Prevent Toxic Tailing Pond Bird Kills with the Bird Wailer

Resolve Bird Problems at Tailing Ponds, Preventing Bird Kills with High Tech Audio Bird Deterrents 

Tailing ponds, also called mine dumps, oil sands, culm dumps, tails, leach residue, and retention ponds form as part of the process when materials are separated from valuable minerals and ore. Tailing dams are often the most significant environmental liability for a mining project. Oil sands producers are often fined millions of dollars when their tailing waste kills migratory birds.  But when responsible mining companies operate tailing ponds, they often incorporate the cost of rehabilitation, which includes installing or setting up bird deterrents to help prevent migratory bird kills.

What impact or considerations does tailing ponds have on Migratory birds?

The destructive impact the tar sands industry has had on land/forest globally has resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of birds, including protected migratory birds.  Preventing Tailing pond bird kills, including waterfowl, ducks, Sage Grouse and 100’s of other bird species, is good for the environment. 

How do you stop Tailing Pond Bird Kills?

Traditionally energy companies have installed Bird Netting over oil ponds and/or employed high tech audio bird scare devices like the Zon Gun Mark IV propane cannons stationed around the perimeter. Both of these systems can be effective, but have their drawbacks.

4" Bird Netting over contamination Pond

Bird Netting is often used over contamination ponds, but is labor intensive and can be very expensive. Moreover, the netting and perimeter support system must be installed correctly to accommodate the heavy ice / snow loads that is typical of tailing pond locations. If you choose to install Bird Netting, it needs to be installed by a professional bird control company with experience installing Netting over tailing ponds.

Audio Bird Deterrents:

The Zon Gun Mark 4 Propane Cannons can also help keep birds away with their loud booming blasts. Zon Gun Bird Scare Cannon's are often used at airports, agricultural farms and mine dumps. When using Zon Gun Mark 4 Cannons make sure you mount them on tripods with timers to increase coverage and effectiveness. The Zon Gun Bird Scare Cannons should also occasionally be moved and have the timing of the blasts randomized to avoid habituation to the predictable cannon sound.

Bird Wailer is highly effective at Preventing Tailing Pond Bird Kills

The Wetlands Bird Wailer

The Phoenix Agritech Wetlands Bird Wailer has been used successfully to prevent migratory bird kills at tailing ponds, oil sands, and retention ponds in Canada, United States and around the world. 

The Bird Wailer is the most advanced audio bird deterrent in the world and is very successful at preventing migratory kills birds and frightening away wildlife such as coyotes. The key to the Bird Wailer’s high success rate is its geographic / species-specific alarm / distress sounds and indigenous predator calls which are broadcast on a high-end audio system. 

This system utilizes a sweeping rotational surround sound system. The Bird Wailer distress calls are sent out at randomized intervals and varying lengths of time, which lessons the chance of habituation to the same sounds and eliminates human labor.  The Bird Wailers' super speakers will also redirect flocks of birds up to 3000’ feet, thereby preventing them from flying over and being tempted to land in the pond. Major corporations such as Conoco Phillips have successfully used the Bird Wailer for years to stop bird kills. The Bird Wailer bird deterrent is highly effective, proven and saves tens of thousands of dollars on product, installation and maintenance costs.

“I would like to inform you that we have been very pleased with the Phoenix Wailer electronic bird deterrent system we purchased from you three years ago.”

Mike Acker
Environmental Scientist
Phillips 66

Learn about the Bird Wailer in this video:

Combine Audio Deterrents with Visual Bird Deterrents

All bird scare products work best when used in combination with each other, as they increase the bird’s fear and flight response to the perceived predator threat. While in most cases the Bird Wailer will prevent oil sand bird kills, it never hurts to incorporate additional bird deterrents.  Along with the Bird Wailer we recommend installing a series of visual bird deterrents above the pond and when possible floating on the water.  If there are cables or lines above the mine dumps, clip on a Holographic Bird Scare Flash Strip, Holographic Bird Scare Flash Strip, Dead Crow Bird Scare Decoy, Fire Eye Bird Diverter Device.  But don’t use the provided croc clip, instead, use a clip that can be secured tightly around the cable and be able to withstand high winds.  These same bird deterrents can also be installed on a life preserver using a Whip Rod Kit to float on the water. Also to up the confusion level for the birds, as back up, add a couple of Zon Gun Mark 4 Cannon or the Zon Gun Electra Scare Cannon around the perimeter. 

* A combination of audio / visual products should be deployed and re-located as birds react. 

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.

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1-855-741-3222

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Prevent birds from destroying fruit bearing crops using proven bird deterrents!

