Pest Birds Hate Bird Spikes

by Alex A. Kecskes

Not long ago, hundreds of turkey vultures invaded a northern Durham, North Carolina neighborhood. The gathering flock seemed to grow larger every day. According to one resident, the birds simply began roosting en masse behind her house. Some residents feared the vultures would swoop down on their pets. Then there were the droppings. They diseases they carried would make pets sick. Residents tried shooting blanks from a shotgun to scare them away, but the birds simply returned later.

Vultures are just one of many bird species that many property and facilities managers regard as pests. Of course, there are many other species of birds that, when gathering in large flocks on and around property, can become quite a nuisance.

Bird spikes are one way to get rid of vultures and other large, persistent pest birds. Typically, bird spikes are best used in lofty, difficult-to-reach areas where other methods may not be practical. You can choose large stainless steel spikes or plastic spikes. The stainless steel spikes cost a bit more but they last longer.  Plastic spikes are non-conductive and virtually invisible.  If you choose plastic spikes, opt for spikes made of rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate.

Either way, a quality brand of bird spike makes an ideal pest bird deterrent and should be installed in potential roosting areas—like roofs, awnings and windowsills. You should also install bird spikes on ledges, eaves, canopies or around the perimeter of a chimney top. (Some birds have been known to fall into chimneys and can be an expensive nuisance to remove.)

While vultures have been known to feast on rotting carrion, other birds like pigeons and crows can be just as “dirty.” These birds will eat trash and carry all manner of undesirable diseases—including the potentially lethal West Nile Virus. All the more reason to keep them away from your property. And one of the best ways to do that is by installing bird spikes. Bird spikes work because pest birds can’t land in their presence. They will flap around them but soon get discouraged and leave for better landing zones. Best of all, the blunted bird spikes won’t harm birds, animals or people. Installing bird spikes is easy. They can be glued down, nailed or screwed into most any surface.

The best bird spikes are designed not to get clogged by bird debris. Another major benefit of spikes is that they have been approved by virtually every humane group in the world--including The Humane Society of the United States and PICAS.

One leading manufacturer offers what they call a Mega Bird Spike. These huge spikes are ideal for deterring large birds like seagulls, cormorants, turkey vultures and raptors.
Mega spikes are typically 7 inches high and made of marine grade stainless steel for years of maintenance-free bird deterrence. Spikes with a crush proof, non-reflective metal finish are best.

Another spike designed for specific applications is the Gutter Bird Spike. Its purpose is to keep seagulls, crows, and pigeons out of rain gutters. Gutter spikes typically come in two-foot long strips. The best gutter spikes have adjustable clamps at the base so they can be readily affixed to the lip of a gutter.

In general, you’ll want to get high quality bird spikes that feature a flexible base—one that easily conforms to curved areas. This can come in very handy when installing spikes on outdoor signs or around chimneys.

Before installing bird spikes, the surface should be clean and dry. Clean out any rust, peeling paint, bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials. Birds are drawn to this debris and will consider the area “familiar and safe.” Use commercial disinfecting cleaning agents to prevent exposure to any of the 60 known airborne diseases carried by birds. Use eye and respiratory protection if the area is heavily contaminated with droppings.

For best results, close up the gaps between spike strips to less than two inches. For really wide ledges, use three or more rows of spikes and make sure to limit the gap between rows to two inches or less.

For additional advice on how to properly install bird spikes, consult an expert like the folks at Bird-B-Gone.

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You'll Like the Bird Spike For Humanely Deterring Pest Birds

by Alex A. Kecskes

Pest birds can be a real nuisance, even if they don't "attack" your property in huge flocks. One by one, they poop on your patio, your boat, or your pool and spa, and before you know it, you're faced with a big annoying clean up job.

For property and facilities managers, the problems are bigger and more expensive. Pest birds can ruin expensive rooftop air conditioners, clutter solar panels and jam up security camera mechanisms. Pest birds and their droppings can also get into electrical boxes, insulators and terminals, causing fires and shutting down factories and offices. The solution? Bird Spikes.

For municipalities, pest birds can ruin entry monuments, statues, park playgrounds and other public buildings and facilities. The cost to clean up bird droppings, nests and other debris left by pest birds can be daunting and quickly drain city coffers of much needed funds. Finally restaurants have long regarded pest birds as a costly nuisance that can drive away business. Many have sought and gotten relief from pest birds by installing bird spikes.

Pest birds can also pose a significant health problem, since many have been known to carry as many as 60 diseases. These include everything from ornithosis to the potentially lethal West Nile Virus. The bird spike can keep the carriers of these diseases from your property.

A highly effective and humane pest bird deterrent, the simple bird spike won't allow birds to land. Birds can't get their wings and feet around the threatening looking spikes, and they just move on to easier perches. Recommended by building contractors, architects, and municipalities, the blunted spikes won't harm birds or people.

