Learn How to Stop Woodpecker Damage & Woodpecker Problems

Woodpeckers can damage homes

Are Woodpeckers damaging your home and keeping you awake at night? If so, you are not alone. Every year woodpecker problems cost homeowners tens of thousands of dollars in damage to siding, roofs etc. Luckily there are a variety of woodpecker deterrents available that will encourage pesky woodpeckers to find a new home.

Getting rid of woodpeckers is not hard as long as you realize that pest birds have a mind of their own and your plan may need to adapt to changes in their behavior. Ideally, woodpecker problems should be solved immediately when they first show up – the longer you let them peck away at your house, the harder it will be to break their habit. Your first course of action should be to figure out the extent of the damage, where they are pecking and/or nesting, how many birds, and the direction they are coming from if possible. The woodpecker’s flight path can help you with positioning the woodpecker bird deterrents. Once you have surveyed the situation and know how many birds and where they are located, you can select the bird deterrents that best fit the situation.

Woodpecker Damage

Woodpecker Deterrent Product Selection

When deterring woodpeckers ALWAYS COMBINE taste, visual and audio deterrents. Do not try to save money by applying just one of these solutions because that will lower your chances of success. The idea is to create the feeling that there are multiple ‘threats’ in the area so the woodpecker moves on to a safer place.  With only one or two products, this ‘threat zone’ is much weaker.

After observing the behavior of the woodpeckers, spray problem areas with Woodpecker Repellant Spray. This bird repellent puts a bad taste in their mouth, kind of like pepper spray. Spray the product on and around the affected areas. You don’t need to cover the whole house, just cover the problem area and several feet of the surrounding surface.  If you happen to be painting your house, or want to be really proactive, another version of the product is the Woodpecker Paint & Stain Additive. The paint additive works the same as the spray, except it is a concentrated form that is added to paint. 

Woodpecker on siding

Visual Bird Deterrents & Placements

The purpose of visual bird deterrents is to create fear in birds by utilizing movement, reflective sunlight, bright colors, and fearful symbols. Hang these products in front of and around the affected areas. Position them so that they are out and away from the building, that way the deterrent can move freely and is better positioned to interfere with the woodpecker’s flight path and be seen often. Also hang deterrents on the corners of the house closest to the problem area to cut off flight routes. Remember your goal is to overwhelm the birds with a sense of fear and make it uncomfortable for them to remain.
 

Holographic Owl with Swivel Bracket

Popular and effective woodpecker visual deterrents include the Holographic Owl, Scare Eye Octopus with Flash Tape, Holographic Repel Strips, Scare Eye Balloons, Firefly Bird Diverters, Scare Spider, Mylar Flash Tape. All the woodpecker visual deterrents should be hung from Swivel Brackets, which makes the installation easier and more effective.

A new product on the market is the highly effective Cat Decoy Scares Birds. The Cat Decoy scares woodpeckers by its realistic features along with a moving head and tail. Mount on the side of the wall facing down towards the problem area.

Another new option for woodpecker & pest bird deterrent is Bird Free Bird Repellent Gel and BirdFire Optical Gel which affects all pest bird species by triggering multiple sensory responses. First, the material emits a UV light to make it appear as a flame to approaching birds. Stick the pre-loaded dishes near and around the woodpecker problem areas! 

 

We are happy to introduce the Woodpecker Decoy Effigy - Life-Like woodpecker Deterrent. The life-size woodpecker deterrent causes other woodpeckers to avoid the ‘occupied territory’. An incoming woodpecker will typically cue onto the life-like, moving decoy and avoid the area.

Audio Woodpecker Deterrent

Also available is the Woodpecker Distress cd, which includes various woodpecker species distress calls and predator calls, including the red-tail Hawk. Use the audio sounds when you see a lot of woodpecker activity in combination with the taste and visual products.

Save time & money with Woodpecker Deterrent Kits

If you don’t have time to research the different woodpecker deterrents, a few woodpecker kits have been created with multiple products:

Basic Woodpecker Deterrent Kit - Use this kit when woodpeckers first arrive.