Reduce Crop Loss to Problem Birds with Modern Agricultural Bird Deterrents

Robins damaging apple farms

Pest birds are a big problem for farmers of apples, cherries, blueberries, etc. The loss of crops not only affects the farmers’ yield, it also leads to lost jobs. This bird problem continues to grow, as farmers are reluctant to try new bird control methods after years of failure. The main cause of damage to crops is from birds like starlings, robins, blackbirds, crows and finches.

Out-dated bird control methods

Farmers have experienced limited success using bird control methods in the past because the birds became accustomed to the sounds and/or visual products that were available. Common audio deterrents just repeat bird distress calls over and over and use generic bird/predator calls that are not specific to the geographic location. The predictable play pattern and the unfamiliar predator sounds tend to fail after a few days as they stop being a perceived threat of a real predator in the area to the problem birds.

Solution: Use a combination of modern agricultural bird deterrents.

To successfully increase your crop yield, a combination of bird deterrent products should be deployed about 6 weeks before fruit starts to show color.

The first line of defense should be a Wireless Bird Wailer -Vineyards. The Wireless Bird Wailer Vineyard is a custom programmed audio bird deterrent system that uses the species-specific alarm & distress calls of the native bird in the area. All Bird Wailer systems are custom built to match the needs of the customer and include their precise problem bird distress calls and corresponding predators. The Bird Wailer also emits a random pattern of sounds so that the birds cannot get used to any exact pattern or warning.

“The combination of the bird distress and alarm calls with the large variety of what I call “bomb blasts,” has the birds totally out of the vineyard. Your Bird Wailer has saved me a small fortune.”

Owner, Tomasello Winery

Small vineyards or farms can use The Bird Squawker. It is from the same family of products as the Bird Wailer with the same kinds of bird distress and predator calls, but it’s designed for use on smaller plots of land. The Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Cannon is another effective bird deterrent when used with the Bird Wailer to create additional confusion in the flocks. The Zon Gun propane cannon is a lightweight portable propane-fired cannon emits automatic thunderclaps that deter pest birds and other nuisance wildlife. When using a Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Cannon to repel problem birds, make sure you purchase the additional tripod, which allows the gun to change directions after every blast. The randomized sound moving in different directions creates a more realistic ‘threat’ from the bird or nuisance animal’s perspective. Also make sure you purchase a Zon Gun Timer which can be programmed to go off when the birds typically migrate to the area and highly active times of day. Also available is the Zon Gun Electra Scare Cannon which has a built-in timer. When possible, move the Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Cannon every few days to lessen the chance of birds getting used to the booming sounds coming from the same location.

Flying Falcon protecting fruit crops

Visual Bird Deterrents

While the Bird Wailer is designed to be a stand-alone product, when you combine it with visual bird deterrents you will increase the chances of a successful bird scare campaign. The small amount spent on the visual deterrents will be more than made up by the increase in your crop value.

Visual bird deterrents work because of a bird’s predatory fear of sudden movement and the bird decoy effigies convince birds that a 'fresh kill' has just occurred. It's good to use a variety of visual deterrents in combination like the Holographic Owl, Holographic Repel Strips, Scare Eye Balloons, ScareEye Octopus, Mylar Flash Tape, the Dead Crow Bird Scare Decoy (for repelling crows) and the Bird Free Optical Bird Repellent Gel which appears as flames to birds. It can be placed strategically around the area and even hung from branches to help keep birds away as they believe there is fire in the area. 

Another visual bird scare device called the Flying Falcon Bird Diverter flies on wire up to 100' in the air. The Flying Falcon creates the fear that a predator is flying over the vineyard. 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.

Position the various visual deterrents so that they can move freely in the wind and thereby catch the bird’s attention. This, combined with the predator calls and bird distress calls, creates an "area of terror" that constitutes a realistic threat to the birds’ safety, causing them to search elsewhere for their meal or roosting location.

Reduce crop loss to birds

By installing modern and effective bird control products like those mentioned above, you can dramatically increase crop yield and value.  The small upfront investment will be rewarded at the end of the season.  Devices like the Bird Wailer and the Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Cannon, Dead Crow bird deterrent can be deployed year-after-year, making for a very cost-effective investment in crop protection.

NOTE: When there is food in the area, pest birds are typically very committed to remaining at a site. Accordingly, we strongly recommend a combination of audio / visual products to create a realistic threat to the birds. Also, you will want to move the visual scare products regularly, especially in the beginning to enforce the idea a predator is near and fresh kills are occurring regularly.

For specific advice email mark@birdsgottago.com with a brief description of the pest bird problems.

BirdsGottaGo.com
1-855-741-3222

Learn How to Keep Birds off Boats!