Bird spikes come in rows of spike strips and are available with long-life stainless steel spikes or rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate spikes. The poly spikes are usually priced lower than their steel counterparts and preferred in areas where electrical conductivity or radio interference pose a problem.

What many people like about bird spikes is that they are an effective deterrent against a wide range of bird species. They also won't get clogged up by entrapping most debris. Another key benefit of bird spikes is that they have been approved by almost every humane group in the world--including The Humane Society of the United States and PICAS.

Buying bird spike strips is easy. They typically come in 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths and two-foot sections. Installing bird spikes is easy. They can be glued down, nailed or screwed into most any surface. Many people like bird spikes because when they are installed on buildings, signs, and rooftops, the spikes are practically invisible from the ground. This makes them aesthetically pleasing for a growing number of applications.

Some manufacturers offer a Mega Spike. These huge spikes are ideal for keeping most large birds away. In other words, if you've been inundated by seagulls, cormorants, turkey vultures and raptors, this is the spike you need. Mega spikes are typically 7” high and fabricated of marine grade stainless steel so they'll last longer. Non-reflective spikes with a crush proof, non-reflective metal finish are best. One bird proof spike has a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base and can be bent to fit curved surfaces.

Another specialized spike is the Gutter Spike. It's also ideal for keeping large pest birds from landing--birds like seagulls, crows, and pigeons. But its major advantage is that it can keep these birds from nesting and clogging gutters or drains. Gutter spikes can typically be ordered in two-foot long strips. Some have adjustable clamps at the base so they can be conveniently attached to the lip of a gutter.

The best bird spikes have a flexible base. This means they will easily conform to curved areas, an ideal feature for many outdoor signs and other hard-to-cover areas. Before installing bird spikes, be sure to clean out the area. The surface should be dry and free of bird droppings and other nesting debris. When using glue to install the bird spikes, apply the glue generously onto the base of the spike (about 1/2-inch thick). For uneven surfaces, you'll need to apply more glue to ensure a firm seal. Be sure to press the base of the spike level with the edge of the surface. And remember to allow some overhang of the spike pins.

For best deterrent effect, close up the gaps between spike strips to less than two inches.  Birds are clever and will find a way to sneak around the spikes. For really wide ledges, use three or more rows of spikes and make sure to limit the gap between rows to two inches or less. Pest birds will find the cavity behind a spike strip and sneak in, so be aware of this and install the bird spikes carefully.

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How to Install Mega Bird Spikes

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.

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Brainy Birds Get the Point

By Terra Anders

Being called a “bird brain” is not necessarily an insult.  The proper response might be, “Which bird?”  Scientists have studied this very topic; the size of birds’ brains in relation to the intelligent behavior that they exhibit.  Those who are waging a battle to get rid of birds on their roofs or rafters should take heed.  They may not be dealing with idiots. 

While admittedly the definition of intelligence itself is still controversial among the scientific experts, the study of how birds display intelligent behavior is based almost entirely on observational conclusions.  Still, observing is one of the fundamental scientific tools for any scientist, so it does seem to hold at least some weight.  Anyone considering bird prevention on property and structures must take into account the kind of bird that is causing the problem.

In his efforts to further define exactly what intelligence is, behavioral scientist, Louis Lefebvre, spent some time on researching birds and their ability to innovate.  In this case, he defined innovation as the ability to adapt to changing or different challenges.  Most of the studies revealed that birds seem to be most innovative when it comes to where to live and how to get their next meal.  Bird lovers around the globe have reported amazing bird behavior, and Lefebvre studied these reports to determine if we could learn anything new about human intelligence from these so-called “bird brain” activities. The information from this study also helps us understand how to more effectively adapt our own bird removal techniques.

