Birds are fascinating animals that bring joy to many enthusiasts with their songs and colorful plumage. However, when a wild bird settles too close to a home or public property, they can quickly become a nuisance.
Nuisance wildlife species, such as pigeons, crows, and gulls, have adapted well to urban settings. They eat human food, build nests in human structures, and conduct daily activities around crowded spaces.
These avian residents can be bothersome and pose serious health risks to people nearby, which is why it is imperative to consult with a local bird control professional before taking any further action.
WHAT DO BIRDS LOOK LIKE?
According to The National Wildlife Federation, there are over 800 bird species occurring in the United States. Since their extended species list warrants a wide array of shapes, sizes, and colors, it can sometimes be difficult to establish what type of bird is causing a property nuisance. There are four identifying features than can help determine the species of a nuisance bird:
BEAKS The structure of a bird's beak can allude toward feeding and nesting habits. For instance, raptor birds (like hawks, eagles, or falcons) have sharp, hooked beaks for tearing flesh. Conversely, a woodpecker will always have a long, chisel-like beak for drilling holes in wood.
PLUMAGE How feathers look can be a big indicator of species. The colors and patterns can be incredibly diverse, ranging from the all-black plumage of crows and ravens to the gender-specific patterns of ducks and other waterfowl.
WINGS The shape and size of wings determine a bird's flying capabilities. Raptor birds have a large wingspan for soaring at high speeds, while songbirds (such as crows, sparrows, and swallows) have smaller wings more suited for agile flight.
FEET Similar to their beak, bird feet are also adapted to suit their lifestyle. Webbed feet can label the bird as waterfowl, while taloned feet are for birds of prey.
WHERE DO BIRDS LIVE?
Understanding where and when birds tend to congregate can help pinpoint areas that may require special attention for bird removal and prevention. Because of their flight capability, many birds will choose higher places to nest. This decision often warrants bird control for man-made structures such as roofs and gutters, where pigeons can enjoy nesting for several generations.
On the ground level, waterfowl are often attracted to backyard ponds, municipal lakes, and other public bodies of water. While swans, geese, and ducks enjoy a lack of predators in these areas, flocking can cause shoreline erosion and can be harmful to some aquatic plants.
Wild birds are remarkably adaptable and can also be found in many unconventional habitats. Chimneys, attics, and barns are some of the more clever spots they choose to reside, especially during the winter season.
WHAT DO BIRDS EAT?
The bird diet is as diverse as their habitats. They ideally prefer low-effort and nutrient dense food sources like seeds, insects, berries, and fish.
Larger birds of prey will particularly seek out small mammals as a food source. On rare occasions, there have been instances of raptor birds preying upon small dogs and cats. These unfortunate losses usually stem from extreme hunger and desperation, yet any pet weighing under 15 pounds may be at risk for a similar bird attack.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY BIRDS
While birds bring beauty and song to an environment, they can also cause significant damage to people and property. Excess noise from pigeons or woodpeckers is often enough for restless residents to contact wildlife control professionals.
Additionally, bird droppings are corrosive enough to damage car paint, layers of concrete, and eventually metal if given enough complacency.
Farmers and gardeners may notice damage to their corn or fruit crops from infesting birds, which poses reduced yields and financial burden. Bird species and diet diversity means that a wide range of other crops are affected: blackbirds, for instance, annually cause millions of dollars in damage to sunflower fields, while sparrows are opportunistic towards wheat.
DO BIRDS CARRY DISEASE?
Birds and their excrements can harbor harmful pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Even merely inhaling airborne particles around dried bird droppings can pose risk of psittacosis and other respiratory diseases.
HOW TO DETECT BIRDS
Signs of a bird issue include the following:
• Finding twigs, feathers, and other nesting materials in concentrated areas • Bird feces in areas like shingles, roofs, and windowsills • Hearing the same distinctive bird calls from a close proximity • Birds repeatedly entering or leaving a nearby area
HOW TO PREVENT BIRDS
To help prevent problems with bird problems the following preventative measures should be taken:
• Block access to perching and nesting with bird spikes • Repair any small entry points in roofs • Use reflective tape to disorient flying birds and prevent them from landing • Maintain Landscaping to reduce • Contact a wildlife control professional experienced in nuisance bird removal
HOW WE PROVIDE BIRD CONTROL
We perform bird control by identifying all entry points and implementing the use of nets, traps, and exclusion.
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control we have the required expertise to provide effective trapping, forced exclusion through the use of one-way doors.
Additionally, we have an in-house contractor capable of conducting most any type of service that may be needed to repair wildlife damage.
