How to Keep Birds Out of Amusement Parks this Spring

by Alex A. Kecskes
If you run an amusement park, you know what a nuisance pest birds can be. They poop all over your outdoor eateries and snack bars, creating an unhealthful mess on tables, awnings, chairs and benches—places where your cleanup crew must spend valuable time scrubbing with disinfectant.

Keep in mind that bird droppings can carry any of 60 known diseases. Too many birds can create a health code violation that can result in sick patrons. One particularly troublesome illness caused by inhaled aerated bird droppings is a disease called histoplasmosis, which is characterized by constant flu-like symptoms.

Bird nests, feathers and droppings also wreak havoc with rides, moving displays and other exhibits, clogging wheels and mechanisms, leaving droppings on seats and handrails. This can result in ride breakdowns and very upset patrons. The maintenance and repairs to this equipment can be costly, and so can the lost revenue due to non-operation. It also means more mess for your cleanup crew to deal with.


And lest we not forget all the slip-and fall hazards bird droppings create. Just consider the countless kids and teens who visit your park every day, many of them running. All it takes is on injury blamed on bird droppings and you've got a huge legal liability that can damage your park's reputation and cost you plenty in a big settlement.


Which brings us to one of the most effective bird control measures ever devised--the Bird Spike. Properly installed on rooflines, parapet walls, light-posts and signage, bird spikes can prevent birds from landing virtually anywhere they're placed. Which means if you have a problem with pigeons, crows or seagulls, an investment in bird spikes made throughout your amusement park can make a huge difference. It can drive down your maintenance and clean-up costs and keep your park clean-looking and sanitary.


Your maintenance crew can easily install bird spikes using glue, nails or screws. And because they're blunted at the tips, they won't harm birds or your maintenance crew. Bird spikes have even been approved by the U.S. Humane Society and PICAS (Pigeon Control Advisory Service).

Today, bird spikes come in rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate or high strength, durable stainless steel. The steel spikes come in 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths; the less expensive plastic spikes come in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths. Spikes with a non-reflective metal finish are also available. And colors now include white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear to match your park's color scheme.

Remember the best way to solve any bird problem is to plan ahead. And now is the time to install bird spikes to keep pest birds away from your amusement park.

Related articles

• Bird Spikes Keep Spring Birds Away (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• How to Keep Birds From Landing with Bird Spikes (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Bird Spikes Can Deter Pest Birds from Commercial Buildings (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Controlling Pest Birds with Bird Spikes (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Bird Deterrents Say "Shoo" to Pest Birds (birddeterrent.wordpress.com)
• Time to Bird Proof Your Property (birdproof.wordpress.com)
• Plastic Bird Spikes Combine Economy with Efficiency (birdspike.wordpress.com)

How to Keep Birds From Landing with Bird Spikes

 

By Alex A. Kecskes

Commercial buildings have all sorts of places pest birds like to gather. One of their favorite places to squat on is the parapet wall, especially with the approach of spring. These low walls, constructed above the roofline, usually span around the perimeter of a building.

The top of a parapet wall is most vulnerable to pest birds. These walls are usually capped off with limestone, terra cotta, hard-fired clay, or pre-cast concrete. All these materials tend to be porous and "drink up" bird droppings. This makes for a very unsightly wall. If the bird droppings are not removed and left to accumulate, they can eventually eat into the wall and cause it to crumble. If the wall is capped off in metal, bird droppings can discolor the metal and eventually eat into it, creating unsightly holes.

One of the most effective ways to keep large pest birds off parapet walls is the Bird Spike. Recommended by architects, contractors and government agencies, these spiked strips make it impossible for birds to land on or near the wall. The blunted spikes will not cut or injure the installer and are available in different sizes. You can get long-lasting stainless steel spikes, which come in 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths; or the less expensive plastic spikes, which come in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths. Some bird spikes have a non-reflective metal finish.

The best steel bird spikes are manufactured into a UV-protected polycarbonate base. These feature a patented bend-and-crush design to keep the spikes from falling out of the base. The durable stainless steel bird spike comes pre-assembled in two-foot sections. They're easy to install because the strips feature pre-drilled holes along the base, so they can be glued, nailed, or screwed into any surface. One manufacturer offers a 10-year guarantee against UV breakdown of its product.

