Identifying and managing bird populations

Mike Dougherty is a senior technical specialist for Bird-B-Gone.

The key to a successful bird management program is finding out as much as you can about the population at hand by doing the following:

1. Identify the bird species. Many methods used in bird control are species-specific. This means techniques used for large birds may not necessarily work for small birds and vice versa. Pigeons, starlings and sparrows are non-native to North America. If the bird is not one of these three species, assume it is a native, migratory or protected bird until properly identified.

2. Identify where the birds are located. Is the area covered or exposed? If the birds are covered, sheltered and nesting, exclusionary methods will be necessary. Open, exposed areas such as rooftops and parapet ledges are prone to perching and roosting birds. Some situations will require a multifaceted approach.

3. Identify the size of the flock. Once the flock exceeds a certain population size, reduction methods should be incorporated as appropriate.