by Alex A. Kecskes
Outdoor strip malls are popping up everywhere, slowly replacing the enclosed mall as leasing prices for the latter continue to rise. The one problem strip malls have is that they are exposed to the elements—and that includes pest birds. Without bird control measures to deter them, these "unwelcome shoppers" love to settle in on rooftops, parapet walls, signs, A.C. units, and rooftop ducting. From there, they can swoop down on walkways, tables, chairs, benches and umbrellas to feed on food scraps left by shoppers.
In many locations throughout the country, there's a war going on between strip mall owners/managers and pest birds. Strip mall owners spend millions of dollars annually on clean ups and repairs caused by birds. Bird droppings on a store's signs, windows and facades can seriously detract from its appearance. The acid produced by the fungi that live in bird droppings can corrode metal, mar plastic, deface wood and erode stone. Strip mall owners get a lot of grief from store owners who must constantly hire expensive cleaning and maintenance crews to repair the damage caused by pest birds. This includes clearing out gutters and down pipes, as well as repairing expensive rooftop A.C. compressors and fans.
Then there are the hidden costs of dwindling shoppers who are turned off by bird droppings and simply choose to shop at another store or strip mall. Who wants to eat at an outdoor restaurant whose tables, chairs and umbrellas are covered with smelly, disease carrying bird droppings? Bird droppings can also create serious slip-and-fall hazards that can result in a legal liability for the store owners as well as the strip mall owner.
So what can you do to keep pest birds away from your strip mall? Here's one suggestion: Bird Spikes.
Ideal for pigeons and other large birds, bird spikes have kept strip malls and retail stores bird free for many years. These popular bird proofing devices work because they prevent pest birds from landing. And if they can't land, they won't nest or roost. And it's bye-bye birdie. Bird spikes come in strong, rigid unbreakable polycarbonate or flexible stainless steel. They are usually manufactured in two-foot long strips for easy installation on most any surface. And unlike some bird control methods, bird spikes are blunted so they won't harm birds or maintenance crews. The best spikes are made of marine-grade stainless steel and feature a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base. Some bird pikes come with a non-reflective metal finish. And you can even get bird spikes in a variety of colors to match a store's façade—including white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear.
A variation of the bird spike is the Gutter Bird Spike. These are ideal bird control device for keeping pest birds out of rain gutters. The best gutter spikes come with adjustable clamps at the base for fast, easy installation to the lip of a gutter. There's also the Mega Spike, which features long, 7-inch spikes to deter cormorants, turkey vultures, raptors and other large birds.
