got a double problem with the pigeons.

“We try and swill our front down regularly, but then as soon as you walk on any other part of the street you pick it up on your shoes anyway.

“The church has caused us no end of grief since it was left to ruin.”

Another Lord Roberts Street resident, Craig Mitchell said he walks down the road, rather than the pavement, to get to his front door.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

Spring and nesting season for birds is right around the corner. Migrating birds will be looking for nesting sites and homeowners and businesses will be looking for humane solutions to keep birds off their structures.

Companies that sell bird deterrent products often refer to this time of the year as bird season and anticipate business to pick up as birds choose to nest under eaves, in vents, gutters, rooftops, and other areas.

Just as any other industry, there are opportunists out there looking to make a quick buck on “bird season” by selling ultrasonic devices to repel birds. Companies make exuberant claims about how their unit can repel birds with high frequency noises, but there is just one problem, birds hear on the same level as humans and not not hear ultrasonic bird deterrent devices.

Sometimes hardware or lawn & garden companies advertise ultrasonic devices that are supposed to drive birds away with high frequency noises undetectable to humans. Sounds like a good idea, right? Blast out sounds birds can hear but we can’t—what’s not to like?

Unfortunately, the truth is that birds do not actually hear these ultrasonic sounds any better than humans do, and there is no scientific evidence that these devices actually work. The bottom line is that birds cannot hear ultrasonic frequencies and ultrasonic devices don’t work.

Humans hear sounds between the frequencies of about 20 to 20,000 acoustical vibrations per second (hertz or Hz). Middle C is about 262 Hz and the highest piano key (C8) is about 4186 Hz. As you get older, you lose the higher frequency sounds; middle-aged people can often hear sounds only up to 12,000-14,000 Hz (12-14kHz). High frequency dog whistles work because dogs can hear sounds up to 40-60 kHz. Bats use sounds up to 100 kHz to help them locate their flying insect prey and avoid obstacles in the night sky.

Birds, on the other hand, usually hear best between 1-5 kHz, with total hearing between .5 and 8 kHz. There is a huge amount of variation between species. Some songbirds—especially those with high pitched songs—can hear up to about 20 kHz. There are some discrepancies in studies of the upper limits of bird hearing, but in the most recent tests, no birds have been shown to hear frequencies above 20 kHz. Even birds like oilbirds and swiftlets that are known to use sound for echolocation in dark caves only use audible sounds between 1 and 15 kHz. For this reason, ultrasonic devices using frequencies between 15-30 kHz are completely ineffective save for a few songbirds.

While birds may not hear higher frequency sounds any better than people do, a few including pigeons and owls may actually hear lower frequency sounds better. In 1979 researchers discovered that some pigeons can hear sounds as low as .05 Hz. That’s the kind of low infrasounds created by earthquakes, winds over distant mountains, or waves on distant shorelines. Some researchers have speculated that these birds can use these distant sounds to help them maintain a general sense of direction.

So before you buy an ultrasonic bird scaring device costing several hundred dollars, remember this general rule: most birds hear about as good as you do—even with your middle-age hearing loss!

More Info Online:
R. Beason, What Can Birds Hear? http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10113/39870/1/IND44322443.pdf
R. Dooling (2002) Avian Hearing and the Avoidance of Wind Turbines, http://www.nrel.gov/wind/pdfs/30844.pdf

J. Hagstrum (2000), Infrasound and the Avian Navigational Map, Hearing http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/203/7/1103.pdf

G. Ramel, Bird Hearing, http://www.earthlife.net/birds/hearing.html

About Dr. Rob:

Dr. Rob Fergus is an ornithologist who specializes in urban bird conservation, urban ecology and human/wildlife interactions.

He received his Ph.D. in urban bird conservation from the University of Texas at Austin. After founding the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory in Austin Texas, he created additional bird conservation programs and became the first executive director of the 2,500 member Travis Audubon Society.

In 2004 he moved to suburban Philadelphia where he was the Senior Scientist for Urban Bird Conservation at the National Audubon Society until 2009. In addition to researching and consulting on human/bird interactions in cities across the United States, Latin America, and Europe, Dr. Fergus currently teaches at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, and Rosemont College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Rob has teamed up with Bird-B-Gone to help answer your bird questions and help bridge the gap between the science of nature, and the nature of bird control.

Get answers on specific pest bird problems, bird habits, bird behavior and more. Email Dr. Fergus at asktheexpert@absolutebirdcontrol.com directly and he will email you a personalized response.

Written By: Jen Thorpe

There are specific types of things that a homeowners insurance policy will cover. Problems arise when a person files a claim for damages that come from unlikely, or unusual, sources. A couple in Texas learned that their homeowners insurance won’t cover damages done by dead birds.

A homeowners insurance policy is designed to give you some financial protection in case certain types of damages happen to your home, garage, driveway, or the contents of your home. It also can provide some financial assistance if someone comes to your home and gets injured. (That part would be covered if your policy includes “Liability”).