The best plastic bird spikes are made of a UV-protected polycarbonate plastic. They're GSA approved, humane and blunted at the tips so as not to injure birds or the installer. They work just as effectively as the stainless steel models, but since they are non-conductive, they won't interfere with cell phone antennas, dish antenna or other wireless transmissions or reception. They can also tolerate extreme temperatures from 310°F to -200°F.

Plastic bird spikes come in two-foot sections, 50 feet per box. The spiked strips are available in three different widths--3-, 5- and 7-inch--to accommodate the parapet on which they are installed. The base of the spike is 1.5 inches wide, and can be glued, nailed, or tied down to most surfaces. A handy glue trough on the base of the spike ensures fast, easy application. To more closely match the exterior façade of your commercial building, you can now plastic get bird spikes in different colors--like white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear. One manufacturer offers a 5-year guarantee on its plastic spikes.

Remember the key to keeping pest birds from your parapet wall is to install effective bird deterrents now, before the birds arrive in spring.

Related articles

• Bird Spikes Keep Spring Birds Away (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Controlling Pest Birds with Bird Spikes (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Bird Spikes Can Deter Pest Birds from Commercial Buildings (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Plastic Bird Spikes Combine Economy with Efficiency (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Heavy Duty Bird Netting for Your Warehouse: Effective and Humane (birdnet.wordpress.com)

Controlling Pest Birds with Bird Spikes

By: Fran Prisco

The name bird spikes conjures up notions of barbarians with studded weapons used against defenseless little birds, but that is just not true.  Bird control spikes, also known as needle spikes or anti-roosting spikes are devices consisting of long, needle-like spikes used to control pest birds.  The needles or spikes are usually all plastic or a plastic base with stainless steel spikes.  They are harmless to pest birds, the spikes are not sharp, but create an unsuitable landing area for the birds so they move on to a more hospitable site.  Bird spikes are designed to keep pest pigeons and larger birds off of building ledges, signs, parapet walls and other flat surfaces that pest birds like to roost and nest on.

Every year millions of dollars are spent cleaning up after and repairing the damage caused by pest birds such as pigeons, sea gulls, crows and other urban birds. Not only are these problems unsightly; pest birds and their feces can spread 60 plus transmittable diseases. Safety, sanitation and health hazards caused by bird droppings can pose serious liability risks, and left untreated, can lead to accidents and lawsuits. Bird feces, bird nests and debris can also create a bad public image with tenants and patrons. Individuals, companies and government agencies are tired of cleaning up bird feces or repairing the damage that is caused by pest birds and their droppings. Instead they have decided to invest in a Bird Control Solution, which is often as simple as installing bird spikes.

Bird spikes are made in one-foot or two-foot lengths, with different widths.  The widths of the spikes are usually 3”, 5” and 8”.  The width of the bird spike used is determined by the area to be covered.  It is best if the entire surface area that birds are landing on is covered with bird spikes.  Installation of bird spikes is often as easy as applying adhesive or screwing them down.  Once installed bird spikes are virtually invisible, not taking away from architectural detail.  If you look hard around any major city in the country, you will find bird spikes on building ledges, signs, light posts and other areas.

Bird spikes have been labeled as the “most effective type of bird deterrent”.  They are also one of the most economical pest bird deterrents; requiring little to no maintenance once installed.  Bird spikes made of rigid plastic and high-grade stainless steel can last over 10-years installed on a building and retain their effectiveness.  Most are manufactured with U.V. protectors in the plastic so that sun and weather have little effect on the material.  When purchasing bird spikes, be sure that they are constructed of rigid U.V. protected plastic like those available at Bird-B-Gone, Inc.

Related articles

• Controlling Pest Birds with Bird Spikes (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Bird Spikes Can Deter Pest Birds from Commercial Buildings (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Bird Spikes Keep Spring Birds Away (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Plastic Bird Spikes Combine Economy with Efficiency (birdspike.wordpress.com)
• Bird Netting Can Save You Big Money (birdnet.wordpress.com)
• Got Birds? No-Knot Bird Netting Keeps ThemOut of your Commercial Building (birdnet.wordpress.com)
• Heavy Duty Bird Netting for Your Warehouse: Effective and Humane (birdnet.wordpress.com)
• Bird Netting to Deter Pest Birds (birdnet.wordpress.com)
• Stop Pest Birds with Bird Netting (birdnet.wordpress.com)