Resolve pest bird problems on your boat with effective bird deterrents

Keep Birds off your boat!

Boat owners love nothing more than to head down to the boat for a relaxing day on the water. Boats offer an escape from the hassles of everyday life and the ability to enjoy the great outdoors. Pest birds such as gulls, cormorants and pelicans also find comfort on boats. Boats offer a variety of roosting spots, including the boat canopies, bimini tops, decks, deck houses, booms, radar towers, antennas and lights. But a bird roosting is not the problem. It’s the mess birds leave behind. The last thing a boat owner wants to do is to spend their time cleaning up pest bird droppings. Sailboats, motorboats or speedboats, all of these boats have the potential to attract pest bird problems.

Bird Deterrents for Boats

Keeping birds off boats can be accomplished by using a combination of visual and structural bird deterrents placed on or near the problem area.

Visual bird deterrents work on birds' predatory fear of sudden movement and predator effigies. A new, and highly effective, product of this kind is the Gull-Cat Decoy Bird Scarer, which is a life-like cat whose head and tail moves. The Gull-Cat Decoy Scares Birds can be positioned on canopies, decks, booms etc. The Gull-Cat Cat Bird Deterrent Scares Birds can be securely tethered at typical roosting areas - boom, mast, rigging etc - on sail boats. Some boats may need more then 1 Gull-Cat Decoy Scares Birds (ex 1 at the bow and 1 at the stern). 

 

When possible, move the Gull-Cat cat Bird Deterrent Scares Birds every few days to keep the pest birds frightened by its movement. Along with the Gull-Cat Cat Bird Deterrent Scares Birds, other visual bird deterrents such as the Holographic Owl, Firefly II, Scare Eye Balloons, Scare Eye Octopus

Gull Cat Decoy Scares Birds on a boat

and the new Dead Seagull Bird Deterrent can be hung upside down in the death position from the boom, pulpit, pushpit, or basically  anywhere close to the where the gulls or cormorants like to roost. The FireEye, an 8" wind activated disk incorporates state of the art visual cues that scientifically affect avian vision. A wide array of clamps enables the FireEye to be installed at critical bird roosting areas on any boat. Make sure the visual bird deterrents are allowed to move freely in the wind and reflect sunlight at the pest birds.

Structural Bird Deterrents for Boats

Daddi Long Legs with Sandbag base

The industry standard for boat bird deterrents has long been the Daddi Long Legs. This unusual product features long, metal arms that move menacingly in the wind and will turn in even the slightest breeze to help keep gulls and other sea birds away from canopies, decks and booms. The Daddi Long Legs comes in a variety of sizes 2’, 4’, 6’ and 8’; choose the size that best fits the bird problem area. The Daddi Long Legs wands can be intermeshed to achieve maximum coverage. When possible, select the size that will allow the arms to hang over or just reach the edge of the deck or area to be protected. Boat attachments are also available for easy installation on booms, decks and railings. The Daddi Long Legs bird deterrent can also be installed with a sandbag Boat base for easy installation and removal.

Birds Spikes can be used to keep gulls and other sea birds off boat antennas and lights. Bird Spikes can easily be snapped in small sections and then glued or zipped tied in place. Bird Spikes can also be nested together to deter sparrows, starlings and other small birds.

Not sure which product to use? Send us an email to mark@birdsgottago.com with a brief description of your woodpecker problem and we can recommend the best product(s) and/or combination of them to get rid of your woodpecker problem.

BirdsGottaGo.com
1-855-741-3222

How to Install Woodpecker Deterrents on Telephone Poles!

Keeping woodpeckers away from telephone & utility poles should be approached like any other bird control campaign. Timing is critical as woodpeckers are more apt to leave a briefly occupied site rather than an established roost. Also, keep in mind that all woodpecker scare products work best when used in combination with each other as they increase the bird’s fear and flight response to the perceived predator threat.

Pileated woodpecker on a utility pole.

The most common woodpecker species & the damage caused to utility poles

The United States is home to a variety of woodpeckers, but the most common damage-causing woodpeckers to telephone poles are: the red-bellied woodpecker, acorn woodpecker, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker and the pileated woodpecker. The damage caused by these pest birds is not only unsightly, but it creates a safety hazard for the linesmen who have to climb these weakened structures. The primary cause of damage to power poles is caused when woodpeckers create a nesting or food storage cavity in the poles. The resulting damage is often so severe that utility workers cannot make needed repairs. Moreover, left unchecked, the pole will either fall down or be so deteriorated that it would be impossible to climb.