Problems happen when a homeowner files a claim for damages caused by something unusual. This is when insurers tend to refuse to cover the claim. A couple in El Paso, Texas, says that their insurance company has refused to cover the damages that were caused to their home by hundreds of dead birds.

The family noticed that their heater had stopped working. They suspected that the cause was a gas leak. The father of the family went into the attic of the home. I presume that he went up there in the hopes that he would find the reason why the heater wouldn’t work.

What he discovered were the carcases of hundreds of dead birds. An exterminator was called. The exterminator said that there were three possible entry points that could have been how the birds got into the attic. They couldn’t find their way back out.

The exterminator said that in addition to the actual carcasses, there were more potential health hazards from the mites, ticks, and fleas that may have been on the birds, and from the feces the birds left behind before they died. These contagions could have been spread through the heating ducts into the rest of the house.

ARTICLE CONTINUES HERE

Written By: Jenny Coombe, Feb 21, 2012

A MAN whose balcony has been over-run with pigeons claims he has been asking Hillingdon Council to do something about the problem for two years.

About 15 birds regularly roost outside the council flat, in Chester House, Heritage Close in Cowley. They have made at least two nests, laid eggs, and a baby pigeon was even born inside a flower pot.

Tenant Kapil Shrestha, 54, says the noise from the birds keeps him and his wife awake at night and the smell is intolerable.

Pigeon droppings build up so quickly that he regularly has to pay professional cleaners to sort out the mess as the arthritis sufferer and his 53-year-old wife Sheela, who has a heart condition, cannot manage it themselves.

He said: “I complained to the housing office in Yiewsley about it two years ago.

“I asked them if they could put up a net, like other buildings have.”

However, the council has said it will need to speak to Mr Shrestha’s neighbours about whether they would be happy to have their balconies covered because so far he is the only one who has complained

Mr Shrestha and his wife had to move their bed into the living room, which adjoins the balcony, as their bedroom was too cold, but this means they are even closer to the nesting birds at night.

Mr Shreshta said: “Day and night we hear them out there.

“They keep us awake.

“When you open the windows in the summer, flies come in because they have been attracted by the smell.

“We can smell it in the kitchen and when we are trying to eat food.”

Nylon netting is used extensively to protect buildings from pigeons. It is attached to the building and stops the birds from landing and nesting.

Neil Stubbings, deputy director of social care, health and housing said: “We have received a quote from our contractors for netting all balconies on this block. However, before establishing if we have available funding and proceeding with any works, we need to ensure that there are no objections from other residents to having their balconies covered, as we have only received one complaint about pigeons from Mr Shrestha.”

ORIGINAL POST HERE

Gulls or Seagulls, are often found in coastal areas, and around rivers and lakes. They are aggressive scavengers, feasting mainly on fish, crabs, field mice and insects. But when they gather around boats, docks and any type of outdoor eatery, they will brazenly move in and snatch food scraps off tables. They will hover around benches, awnings and fixed umbrellas and dive in for a quick meal when patrons turn their backs on their food.

Gulls create quite a din during their nesting season, typically April to July. They’ll gather in huge flocks and leave pounds of droppings in their wake. These droppings contain uric acid, which, left to gather, can eat into paint, metal, wood and plastic. Gull droppings also pose a health risk, since they can harbor a variety of diseases. One must be careful, even when cleaning dried gull droppings as the dust can still release airborne bacteria that can be inhaled and cause respiratory problems.

Gulls often gather on the masts of boats and will nest in unattended vessels, leaving droppings and other rotting offal. The stench can be overwhelming. And the clean -up can be a major chore for boat owners. Likewise, restaurant owners must clean up gull waste and debris in unattended areas of their eatery when gulls invade and nest.

One way to discourage gulls from gathering on boats, docks and outdoor eateries is through the use of Plastic Bird Spikes.

Boat owners like them because they are non-conductive. Which means they can be used high on masts near RF antennas without interfering with radar or ship to shore or ship-to-ship transmissions. They can also be used near cell phone or airport towers. These days, you can get spikes in several colors–including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and even crystal clear.

Plastic bird spikes won’t rust or rot and they’re very durable. That makes them ideal for seaside locales. The best plastic spikes are made of 100% post-industrial plastic, which is tough, strong, and eco-friendly. Better plastic spikes are also U.V. protected to endure long periods in sunlight and bad weather. Some manufacturers offer a full 5-year guarantee on their plastic bird spikes, which covers you against breakdown of the product and UV degradation of the plastic.

Installation is easy. One row of plastic bird spikes usually covers a 7-inch wide area. The best plastic spikes are affixed to a flexible base that readily conforms to a curved surface. A glue trough on the base of each strip makes for fast, trouble-free installs.

Yes, Gulls can be a problem. But you can keep them at bay by installing bird proofing devices before they arrive.