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The United States relies on outdated Bird Strike prevention techniques.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


 

I have a problem with pest birds in my backyard trees

Birds in backyard trees

Do you have a problem with birds in your backyard trees? This is not an uncommon problem. Homeowners typically experience problems with pest birds such as starlings, crows, and grackles in their trees. If so wouldn’t you love for them to find a new home?  Left unchecked birds can be obnoxiously noisy and create quite a mess. Along with that bird droppings can ruin patio furniture, adversely affect landscaping and clog and foul swimming pools. Bird droppings also cause unsanitary conditions at patios and create the potential for slip and fall accidents. 

How do you get birds out of your trees?

  

Depending upon the height of your trees and how severe the bird infestation is, there are a variety of steps you can take to move the birds away from the trees.  To tackle this problem you should use a combination of bird control products including audio, visual bird scare devices and structural bird control devices.

Structural bird products for trees

Tree Shock Bird Deterrent

 If you have access to the tree branches a new bird control product called “Tree Shock” should be installed at the primary and secondary branches. The harmless electrical shock will condition the birds to roost elsewhere. Tree Shock is a low profile electrified tubing that is effective against all species of birds. The Tree Shock System is battery operated and is easy to install. Structural bird control products are highly effective and should be your first line of defense.

Visual bird deterrents for trees

Holographic Owl

After installing Tree Shock it is important to create an unwelcoming zone for the birds by strategically placing visual products in and around the trees. When possible try to figure out the direction the birds are coming from and hang visual deterrents in the flight path.

Visual bird deterrents work on bird’s predatory fear of sudden movement and predator effigies. A variety of visual deterrents like the Holographic Owl, Holographic Repel Strips, Scare Eye Balloons, Scare Eye Octopus, Mylar Flash Tape  can be hung or tied to branches.  A new highly effective bird scare device called the Flying Falcon Bird Diverter can be flown up to 300’ in the air to deter incoming flocks. The Cat Decoy Scares Birds can be mounted on a tree branch to keep away pest birds and  Bird Free Bird Repellent Gel  can be hung from branches and appears as flames to birds.  Optical Bird Gel can be glued on to the branches. If your having a problem with crows in your trees, try hanging the Dead Crow Bird Scare Decoy upside down from the branches to help scare away the crows. Combine the crow deterrent with other bird scare devices. 

 

 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.

 

 Audio Bird Deterrents for trees

There is a wide array of audio deterrent systems. All are programmed species-specific using alarm,  distress, raptor sounds. The least expensive option is CD's programmed to deter starlings, crows, blackbirds and woodpeckers. A CD containing only raptor cries is also available. A CD player, preferably with remote speakers needs to be set up and pointed up at the branches. Large infestations require the Bird Expeller. This bird scare device will protect an acre of trees.

 Birds on houses overlooking the trees.

If the birds are also nesting or roosting on your house it is advisable to install exclusionary type structural products like Bird Spikes, Bird Shock, Bird Wire or Bird Coil. Disrupting these conditions will often encourage the birds to move away.

* 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