**Bird Control Methods:**
– Bird control devices are categorized as deterrents and exclusions.
– Deterrent devices like sonic units and bird spikes discourage birds.
– Exclusion devices like bird netting entirely prevent birds from entering.
– Effective methods include low-current shock wire and strips.
– Physical deterrents include spike systems, bird netting, and electrified wire systems.
– Safer methods like bird netting and low-current electric barriers are recommended.
– Humane Society suggests using bird netting, bird wire, contraceptives, and electric barriers.
**Chemical Deterrents:**
– Chemical deterrents range from turf products to avicides.
– Taste aversion products and fogging agents are used for birds.
– Restrictions exist on chemicals targeting birds to prevent harm.
– Non-avicide chemical deterrents are commonly used with limited results.
– Chemical deterrents are not always effective in bird control.
**Acoustic Deterrents:**
– Sonic avian deterrents use sounds like predator cries to discourage pest birds.
– Ultrasonic avian deterrents are inaudible to humans.
– New technology uses benign sounds to deter birds and animals.
– Sonic Net technology aims to displace problematic birds and reduce risks.
– Sonic devices have limited effectiveness in preventing bird habitation.
**Wind-Based Deterrents:**
– Wind-driven scare devices include tapes, balloons, kites, and spinning turbines.
– Devices reflect sunlight and scare birds new to an area.
– Birds may become accustomed to scare devices if they pose no real threat.
– Wind-based scare devices have limited long-term effectiveness.
– Continuous management is necessary for wind-based scare devices to be effective.
**Raptors in Bird Control:**
– Falconers can request various raptor species for falconry except golden eagles.
– The use of bald or golden eagles for abatement is prohibited.
– Raptors used for abatement must be captive-bred and banded.
– Regulations ensure proper handling and use of raptors for bird abatement.
– Species like Peregrine Falcons and Harris Hawks are used for bird control.
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Bird control or bird abatement involves the methods to eliminate or deter pest birds from landing, roosting and nesting.
Bird control is important because pest birds can create health-related problems through their feces, including histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis. Bird droppings may also cause damage to property and equipment. Birds also frequently steal from crops and fruit orchards.
Methods of bird control include physical deterrents, visual deterrents, multi-sensory deterrents, sonic devices, trained birds of prey (falconry), chemicals, contraceptives and active barriers, among others. Birds usually adapt quickly to most static bird control devices because the birds adapt after exposure to false threats. The avian control devices that are most effective either physically "block" the birds or "actively modify behavior" using a mild harmless shock.
Bird control is frequently used for birds considered pests, such as feral pigeons, common starlings, house sparrows, crows and gulls, depending on the area.