For the property owner feral birds can be a serious menace, especially in concentrated urban populations. They pose a very real risk to health, damage foodstuffs, deface buildings and increase property maintenance bills. Most birds present no problem at all, but a few species become pests due to concentrated populations or the environments they inhabit.



Health Hazards

Pest Birds such as Pigeons, Seagulls and Sparrows are vectors of disease carrying a wide range of bacteria such as psittacosis and ornithosis. Salmonella, Listeria and Vibrio cholerae food poisoning organisms can be picked up by birds and then scattered around, contaminating water supplies, cattle pastures and human foods directly.

Damage to Buildings

Nesting materials, fouling and accumulated debris frequently lead to blocked gutters and downpipes, damaging overflows and possible water ingress. This can be a large expense to many companies but effective bird control can stop this.

Danger to Human Safety

Pest Bird droppings from Pigeons, Seagulls and Sparrows can be extremely slippery, leading to problems in areas where the public have access. Bird nests can block chimneys and flues, which can lead to serious build up of poisonous gases. Bird nests can be the source of many unpleasant insects including, blood feeding insects such as fleas, mites, bugs, ticks and lice, fabric damaging insects such as carpet beetles and clothes moths, stored food pests like spider/dermestes beetles and book lice, and carrion feeding insects such as house flies and blow flies.

For each species of bird there are suggested ways to achieve effective

bird control:

Ferral Pigeon (Columbia Livia)

Bird Control Service for the Ferral Pigeon. The number one urban pest throughout the world. Descended from birds which were originally domesticated for food, these birds have reverted to their wild state, but now live in close proximity to Man. They are responsible for most fouling of buildings in towns and the transmission of diseases to humans such as ornithosis.

Herring Gull (Larus Argentatus)

Bird Control Service for the Seagull. Theses large aggressive birds are causing an increasingly significant problem due to their recent use of buildings as sites for breeding colonies. The noise, mess and smell associated with such sites can cause serious distress to those in the buildings concerned.

Starling (Sturnus Vulgaris)

Bird Control Service for the Starling. A major problem in certain areas, when large numbers gather for night roosting. The noise, smell and extensive fouling caused by these congregations can be horrendous. Fungi associated with the dried guano can give rise to serious human disease problems.

Sparrow (Passer Domesticus)

Bird Control Service for the Sparrow. This is a major problem for the food industry, with populations becoming established inside warehouse and retail premises. These ?flying mice? gain entry through very small holes and then damage and foul stored food and are extremely difficult to deal with, some methods requiring Special Licences (UK).