- Bird Control Australia
Submitted by: Alex Kecskes
It doesn’t take long for birds to gather in huge numbers and become destructive pests. Pigeons, sparrows, starlings, and gulls can drop an awful lot of poop and create quite a lot of noise. After they’ve decided that yours is a nice, safe place to nest, it’s almost impossible to get them to leave on their own. Luckily, some clever people have studied and analyzed how birds land, and they now offer a way to prevent them from doing just that. What they’ve come up with is the bird proof spikes, a simple device that prevents birds from landing.
The goal here is to convince them to move on, not harm them. For if allowed to gather and nest, pest birds can pose a serious health problem. It’s common knowledge that birds can carry a wide range of some very serious diseases. These include a potentially fatal lung disease called histoplasmosis; a lower or upper respiratory disease called ornithosis; and pseudotuberculosism, resulting in abdominal pain and fever up to 60 diseases in all, including salmonella. In fact, birds have even been known to carry the lethal West Nile Virus by way of the fleas and mites they carry. It’s no wonder the Bird Proof Spike has become so popular.
Bird spikes are the ideal solution for keeping pest birds from landing and roosting on column tops, ledges, parapets, signs, beams, chimneys, cutouts, security cameras, lights, and more. The spikes on these devices are blunted, which makes them safe for birds and maintenance/installation crews.
The bird proof spike is effective because birds simply can’t maneuver their wings or feet to land on the menacing looking angled spikes. These spikes are so well regarded that they have earned the recommendation of building contractors, architects, and municipalities.
There are a number of different bird spikes currently available. They all basically use the same principle–spike strips covered with densely nested rows of durable stainless steel spikes. Some manufacturers also offer bird spike strips with rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate spikes. These cost less than their steel spike counterparts and are suggested for use in areas where conductivity or radio interference can be a problem.
What most property managers, homeowners and boat owners like about Bird Proof Spikes is that they deter a wide range of bird species. They also like the fact that they are low maintenance in that they won’t trap most debris. For those who like the idea of a humane pest bird deterrent, bird proof spikes have been approved by virtually every humane group in the world, including The Humane Society of the United States and PICAS.
Bird proof spikes can be purchased in a number of different materials and configurations. You can get strips of plastic spikes in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths in a full range of colors. Or you can opt for super durable stainless steel spikes in your choice of 1″,3″, 5″ and 8″ widths. Both products are available in two-foot sections. And both types are easy to install and can be glued down, nailed or screwed into practically any surface. One manufacturer offers a low-profile bird proof spike. Installed correctly, these spikes can’t be seen from the ground. Some bird spikes have a flexible base, which means you can easily adapt them to flat or curved surfaces like signal lights, rounded commercial signs, building corners, or curved overhanging parapets.
You can also get bird proof spikes in something called a stainless steel Girder Spike. Ideal for keeping pigeons and larger pest birds from settling on girders or I-beams, these spikes come in standard two-foot sections and are available in 3 ,5 , and 8 widths. For hassle-free installation, these spikes use adjustable C clamps along the base.
There’s also a bird proof spike that some call a Mega Spike. These big spikes are ideal for keeping really large birds at bay birds like seagulls, cormorants, turkey vultures and raptors. Mega spike strips typically have tall 7 high spikes made of marine grade stainless steel for lasting durability. If you can, get the non-reflective spikes with a crush proof, non-reflective metal finish. Some bird proof spikes in this category have a U.V.-protected polycarbonate base, so you can bend the spike to fit curved surfaces.
To keep pest birds out of gutters, there’s the Gutter Spike. They’re ideal for deterring large pest birds like seagulls, crows, and pigeons from nesting and clogging gutters or drains. These bird proof spikes come in two-foot long strips and the better ones will feature adjustable clamps at the base allowing them to be conveniently attached to the lip of a gutter.
If you undertake to install bird proof spikes yourself, you’ll need to do some prep work first. Start out by cleaning the area, making sure it’s free of bird droppings and other nesting materials. When using glue to affix spikes to a surface, be sure to generously apply the glue onto the base of the spike (about 1/2-inch thick, more if the surface is uneven). Press the base of the spike so that it is level with the edge of the surface and allow a small overhang of the spike pins. If the gap behind the first spike exceeds two inches, install another row of spikes into this space to block any birds who may try to sneak around the spikes. For extremely wide ledges, install three or more rows of spikes and narrow the gap between rows to two inches or less. Block any hole in the eaves or any cavity behind the spikes. If you’re installing bird proof spikes in gutters, try to get spikes that come with clips for easier installation.
About the Author: Alex Kecskes is a freelance writer focusing on effective and humane bird control. To find out more about the products listed in this article, such as bird netting, bird spikes, and visual bird deterrents, please visit
birdbgone.com
Source:
isnare.com
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