by Alex A. Kecskes
Some warehouses, airplane hangars, marinas, dumpsites, and other structures or buildings near lakes and coastal areas are acutely vulnerable to very large pest birds. Without proper bird control measures to deter them, these large birds can cause considerable damage to rooftop A.C. units, skylights, sliding doors and rooftop ventilators and many other areas.
If your property is being besieged by really large birds like larger pigeons, seagulls, cormorants, vultures, raptors and the like, you may want to look into getting the Mega Spike. Like Gutter Spikes, these marine-grade stainless steel spikes are built into a U.V. protected polycarbonate base. The big difference is that these bird spikes have long, 7-inch spikes and will cover a 3- to 7-inch area.
Mega Bird Spikes can be used in light to heavy pressure situations. Heavy pressure areas will have lots of birds nesting or roosting at the site with a food or water source nearby. Medium Pressure is often a food or afternoon resting site, but not used for nesting or roosting. Light Pressure sites offer no food or shelter and birds stop only briefly during the day.
Before installing Mega Spikes, make sure that the surface is clean and dry. When cleaning out bird droppings, feathers and nests, be sure to wear Proper Protective Equipment (PPE) like eye and respiratory protection, as bird debris can carry any of 60 known diseases.
Install the spikes on ledges, I-beams, parapet walls, conduits and pipes--on flat or curved surfaces--wherever pest birds are most likely to gather. Mega spikes come in convenient 2-foot lengths to make installation simple. When installing the spikes, the width of the spikes should protect the surface, leaving no more than a 1-inch gap on either side. To attach the spike, use glue, screws, or tie it down to the surface using common hose clamps, nylon ties or wire lashings. If you intend to glue the spikes in place, apply construction-grade adhesives (available at most hardware stores). And make sure you use a high elasticity U.V.-resistant sealant that stands up to weather extremes (40 to 170 degrees F). You can get this sealant in a variety of colors—like black, gray and white.
For additional advice on how to properly install bird spikes, consult an expert like the folks at Bird-B-Gone.
