Birds, in the main have a wonderful reputation, and its no surprise, with their stunning songs and beauty making them a sight and a sound to behold.
When certain species move a bit too close to the comfort of your home, however, you might become a bit less fond.
Pest birds, mainly larger species such as pigeons and gull that are increasingly prominent in urban area, cause all sorts of problems when roosting and breeding too close to humans, spreading their toxic droppings everywhere, leading to disease spreading and property being damaged.
These species carry a huge number of pathogens, feral pigeons carry over 100 different pathogens alone, and controlling their populations is critical in order to protect public health. In this article, we will look at the reasons that pest birds are considered such a big threat, and what professional pest control Preston companies can do to help you with any problems that you are having.
Problems caused by pest birds
Spreading disease
Pest birds are prolific in transmitting a huge variety of different diseases and parasites. Their droppings are home to all sorts of nasty bacteria and viruses including those responsible for the diseases E. Coli, Salmonella, and cryptococcosis in humans. Besides accidental consumption of droppings, these bacteria can be spread when they dry out, becoming flaky and airborne and transmitted through inhalation.
Damaging property
Bird droppings aren’t only toxic to humans, they are also a threat to the buildings that they live and word in every day. Bird droppings, especially urban birds who will eat almost anything, are incredibly acidic and once settled on metal, stone, and wood surfaces will cause them to corrode. Over time this can lead to unsafe and uneven walkways, leaking roofs, and other expensive problems with the structure of your property.
Bird nests will also block gutters and chimneys leading to a build up of water and even worse, carbon monoxide that can threaten the health of inhabitants and cause even more structural decay. The movement of birds can also be a problem with their constant shuffling and movement on rooftops dislodging tiles and pipework.
Environmental disruption
So far, we have looked at the many ways in which birds can damage human built properties, but the damage they can do is just as severe out in the countryside.
Pests like seagulls can disturb the habitats of endangered coastal birds, as well as dominating their food sources making it much more difficult for them to survive on our shores. Too large a population in a single area can also result in soil erosion and poor crop returns on agricultural sites.
Bird prevention measures
A professional pest control Preston that specialises in bird control will have numerous solutions available to your pest bird problems.
Just some of the services that professional bird control companies offer include:
- Netting – Bird netting makes it impossible for the target bird species to get anywhere you don’t want them, from the rafters of a warehouse to the leaves of your precious garden plants. Netting comes in many different sizes, weights, and colours and can be installed in an instant by an expert bird control technicians.
- Spikes – You may well have seen these rather brutal looking things adorning the ledges and signs around your town centre. Whilst they look lethal, these spikes are actually harmless and simply make it impossible for any large birds to perch or roost in close proximity. If you are looking to protect a more difficult to access or strangely shaped area, bird spikes are the perfect choice.
- Falconry – Ever heard of the Harris hawk that spends its time flying around Wimbledon scaring away pigeons? Falconry is incredibly effective for warding off pest birds, with falcons, hawks, and other birds of prey all effective when deployed by expertly trained bird handlers.
- Nest removal – In certain situations, bird control companies may be granted a licence for the removal or nests or the removal/replacement of gull eggs. Even pest birds are heavily protected under animal welfare laws so this is not something that you should ever attempt by yourself. Removing nesting materials repeatedly can help to convince birds such as gulls who often return to the same nesting site time and time again, that the location isn’t suitable for them, ensuring that you don’t need to deal with them again next year.
- Shooting – Only ever allowed or utilised by responsible pest controllers as a last report, bird shooting can be the only way to keep large pest bird populations under control. Shooting must only EVER be conducted using a rifle by a highly trained expert marksman using an rifle rather than a shotgun.