Pest Control: Kicking Out Problem Birds
Stadiums are the perfect place for pests to set up shop. Plenty of food scraps to feast on, places to shelter (harbourage, as we call it in the pest biz) and most crucial of all: easy access points.
Anyone who has managed a pest control contract for a stadium or similar structure will tell you that access is basically impossible to prevent. How do you proof somewhere that has such an open design?
Birds, in particular, love that stadium real estate for roosting. Many are in built-up areas, which means birds can use them as an anchor point from which to scavenge nearby estates or towns.
And as soon as an event is over the birds can drop down into seating to eat discarded pie, chips and whatever else visitors may have left.
Can’t we just all get along?
Our feathered friends are a regular smorgasbord of bacteria and disease, carrying such treats as Ornithosis, Listeria and E-coli.
When dry, pigeon droppings can become airborne in small particles, which can lead to respiratory complaints such as psittacosis.
They can also cause structural damage, as bird droppings are acidic and can corrode/erode metals, stonework and brickwork. We’ve all regretted parking under that tree, right?
And buildings covered in fouling look unpleasant, can smell and projects a poor image of a business, potentially ruining a hard-earned reputation.
Nature at its best
Arguably the most effective way to combat problem birds in this kind of environment is by using birds of prey.
Phillippa Hawkins, of BPCA member company Falconry Services Bird & Pest Control, has worked in pest management for 20 years and specialises in bird control.
“One of the contracts we carry out is for the Principality Stadium in Cardiff,” says Phillippa. “It has a retractable roof which is open 90% of the time and is like a giant Meccano set, so realistically you can’t proof that area.
“The easiest way to go up there is with a bird.”
There’s also a public image issue to bear in mind when considering pest management. Of the options available, falconry is one of the least controversial and most natural methods of control.
The birds of prey work as a deterrent and although not guaranteed (after all, nature gonna nature) they don’t generally attack the pest birds.
Instead it’s a psychological stand-off to claim the territory. Falconry works by triggering the survival instincts of the pest bird.
Phillippa explains that this is why a falconer needs to be on site, working in the hotspots, at least 4-6 days a week in the beginning (depending on how established a colony of birds is).
She explains, “The pigeons needs to see the hawk as often as possible, exercising and flying around. It makes them unsettled and they’ll be unwilling to stay.”
She continued, “You really need to put the hours in. If the pest bird thinks the hawk is just passing through, they’ll sit tight and ride it out.
“But if the hawk is there regularly and you can convince the pest that this is the hawk’s territory, then they won’t hang around and nest there.”
Hiring a falconer to help control pest birds is not uncommon and is quite a spectacle to watch in action.
The falconer will try and get as close as possible to the roosting site and bring the bird over the top of them. Birds instinctively stay high, to keep the vantage point, and trained hawks will stay above the falconer, moving where they’re directed.
It’s important that the pest management professional you hire uses the right type of bird on a site. For example, Phillippa flies Harris’s hawks on stadium jobs, particularly female hawks.
They are uniquely suited to doing stadium jobs because they’re a gregarious, laid back, social bird in the wild. That means they cope with the busy stadium environment really well.
In the wild they’re designed to work in crowded woodland, so flying among the metal beams of a stadium roof is no problem: their close wingspan means they can cope with that.
“In short, you can’t beat nature at its best,” says Phillippa. “Like all animals, pigeons are programmed to stay alive and being near a bird of prey is not conducive to that goal.”
Legal stuff
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds, their nests and eggs. However, specific exemptions permit certain species to be controlled by particular methods for specific reasons.
Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA Technical Manager, explains: “The law is quite complex when it comes to bird control, with many different licences and processes to follow.
“Effective, professional bird control will save you time, money and the effort of cleaning droppings off 60,000 seats.
“Stay within the law by using a professional pest management company.”
If you’re looking for a fully insured and qualified pest controller in your area, use the BPCA Find a pest controller tool.