Advanced Woodpecker Kit  - Use this kit for woodpeckers that have been around for a while or you have a serious woodpecker problem causing extensive damage.

NOTE: Woodpeckers are persistent and territorial. Audio / Visual Re-enforcement is recommended in addition to decoys to create a more realistic impression of predators and competition in the zone you want to protect.

For specific advice, email mark@birdsgottago.com with brief description of roosting conditions.

No single product stands alone; a combination of Bird deterrents must be used with repeated reinforcement as necessary

BirdsGottaGo.com
1-855-741-3222

 

Modern Bird Strike Prevention - Stop Birds from Hitting Airplanes!

Bird Strikes at Airports

BirdStrike collisions are a problem that needs to be taken seriously as the number of commercial and private aircraft bird strikes continues to grow worldwide. The United States alone spends over $500 million annually to repair damage to aircraft and worldwide the cost is over a billion. 

•       The first fatal accident occurred in 1912
•       Since 1960, approx. 400 aircraft have been destroyed
•       Over 370 people killed as a result of bird and other wildlife strikes

Bird Strikes typically involve birds or bats striking windshields of aircraft or getting sucked into engines. Bird Strikes can also cause damage to building or structures on the ground if a serious accident were to occur. The most common locations for bird striking aircraft is during take off and landings, although there has been occurrence’s at higher altitudes.  Probably the most famous bird strike is when a US Airways flight was struck by a massive flock of geese causing it to loss power and heroically landed in the Hudson River. Luckily everyone walked away from the accident unharmed, but since that day the airport has increased man power and money spent on bird strike prevention and the number of bird strikes has gone up not down.

Bird Strike problem birds & wildlife

In the United States gulls and geese are the common cause of bird strikes do to their large size and populations. But other birds like turkey vultures, kites, pelicans, starlings and pigeons can also contribute to aircraft collisions. Large animals like deer and coyote have been known to run in front of aircraft during take offs and landings, which often causes more damage to the aircraft then birds. An often over looked bird strike hazard is the presence of rabbits at airports. Rabbits can indirectly cause bird strikes by getting run over by ground vehicles and planes; they generate a large amount of droppings, which attracts mice. All of this is not that bad except mice attract owls.

The United States relies on outdated Bird Strike prevention techniques.

The US tax payers spend millions and millions of dollars a year on Bird Strike products and labor and getting very little in return for their investment. BASH bird strike programs currently used in the US are labor intensive - typically involving personnel in trucks shooting bird bangers or outright killing in addition to other harassment techniques that fail to permanently modify roosting or flight conditions. Similarly, other sub-par audio systems  are also deployed but seldom produce a permanent solution as birds habituate to the  'same sound, same speaker syndrome'. Some airports in the US have set up radar systems to warn them of approaching bird flocks. These systems are very expensive and often times misidentify the potential treat. At best, radars give workers a heads up to a potential threat - only to resort to the same obsolete harassment techniques.  

Combine the Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Bird Scare cannon, which is best when used with a tripod and timer, with multiple visual scare products that are problem bird species specific. The Mark IV rotating tripod provides 360 degree coverage of the control area, while the while the Quartz timer allow you to set when you would like the bird cannon to turn on and off.  Airport problems can be complicated because of the layout and it is often multiple species of birds that are in the area. Feel free to call us to discuss a custom solution of bird control products designed for your airport at 855-741-3222 or email us at mark@birdsgottago.com


 

How do I know what type of Bird Netting to install?

3/4" Bird Netting excluding from hanger rafters.

The primary purpose of bird netting is to exclude pest birds from an area while at the same time being as invisible as possible. Modern technology has allowed netting manufactures the ability to design nets that are long lasting, strong and can be made to cover small and large openings. Bird netting is used to keep a variety of pest birds out of any enclosed or semi-enclosed area. That is why it is important to select the proper bird netting to match your problem bird.