How to Install Bird Spikes

by Alex A. Kecskes
Larger pest birds like pigeons, crows or gulls love to gather in the many nooks and crannies of a structure or building. They’ll land on signs, rooftops and windowsills to roost and nest, creating quite a mess. A single pigeon, for example, can excrete up to 25 pounds of droppings every year. Federal, state and local wildlife protection ordinances forbid the use of lethal or harmful bird control measures against many types of birds. So what can you do?
Increasingly, many facilities and property managers have installed one of the most popular and effective bird control measures on the market—the Bird Spike. These humane bird proofing devices are widely used throughout the world. And they’re now available in a variety of types, sizes and colors.
For example, there’s the Stainless Steel bird spike. It’s ideal for use in Light to Heavy Bird Pressure environments—in both enclosed or exposed areas. Bird pressure is basically defined as how determined a bird is to remain in the area. 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.
Bird spikes should be installed on ledges, I-beams, parapet walls, conduits and signs--on flat or curved surfaces. Stainless steel spikes come in rows of spiked strips in 3-, 5- and 8-inch widths and two-foot sections. The 3-inch spikes will provide 2 to 4 inches of coverage on a 5-inch wide ledge; the 5-inch spikes will cover 5 to 7-inches on a 7-inch wide ledge; and the 8-inch spikes will cover 8 to 10 inches on a 10-inch wide ledge. One manufacturer offers a stainless steel spike with a patented “bend-and-crush” design for permanent installations. It features up to 40 spikes per foot in a linear array. The unique “no-nest” design features no-gap spacing to deter birds from roosting or landing.
To properly install stainless steel bird spikes, the surface should be clean and dry. 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. For pipes and conduits, use a 1-inch spike to cover 1 to 2 inches. To install them, use common hose clamps, nylon ties or wire lashings.
Bird spikes also come in rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate and are ideal for deterring pigeons, seagulls or larger birds in Light to Heavy Bird Pressure areas. Plastic bird spikes can be used around cell phone antennas and other radio frequency aerials without concerns over RF interference. These spikes come in rows of spiked strips in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths and two-foot sections. The 3-inch spikes will provide 1 to 5 inches of coverage on a 5-inch wide ledge; the 5-inch spikes will cover 5 to 7-inches on a 7-inch wide ledge; and the 7-inch spikes will cover 6 to 9 inches on a 9-inch wide ledge.
Another advantage of plastic bird spikes is that they come in 7 colors to match their surroundings. Like stainless steel spikes, poly spikes can be glued, screwed or tied down to most any surface. For gluing, apply construction-grade adhesives (available at most hardware stores) in the glue trough. Use the offset pre-drilled holes for screws or glue. And take advantage of the breakaway notches if you need smaller pieces.

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Get Rid of Birds with Stainless Steel Bird Spikes

by Fran Prisco
Pest birds have caused a lot of problems for building managers and homeowners alike.  Their landing, nesting and roosting on roofs, building ledges and parapet walls have accounted for thousands of dollars in damages.  Bird droppings are acidic and can quickly degrade building materials.  The droppings also can carry any of 60+ communicable diseases.  Slip and fall hazards are another issue facing building owners from bird droppings on sidewalks and walkways.
Problem:  Pigeons are gathering at dusk on the roof of a retail shopping center.  They are not only landing on the ledges and parapet walls, but they have begun to build their nests in channel letters on the walls and other protected areas of the building.  Storeowners and customers have started to complain to the property management company about the build up of bird droppings on the storefronts and walkways.
Solution:  Install stainless steel bird spikes.  The first step is to be sure that the surface to which the bird spikes will be attached is clean of all droppings and debris.  It is best to power wash the surface if possible, otherwise, be sure that the droppings are wet before removing them.  Dry bird droppings can be breathed in and be dangerous.  Once the area is clean, it is time to install the bird control spikes.
Stainless steel bird spikes are ideal to use on shopping centers and other business and historical buildings.  Once installed they are virtually invisible, thus not taking away from a building’s architectural design.  The spikes are easily installed using glue, screws or zip ties.  The spikes come in two-foot sections for quick installation.  Stainless steel bird spikes are perfect for use in areas that are close to the ocean as they will not rust or deteriorate in the sun. 
When installing any type of bird control system, it is important that the job is done correctly.  It is often best to have a professional bird control installer do the job.  Manufacturers of bird control products can often suggest the right person or company to get the job done right.

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How to Install Gutter Bird Spikes

by Alex A. Kecskes

Whether you’re the facilities manager of a large building or a homeowner, you’ll want to keep the maintenance and repair costs of your building down to a minimum, especially in these hard times.

One major headache encountered by many property owners is clogged gutters. And one of the main ways gutters become clogged is bird debris--feathers, nesting materials, bird droppings, even dead birds. Without effective bird control measures, clogged gutters can cause water to seep underneath roofing tiles to eventually cause leaks. Using poisons or firearms and similar tactics can be a problem, not the least of which is that many birds are protected by federal, state and local laws.

The only viable solution is humane bird control.  In the case of gutters, many property owners have elected to use Gutter Bird Spikes. They’re ideal for deterring pigeons, seagulls and other larger birds in light to medium bird pressure areas. (Medium pressure is often used by pest birds as a food or afternoon resting site, but not for nesting or roosting; light pressure sites offer no food or shelter and birds stop only briefly during the day.)

Prior to installing Gutter 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.

Gutter bird spikes generally come in 2-foot strip lengths and cover an area of 4 to 6 inches. They work by preventing pest birds from landing on gutter ledges and nesting in gutters. The best gutter spikes will fit any size gutter and don’t need separate clips or hardware to stay in place. You just attach them with simple thumbscrews. And once they’re installed, they’re virtually invisible. The best gutter spikes are built into a U.V. protected polycarbonate base.

For additional advice on how to properly install bird spikes, consult an expert like the folks at Bird-B-Gone.

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