Are Birds Considered Pests? And How Do You Control Them?

Are Birds Considered Pests? And How Do You Control Them?

Birds might be majestic wild creatures, but they can also cause issues when they turn commercial premises into nesting and roosting sites.

Thankfully, experts like BH Pest Control offer effective bird control solutions for commercial premises, as well as solar panel bird proofing for homes across Milton Keynes.

So, do you want to find out more about how to control bird pests? We look at strategies and why bird pest control is important. Find out more from our pest control experts.

Why Is Bird Control Important?

Birds may not seem to be one of the pests we should be concerned about, but they can cause issues. Some problems associated with a bird infestation include:

• Property Damage: Birds can cause significant damage to property. By blocking guttering and dislodging roof tiles, among other hazards, can lead to risks to yourself and any potential customers. Bird droppings are also highly corrosive and can damage your building’s facade, as well as the paintwork on vehicles such as cars.
• Health Hazards: Birds can spread airborne based diseases and illnesses, putting anyone in the vicinity of them at risk. Their constant fouling and tendency to carry diseases such as E.Coli and Salmonella will provide additional health risks also.
• Trip Risks: If bird droppings are left unchecked on surfaces such as outdoor stairs or walkways, they could pose a health and safety issue for your site.
• Additional Infestations: A large number of birds can also lead to an attraction of other pests and insects, as insects such as fleas are attracted to their nests and roosting areas. 
• Potential Fire Hazards: Birds nests are typically made of flammable items, like grass, branches, feathers, and sometimes moss. If wild birds roost under solar panels, then their nesting materials could pose a fire risk.
• Disturbance: Birds can be very loud, especially young birds or during the breeding season, which can cause a significant disturbance.

All wild birds in the UK are protected under the Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981, which makes it illegal to harm, kill, injure or disturb the nest of birds. As such, if they build nests on your property, you will have to wait until the young birds have flown before you can remove the empty nest.

For commercial properties, this can cause significant disruption to your operations, which is why BH Pest Control offers expert bird proofing as part of our commercial pest control service.

Preventing birds from gaining access to your space will reduce the risk of disruption and the other issues highlighted above.

Common Nuisance Bird Species

While any bird species can cause issues, some of the most common pest birds in the UK include:

• Pigeons: Feral pigeons are a prevalent pest that can affect rural and urban areas, causing disturbance, property damage and health hazards.
• Seagulls: While there is no specific species called the ‘Seagull’, the term is used as a collective for several gull species, all of which can be highly territorial and destructive.
• House Sparrows: While they might be small, house sparrows can be highly destructive and cause crop damage and ecological imbalance.
• Corvids: Members of the crow family, such as ravens, jackdaws and crows themselves, can be noisy and skilled at breaking into bins and other areas in search of food.
• Starlings: Starlings are often found in large numbers, and will roost and nest together, leading to a build-up of nest debris and droppings, as well as noise disturbances and potential property damage.

Bird Control Strategies

When it comes to controlling birds, there are many techniques available. In the UK, most birds nest between March and September, meaning that outside of these months is the best time to carry out bird proofing.

That’s because you cannot legally disturb or remove an active bird nest, as per the Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981.

As such, it’s best to use deterrents to keep birds away from your space. Some common bird control methods include:

• Bird Netting: Bird netting is a highly effective solution that creates a physical barrier between birds and the area they want to access.
• Bird Mesh: Similar to bird netting, but usually with smaller holes, bird mesh is often used for tight spaces, such as solar panels or around specific crops and plants.
• Bird Spikes: These stainless steel or plastic spikes look sharp, but won’t pierce flesh, and instead just make ledges, such as window sills and roofs, uncomfortable for birds.
• Bird-Free Gel: Also known as fire gel, bird-free gel makes birds believe an area is on fire, which deters birds and is a humane but effective form of bird proofing.
• Electronic Bird Deterrents: Electronic bird deterrents, such as Avishock or BirdAlert, can be installed on large sites that have a large bird population to efficiently deter birds and ensure they don’t return.

Birds Around Businesses

How often have you seen a sign around a business that either reads “Please don’t feed the birds” or “Mind the birds, they want your food!” or something along those lines? Businesses have to take extra caution for birds, especially when they begin to grow in numbers and become a nuisance to employees and customers alike.

The real reason that birds such as pigeons, sparrows, starlings, seagulls, and other species like to hang around our businesses is that they know there’s shelter and there’s food. Most bird species will eat human food, including food scraps and waste.

This can cause issues, including health and safety problems, which is why professional bird control is essential for modern businesses.

It can be more important for some industries than others. For example, if you run a food business or restaurant, and birds are allowed to infest your premises, you will violate the Food Safety Act 1990 and other regulations.

This could result in your company being prosecuted, and poorly reviewed by customers, which could cause permanent damage to your reputation.

On top of this, a lot of business buildings have flatter roofs in comparison to domestic housing. This means the birds have an easier time landing and roosting, so it’s recommended that a structural change to the roof happens so that the bird population can be kept low.

Signs Of A Bird Problem

Many bird species are becoming increasingly comfortable with human presence and won’t be startled by our being there. This means that you’ll begin to notice regular and returning birds, as they’ll treat our homes and businesses as safe places they can breed. Pigeons, starlings, and sparrows are especially used to us and have been known to refuse to migrate South in the colder months, instead choosing to hunker down in our car parks and buildings, knowing they can still be likely to receive constant food.

Seeing a few birds isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but some other signs you may have a bird infestation include:

• Bird Droppings: Also known as guano, bird droppings are white and black in colour and sloppy in consistency, and are often found on outside surfaces such as walls, floors and roofs.
• Bird Nests: Nests made from twigs, fabrics and other soft materials could belong to birds, and if you see a bird nest this is a clear sign that you have a bird infestation.
• Feathers: If birds are frequently in specific areas you will notice feathers, as many birds moult and may also loose them in fights.
• Bird Mites: Bird mites are minute parasites that can spread through exposure to birds and nesting materials, so if you have a bird mite infestation then the chances are you also have a bird problem.

Book Professional Bird Proofing

While birds aren’t always a pest, in many situations they can cause issues when they land, perch, roost or nest on your site.

Prevention is always better than treatment, especially when it comes to bird problems. That’s why BH Pest Control focuses on using cutting-edge bird deterrents to keep birds of all species away from your property.

For homes, commercial properties and even public spaces such as parks throughout Milton Keynes, we’re able to stop pest birds before they cause damage and health issues.

If you’re ready to get rid of pest birds for good, contact us on 01908 412488 or by emailing info@bhpestcontrol.com.