Selecting the style of Bird Netting

 

The two main styles of Bird Netting are an inexpensive lightweight plastic mesh, which is used in gardens or to help solve small homeowner bird problems. This netting should only be used for short-term bird problems, because it is not designed to hold up to the elements.  I will focus on the Bird Netting of choice for bird control professionals which is made out of polyethylene twine, that is long lasting, water resistant and nearly invisible when installed correctly. It is available in black, stone and white, with black being far and away the most popular color because it blends in with almost background including white buildings. Contrary to what most people think white netting is the most visible because it reflects light and brakes down faster from the UV rays.

Selecting the Bird Net mesh size

Black Bird Net on a white building

Pest birds including sparrows, starlings, woodpeckers, pigeons, crows, gulls come in all different shapes and sizes, so therefore you need to use a net that will exclude your problem bird. High-end bird nets are available in a variety of mesh sizes. The mesh “opening” is the area in the netting in which small birds or large birds could potentially squeeze through. The mesh squares are measured from one side of the twine to the opposite side. To exclude sparrows and all other pest birds use ¾” mesh netting.  Small 3/4” netting can be used to keep swallows out of eves, run under carports as a false ceiling or solve large bird problems in warehouses and hangers. The next size up is 1 1/8”, which keeps out Starlings and larger birds. Starling Net is commonly used to keep starlings out of little openings on roof edges and over hangs. Pigeon net or 2” netting is the most widely used bird control netting because of the high level of problems with pigeons or larger birds like gulls.  Pigeon net is used on home eves, courtyards, rooftops, carports literally any enclosed or semi-enclosed area where pigeons or larger birds are a problem. 

The largest size polyethylene mesh twine is the 4” gull net, which is used to keep large birds like gulls and geese out of ponds, rooftops etc. 

4" Bird netting over a pond

More netting blogs to follow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For specific advice, email mark@birdsgottago.com with brief description of roosting conditions.

BirdsGottaGo.com
1-855-741-3222

 

Do it yourself Bird Control Solutions for homeowners

Pigeon on side of house

Pest birds on your home can be annoying and unsightly, but luckily there are a variety of bird control products available for “Do It Yourself” homeowners. These bird deterrent products are great for people that don’t mind getting a little dirty or maybe climbing a ladder. The key to successfully solving a bird problem is figuring out what attracts the pest birds to various locations on your home or yard.  Is it food?  Is it a protected nesting spot?  Is it a great sunning location?  Once you know this information, you can choose the right bird control product to protect your home and apply it to the right location to drive the pest birds away. 

 

The following are the most common homeowner bird problems and solutions:

 

Pest Birds on Roof Peaks 

Pigeons on roof peak and side

Pigeons and gulls like to roost on the peak or high point of roofs to keep an eye out for enemies, overlook food or water, and sometimes to just sun themselves. If you are experiencing this problem, the easiest solution is to run Bird Spikes along the peak of the roof. Before installing Bird Spikes, observe the birds’ activity so you can get a feel for where they are congregating. A few rows of bird spikes may be needed to remove the area where the birds are frequenting. When installing the Bird Spikes, clean the area first to remove any dirt or bird droppings. Once the area is clean, apply adhesive to the base of the Bird Spikes and set them in place. I don’t recommend screwing down because that can damage your roof and cause water leaks. As a added deterrent mount the Attack Eagle Bird Deterrent near the roof peak edge. This will help discourage birds from landing.

Pest Birds Under Roof eves

Pigeons like to nest underneath eaves because the area protects them from the elements just like a home. If pigeons are nesting in this shaded area, the best solution is to net off the area with 2” Bird Net as this will completely block access to the area. When pigeons are nesting, they have a strong desire to remain there so you need to completely eliminate access with the bird netting to drive them off.  When installing bird net, try to angle it out a little so there is no available shade for the pigeons to roost. Try to avoid putting holes in the roof by wedging attachments under roof shingles, or gluing/bonding attachments to the surface if the surface is strong. If the pigeons are new to the area and have not started to nest, you might be successful in moving them by covering the surface with Bird Spikes. If you do this, make sure you completely cover any shaded surface area with the Bird Spikes.

