Common Nuisance Birds in Richmond, VA; Feral Pigeon, Seagull, House Sparrow Control & More
Birds are winged beauty, poetry in motion and masters of air and sky, but they can pose a problem. Yes our winged friends can be pesky as well. Bat, Bee & Hornet Removal list some common nuisance birds and the problems they can cause.
Feral Pigeons
They nest in the eaves of your homes seeking shelter from sun and rain to build their nests and in the process deposit and spread their droppings all over your roof. This bird waste contains mega doses of uric acid which can eat at the structure of your home causing expansive and expensive damage. Pigeon’s have an innate homing instinct, which transfers into “if they move in, it is to stay” and it is difficult to get them to move out. How to get rid of them? There humane and effective products, like predator simulators, usually owl, figurines that emit screeches and sounds of these hunters. Spikes, coils, barrier and wire can be used to discourage pigeons. Also trapping and relocation maybe used as a last resort. Some have described them as “rats with wings.”
Seagulls
Gulls are master scavengers living on nearly anything eatable and available. Gulls usually represent a ‘community’ problem rather than an individual home owner problem. Keep lids and tops on trash bins and cans and clean up around the house may alleviate the home owner any of these problems. Gulls are beneficial birds and feast on insects and rodents as well. But as with most birds there is a high concentration of uric acid in their droppings that his high corrosive to street lamps, signs and are of concern to boat, car and building owners. Bird Spikes, grid wire systems, bird coils and shock tracks can discourage these pests that are protect species in many coastal states. Noise producers and predator figures and other visual and audio devices can humanly dissuade gulls from your property.
House Sparrows
House sparrows are indirect nuisance pests as they can block rain gutters and pipes with their nests. Water backup caused by sparrows can lead to water damage and even electrical fires. Of course sparrow droppings contain concentrations of uric acid as well as fungal agents and parasites posing a health risk. Sparrows are prolific breeders and lack natural predators in the US and are an introduced species, not a native bird. A ¾ inch mesh net if properly installed can be an effective deterrent. Electrified edge striping will also disrupt perching and trapping can be used to control the problem.
Starlings
Closely following pigeons and house sparrows the starling is the next grievous species to be considered. Flocks of starlings are huge in numbers and represent another introduced species brought to the US in the 19th century. Starling flocks number in thousands of individuals and they may overwhelm buildings and trees. Large scale build up of Starling droppings, rich in uric acid can degrade metal, stone and masonry. Gutters and pipes are clogged causing similar problems to the House Sparrow. Bacterial and fungal agents are in this dropping build up as well and parasite species are present.
Bird Control & More in Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, Sandston, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Bon Air & Greater Richmond, Virginia
As can be determined from the above sampling, our feathered friends are not as benign as many believe. Health concerns and property damage are of major concern for not only the homeowner but the community as well. Have a bird problem, call Bat, Bee & Hornet Removal, we be glad to manage all your pest control problems, on the land or in the air.