Woodpecker telephone pole deterrents and how to install them  
 
The key to successfully keeping woodpeckers off of wooden utility poles is to use a combination of woodpecker scare products and when possible, try to employ the deterrents before the pole becomes as established roosting site.  

Holographic Owl with swivel bracket on a power pole.

Woodpecker Decoy Life-Life Woodpecker Deterrent

Start by locating the area where the woodpeckers are drilling. If there is more than one location on the pole, then that will also have to be addressed. Once the woodpecker problem areas are established, mount the new Woodpecker Decoy Effigy Life-Life Woodpecker Deterrent near the nesting or drilling location(s). The Woodpecker Decoy Power Pole is a life-size double-sided image of the Pileated Woodpecker has been used successfully on power poles to warn encroaching birds that the pole is 'occupied territory'. 

Next, on the opposite site of the wooden utility pole, install a Gull-Cat Bird Scare Decoy facing downward on the pole or a Holographic Owl with Swivel Bracket. Both of these products have been proven to be highly successful at deterring woodpeckers by reflecting light emissions at the pest birds. The Swivel Bracket is used for mounting because visual bird deterrents are more effective when they are allowed to move freely in the wind and reflect sunlight at the pest birds.

If the telephone pole is an established roosting site with particularly stubborn woodpeckers, we recommend gluing or screwing on Bird Free Bird Repellent Gel or BirdFire Optical Gel pre-loaded dishes around the problem areas. The BirdFire Optical Gel dishes should be spaced about every 6 to 8 inches apart. BirdFire Optical Gel deters woodpeckers by appearing as a flame to approaching birds.

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

How do you keep pest birds out of trees & yard!

Keep pest birds out of trees and yards around your home or business with strategic use of bird deterrents.

Pigeons on backyard fence

Do you want to keep birds out of your trees & yard? We can teach you how to solve this pest bird problem. Homeowners typically experience problems with birds like starlings, crows, grackles and pigeons. Want to learn how to move birds without harming them and spending a lot of money? When left unchecked pest birds can ruin patio furniture, adversely affect landscaping, plus clog and foul drain lines and swimming pools. Bird droppings cause unsanitary conditions at patios, decks, balconies 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 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.

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 and yard. When possible try to figure out the direction the birds are coming from and hang visual deterrents in the flight path. 

Visual bird deterrents for trees & Yard

Visual bird deterrents work on bird’s predatory fear of sudden movement and predator effigies. A variety of visual deterrents like the Holographic Owl, Attack Eagle Bird Deterrent, Firefly II, Holographic Repel Strips, Scare Eye Balloons, Scare Eye Octopus, Mylar Flash Tape can be

 

Holographic Owl with Swivel Bracket

 

 

 

mounted and positioned with the Swivel Bracket or tied to branches. Visual deterrents should be allowed to move freely in the wind. If needed a Whip Rod Swivel kit can be used to place a visual deterrent in the yard.  A new highly effective bird scare device called the Flying Falcon Bird Diverter can be flown up to 300’ in the air above the yard to deter incoming flocks.

The Gull-Cat Bird Deterrent Scares Birds can also be placed on a tree branch or  patio to help keep away pest birds. Along with a Gull-Cat Bird Deterrent theBird Free Bird Repellent Gel or BirdFire Optical Bird Gel Repellent pre-loaded dishes can be glued or taped along branches or fence lines . BirdFire Optical Gel affects all pest bird species by triggering multiple sensory responses. If you are unlucky enough to have vultures roosting in your trees, try hanging Dead Vulture Decoy Effigy's from the branches. Do you have crows in your trees, add the Dead Crow Bird Scare Decoy along with other bird scare devices. Problem with Seagulls, gulls sitting on your roof edge, try hanging the new Dead Seagull Bird Deterrent in the death position.

 

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.

 
For birds in the middle of the yard or in a swimming pool position the Spray Away’ or “Spray Away Elite” near the problem area. The Spray Away system is a motion-activated bird deterrent that harmlessly blasts birds with water.   

 

Audio Bird Deterrents for trees & yard

Bird Gard Electronic Repeller

There are a wide array of audio deterrent systems. Most are programmed with species-specific alarm,  distress, raptor sounds.  The Bird Gard Pro Electronic Repeller is a easy to use homeowner bird deterrent system that can be set up to help keep birds out of trees and yard. The Bird Gard system should be programmed for the problem bird and the time of day when the pest birds are a problem. Large areas may require the Bird Squawker or Vineyard Bird Wailer. These bird scare devices will protect several acres of trees or property, but are not designed for the typical homeowner.

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 prime roosting conditions will often encourage the birds to move away. Reinforce with the Winged Scare Owl for added protection. 

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