Keep Birds off of Roof Edges

Bird Spikes on building

Pigeons or gulls like to also roost on the sides of homes overlooking the yard or patio. Installing Bird Spikes along the perimeter of the house can easily modify this behavior. Make sure that when you are installing the Bird Spikes, that the tip of the spike is even with or hangs a little over the edge of the building. Do not leave a gap between the side of the building and the tip of the spike – if you do birds, will try to squeeze into the space. If you have a problem with smaller birds like sparrows or starlings, Bird Gel can be applied along the edge as a short-term solution. Don't use Bird Spikes against smaller birds like sparrows or starlings as they only work against pigeons and larger pest birds. For a long-lasting and very effective solution against all size and species of pest birds, an electrified track like Bird Shock FlexTrack can be installed by a professional bird control company.

Pest Birds Striking Windows

Several bird control products are specially designed to help prevent bird window strikes; one is "Bird Alert for Windows". The Bird Alert decal has a special coating that reflects ultraviolet sunlight. This ultraviolet light is invisible to humans, but birds see it as a brilliant glow much like a stoplight. The Bird Alert decal is designed to be placed on the OUTSIDE of a window to help stop birds from striking the window. Bird Alert decals can be applied to windows of homes or businesses, including high rise office buildings.

Woodpeckers Pecking Homes

Woodpecker damaging home

When fighting  Woodpeckers, always combine taste and Audio/visual products. Do not try to save money by applying just one of these solutions because that will only lower your chances of success.  The idea is to create the feeling that there are multiple ‘threats’ in the area so the woodpecker moves on to a safer place. Ideally woodpecker problems should be solved immediately when they first show up – the longer you let them peck away at your house, the harder it will be to break their habit. To make your decision process easy, try one of the Woodpecker solution kits which combines some of the best selling products – Popular Woodpecker products include -  Woodpecker Deterrent Kit- Basic, Holographic Owl, Holographic Repel Strips and Flash tape.

A new product on the market is the highly effective  Gull-Cat Decoy Scares Birds. The Gull-Cat cat Bird Deterrent by its realistic features along with a moving head and tail. Mount on the side of the wall facing down towards the problem area or use on the deck or patio area. If you have crows in your yard, try hanging the Dead Crow Bird Scare Decoy for crows or the  Dead Gull Bird Deterrent upside side in the death position. Combine the Dead Crow Deterrent with other Crow deterrents. 

 

 Bird Chaser Bird Deterrent -want to move flocks of crows out of trees or off power lines, the ground-breaking Bird Chaser bird deterrent is a visual bird scare device that deters problem crows & starlings from unwanted areas by reflecting irregular light beams from the sun.

New woodpecker & pest bird deterrent is the Bird Free Bird Repellent Gel or BirdFire Optical Gel, which affects all pest bird species by triggering multiple sensory responses. First, the material emits a UV light to make it appear as a flame to approaching birds. Stick the pre-loaded dishes near and around the pest bird problem areas!

 

* Audio / Visual Bird Scare products are not always effective on their own, particularly where birds may be roosting rather than simply hanging out. A combination of audio / visual products should be deployed and re-located as birds react. Results vary depending on protected roosting conditions, food /water source. Overnight nesting sites typically require exclusionary products – netting, electric etc. 

Contact us at mark@birdsgottago.com with details about your bird problem and we can work with you to determine the best bird control products to deter the birds from your property.

BirdsGottaGo.com

1-855-741-3222

Learn how to install Bird Spikes & Pigeon Spikes to stop pest birds

Pigeons on ledges and roof tops

Bird Spikes are a highly effective form of bird control and easy to install. Bird Spikes are used worldwide to keep pigeons, gulls, crows and other large pest birds from landing on ledges, beams, signs, security cameras, chimneys, gutters, buildings, schools, lights, roof tops etc. As we discussed in an earlier blog, "Learn where to professionally install Bird Spikes and Pigeon Spikes"
the success of Bird Spikes depends upon the birds’ behavior and the structure’s characteristics and location.

