BIRDS AND THEIR DROPPINGS ARE DANGEROUS

*Unhealthy environment. Do you know that birds and their droppings can carry more than 60 diseases that can invade and infect humans? You've heard of salmonella and bed bugs, but add to this list tongue-twisters such as histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis. Note that some diseases spread through droppings can even be fatal.

*Filth. Not only are droppings unsightly an

YOUR EMPLOYERS ARE AT RISK, TOO.

*Lawsuit potential. Dropping-laden premises are begging for a slip-and-fall lawsuit or an occupational disease lawsuit, not to mention air-quality issues. Haven't insurance rates risen high enough?

*Droppings cost money and time. Couldn't employees be doing something more productive than cleaning up after invasive bird species?

*Property devaluation. Birds are destructive. Their droppings deface rooftops, walls, equipment, and vehicles. The corrosive effect of bird excrement causes irreversible damage and shortens the life of vital structures.

In short, birds can jeopardize your health and the financial health of your employer! Consider this example: As reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "histoplasmosis is a disease caused by fungus. The disease mainly hurts your lungs. Sometimes, it hurts other organs too, and it can be fatal if untreated. Anyone working at a job or close to places where the fungus is in the air can get this disease if you breathe in enough of it... some jobs and hobbies that increase your risk [are] bridge inspector or painter, chimney cleaner, construction worker, demolition worker, farmer, gardener, heating and air-conditioning system installer or service person, microbiology laboratory worker, pest control worker, restorer of historic or abandoned buildings, roofer, spelunker (cave explorer)." Also, As reported in the Times-Tribune (Scranton, PA), "The CDC [center for disease control], in a publication dealing with protecting workers at risk to histoplasmosis, says health-risk warning signs should be posted in areas that may be contaminated with histoplasmosis, such as those with accumulations of bird manure."

What kind of bird problems are most prevalent at your facilities? Birds can be a nuisance almost anywhere, but prime targets include: *Rooftops, ledges and sills. Birds often land here first to survey the scene, watch for predators, seek shelter and hunt for food. *Warehouses, loading docks, overhangs and eaves. These are prime real estate for birds. They provide shelter from the elements and a good home base to raise their young, who in all likelihood will return year after year to compound the problem. *Courtyard eating areas and food concession stands. Birds love the easy pickings of food spillage, and they often know exactly when and where to arrive. Mixing food and live animals is never a good idea.

IT'S TIME TO FIGHT BACK THE BIRDS.

What product choices fit these special needs?

There are four choices, outlined below. All are low-maintenance. None harm the birds - an important factor in a company's community relations.

*Sound Generators: One example is Ultrason X. It uses ultrasonic sound waves (silent to humans) in exterior areas where sound is unconfined - for example, under a canopy. Another is BirdXPeller PRO, a device that's audible and natural. It broadcasts the sounds of birds in distress for a few seconds at long intervals, so infesting birds feel it's not a safe place.

* Visual Scare Devices: Terror Eyes is one. Picture a big orange sphere with holographic eyes on front and back. The eyes on this lifelike predator follow the birds and "watch" their every move as the unit bounces and moves in the wind. Ever watchful, Terror Eyes guards the entire area like a security watchman. It can be positioned unobtrusively, such as on a rooftop, where it disrupts no one but the birds.

* Physical Roost Inhibitors. Spiked needle strips work like barbed wire to keep birds off surfaces. Spikes are non-lethal and long-term, with a wide, dense spread of spiked needles that prevent access. Choose stainless steel or clear polycarbonate, and apply them to any surface with adhesive, nails, screws or wire ties. Another way to block access is Bird Proof, a sticky, tacky gel. Birds avoid the sticky chemical as humans would avoid wet tar or chewing gum in the street. It's not hazardous or odorous, just annoying to the birds. The gel comes in a cartridge, and is applied with a caulking gun. Netting is a third popular choice for excluding birds. The product cost is low compared to the one-time labor, but the results are virtually permanent, and will save the most labor in the long run.

* Odor and Taste Aversions. Methyl anthranilate is a biodegradable food-grade constituent of Concord grapes, used for years in the food industry. These chemical-like pellets can be strewn on the grass or around food spillage, nests, roofs, walls or any structure to deter birds, due to the pellets' unappetizing taste and unpleasant odor.

How do I prepare for greatest success? To achieve long-term rewards in bird control, be actively involved in the process, especially in the planning stage. Learn as much as you can about the situation and the proposed solutions. As with any well-engineered project, begin with research.

Survey the birds. Type? Populations? Patterns? Nesting, feeding and roosting habits? For example, if birds arrive from the west, the products are best positioned in that direction. Why do birds find your area attractive? If they like roosting under a grandstand, then protecting the top of the roof won't help. Make the area unattractive to them, so they choose to go elsewhere. When you know what attracts birds to your property, you're ready to make it less appealing.

Your research will lead you to choose certain products and select their placement. Next, make it easy for the products to do their job! Start with a clean slate and get rid of all evidence: nests, fledglings, droppings, dead birds, and the residual scent. Adult birds will return to protect their young or to reclaim a familiar "scent-marked" territory, so remove food spillage, garbage, nesting material and other items that make eating and nest-building easy.

Timing is another key. Install your solution as early as possible, preferably before "bird season" begins, as it is easier to keep the birds away than to rout them once they have established a living pattern. If they've already arrived, don't wait -- install right away, as it's still easier this year rather than next when they've been there even longer. But you may need a more aggressive plan.

Note that two or more different kinds of devices working together more than double the effectiveness. Keep the environment changing to keep birds from settling.

And once it's solved? Check the problem off your list and move on to other, more profitable duties. Make a note to move visual devices or change settings on machines occasionally, just to keep the birds off-balance and banished. Make sure all nets and spikes are still in place. A good time to check is late winter, just before the spring bird season starts, giving you plenty of time to take action, if needed. Congratulate yourself and management on the maintenance dollars saved and occupational-related diseases avoided.

About the Author

Claire Sparrow represents Bird-X, Inc. and produces multi-faceted, sustainable approaches to permanent pest prevention. We offer free consultations/evaluations and guaranteed products. Call us at 312-226-2473 or visit our website at http://www.bird-x.com.