1. Bird droppings can do serious damage. Aside from being unpleasant and messy, bird droppings can cause irreversible damage to property, equipment and products. When droppings are not washed away quickly, they dry out and turn to salt and ammonia. When this substance later comes into contact with rainwater or other moisture, small electrochemical reactions take place that can speed up the rusting process. These corrosive droppings also eat away at paint, concrete and metal — they can even cause structural failure!
2. Birds can carry bacteria, viruses, parasites and other diseases. Birds are linked to more than 60 transmissible (some even potentially fatal) diseases. A few that we hear about regularly include: Salmonella, E. coli, bird flu (H5N1), West Nile Virus, bed bugs, chicken mites and yellow mealworms. Areas where bird droppings are a problem have the highest risk of becoming contaminated with these diseases.
3. Birds choose their perches and roosts carefully. During the day, we see rooftops and ledges covered with pigeons and other pest birds. This is because they seek out perches high above, where they can constantly scan the area below for food. However, at night, birds find places to roost based on warmth and safety. This is why we find their nests built in and around chimneys, heating vents and other warm openings.
4. Studies show that poisoning pigeons can actually increase infestation. When pigeon populations are poisoned, the surviving birds end up with more food than before. Instead of birds leaving, new birds are attracted to the area, which encourages breeding. Because pigeons can breed up to six times per year, it doesn’t take long for populations to re-grow and even outgrow their previous numbers. It is much more effective to use bird control methods that train birds to stay away.
5. Birds can be trained to “stay away” from certain areas. Birds will remember having unpleasant experiences in specific areas, especially when professional bird control products are used. Companies like Bird-X specialize in these types of solutions. For example, barriers such as bird spikes and bird netting cause birds to remember that your property provides no area for comfortable perching or roosting. Similarly, visual and sonic/ultrasonic repellents attack the birds’ senses, preying on their natural fear of predators; they instinctually avoid areas where these attacks have taken place. Find out more about humane, eco-friendly bird and pest control solutions at www.bird-x.com.
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