Here are the steps for installing Bird Spikes:

1) Clean the area before installing Bird Spikes

Before installing pigeon spikes make sure that the area is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.  Some building might have a high build-up of bird droppings or other nesting debris. In situations where bird droppings need to be removed, Dissolve-it can be applied to the surface to help breakdown the droppings. If old Bird Gel is on the surface, use Repellant Gel Remover to loosen up the gel. We highly recommend applying a professional grade disinfectant to the area before installing the pigeon spikes. If you are experiencing a problem with “bird mites” or other pest bugs, call a professional pest control company (preferably one that is also very knowledgeable about bird control).

2) Installing Bird Spikes or Pigeon Spikes

Bird Spikes on ledges and sign letters

Bird Spikes are available in a variety of widths and lengths to be a bird deterrent on many different types of applications. The Stainless steel spike has a U.V. resistant Polycarbonate base.  It is sold in 1-foot lengths and 3 different widths: Bird Spike Narrow (2 ½”), Bird Spike Wide (4 ¼”) and Bird Spike Xtra –wide (8”). The 1-foot Bird Spike strip can be glued or screwed to a variety of surface configurations.  If gluing the bird spikes, 1 caulking tube of bird bond will cover about 35’.  If screwing in place the bird spikes have holes in the surface for an easy installation. When installing Bird Spikes make sure that the tip of the spike is either even or slightly over the edge of the ledge to prevent any bird from gaining a foothold on the outer edge.  UV Stable or Stainless Steel Zip ties can be used to install bird spikes on sprinkler pipes, small I Beams or wherever adhesive is not an option. Also available is the a low cost all Plastic Bird Spike or a all Stainless Steel Bird Spike.
Do not install Bird Spikes in the middle of the ledge where there is space left for pest birds to land on each side.  The entire ledge needs to have full coverage.  When covering ledges over 10” wide, multiple rows will be needed to prevent pigeons from landing.  If installing multiple rows, up to 2” space can be allowed from the tip of one spike to the tip of the next spike to provide full protection from pigeons landing. The polycarbonate base of the bird spike strips is also scored at regular intervals to allow it to be broken into smaller sections for use on pole tops, lights, sign letters etc.

Stainless Steel Bird Spikes have a stainless steel spike and base.

Bird Spike Install

 They are sold in 3’ sections and the same widths as the polycarbonate bird spikes narrow, wide, Xtra-wide. Stainless Steel pigeon Spikes are sometimes preferred because of the longevity of stainless steel. Another advantage to Stainless Steel Bird Spikes is that because they are available in longer lengths and this can speed up the installation time. Like plastic based Bird Spikes, the Stainless Steel bird spikes can also be glued or screwed in place. To cut into smaller sections, metal cutting snips will be needed.

3) Get creative when installing Bird Spikes.

Sometimes when you do bird control work you have to get a little creative. Because of the variety of situations and the unknown elements of a bird’s adaptive behavior, it is sometimes necessary to think outside the box.  For example, if birds are used to roosting or nesting on the ledge they will often fight to roost on the ledge even when the spikes were correctly installed. In these cases, try applying bird gel to the spikes to discourage the birds from trying to land. The pest bird will experience a slight burning from the bird gel, which will encourage them to leave the roost. Also, to increase the effectiveness of the overall job, try hanging visual bird scare control products in the area as an additional deterrent to discourage new pest birds from landing. A new bird deterrent is the Attack Eagle Bird Deterrent.

* Audio / Visual Bird Scare products are not always effective on their own, particularly against non-migratory birds like pigeons and sparrows or where birds may be roosting rather than simply hanging out. A combination of audio / visual products should be deployed and re-located as birds react. Results vary depending on protected roosting conditions, food /water source. Overnight nesting sites typically require exclusionary products – netting, electric etc. 

Contact us at mark@birdsgottago.com with details about your bird problem and we can work with you to determine the best bird control products to deter the birds from your property.

BirdsGottaGo.com

1-855-741-3222