Pest Birds – a major threat to health, property
and profits
A look at the
health hazards
posed by certain
birds and the
damage they can
cause to buildings
if adequate
precautions are
not taken to
control them.
importance in South
Africa are the Feral
Pigeon (Columa Livia),
the European Sparrow
(Sturnus Vulgarus), the
European Starling
(Passer Domesticus)
and some of the Gulls
of the Larus species.
The damage to
property by pest birds
in the Republic of
South Africa runs into
millions of Rands each
year. The impact on
people’s health and
business profits may
cost as much again.
Fouling and defacing
buildings
Bird dropping not only
makes buildings look
dirty and ugly, but they
can cause corrosion of
the mortar and
masonry. The structure
of a building can be
threatened, especially
by dry-rot fungus. Flies
breed in bird droppings
causing unpleasant
conditions in adjacent
rooms and offices in
summer. The high cost
of cleaning, repainting
and repairing buildings
can be significantly
reduced by a rational
programme of bird
control work.
Threats to Health and
Safety
Birds and their nests
are a haven for many
other pests. Nests
attract carpet beetles
and other insects,
which invade buildings
and can cause damage
and distress indoors.
The appearance of
many of our finest
buildings is marred by
birds, and in many
industries and
commercial
enterprises, birds are a
menace. They render
foodstuffs inedible;
introduce insects, mites
and diseases harmful to
man and cause
breaches of the Public
Health Act. Birds
deface buildings; their
droppings damage
masonry, block drains
and so cause structural
damage. They
jeopardize health and
safety at work and at
home. The main pest
birds of economic
THE DAMAGE
THEY DO OUTSIDE
Sparrows and pigeons
can carry general
species of bacteria,
including Salmonella,
which causes food
poisoning. Pigeons are
carriers of Ornithosis, a
disease similar to virus
pneumonia, very
commonly caught by
people and diagnosed
as flu.
Bird droppings make
pavements, walkways,
and staircases
dangerous and are
often the direct cause
of falls and broken
limbs. It is especially
important to keep
external ire escapes
free of bird droppings.
Secondary damage to
property
Birds nests and the
remains of nests often
block gutters and down
pipes, the resulting
overflows lead to spoilt
interior decoration and,
more seriously, to
timber decay and
structural damage
inside the building
itself. They attack and
destroy insulating
materials, create noise
and unpleasant smells.
THE DAMAGE
THEY DO INSIDE
Danger to hygiene–
spreading disease.
Sparrows are a major
pest of all kinds of food
premises, warehouses,
factories, restaurants
and canteens. In one
extreme case, sparrows
were responsible for a
devastating outbreak of
food poisoning which
caused hospitalization
of several people and
several near fatalities.
Bird droppings,
regurgitated food
pellets, feathers and the
insects and mites that
birds attract
contaminate food,
making it dangerous
and unsaleable.
The Health Act and the
Machine and
Occupational Safety
Act both impose severe
penalties on the sale of
contaminated food.
Hazards to workforce
and equipment.
Birds in a factory, food
preparation area or
warehouse can cause
distraction to
employees by their
noise and smell, and in
severe cases of
infestation, create
morale problems and
safety hazards.
Droppings, dead birds,
nest materials, feathers
and insects falling into
plant and foodstuffs
can cause damage and
disrupt production and
general routine.
Contamination of
products
Birds contaminate far
more than they eat and
the damage they do is
not confined to food
products. Precision
engineering and
electronic components,
cars, aircraft and
plastic products are
amongst those most
often damaged. Apart
from losses, which are
measurable in hard
cash, it is simply
unpleasant to have the
general level of
hygiene lowered by the
presence of bird
droppings, whether in
industry or public
places, churches, bus
stations, restaurants,
theatres or shopping
centers.
LIMITATIONS OF
BIRD CONTROL
The methods that can
be used for the control
of pest birds are
severely restricted both
by legislation and
public opinion.
Legislation
Birds receive extensive
protection by the
Prevention of Cruelty
of Animals Act and by
the Nature and
Environmental
Conservation
Ordinances. Although
the European Starling
and European Sparrow
are not protected
species, the killing of
birds by any means is
totally abhorrent. The
use of repellant is
permitted, as is the
capture and release of a
bird at a distant point.
Public Opinion
Mention of the word
“birds” conjures up a
picture in the minds of
people of robins,
canaries, parrots and
occasionally the non
feathered variety on
Clifton beach. There
are few people indeed
who associate the word
“bird” with the word
“pest”.
The SPCA and the
Ornithological Society
are especially
concerned with bird
protection. Most
people, whether active
supporters of these
organizations or not,
are bird lovers, and
tend to resent action
against birds.
Safe working heights
Bird control often
involves working at
heights and, no matter
how important and
worthwhile the reasons
for bird control may
be; it never justifies the
risk of serious injury or
death to anyone.
BIRD CONTROL
METHODS
Bird control is
achieved by one or a
combination of the
following methods:a) Moving the birds
from their regular
perching, roosting or
feeding places. This is
achieved by applying
the “Avistrand”
method or bird
repellants, proofing or
scaring.
b) Capturing birds by
trapping or Mist netting
and releasing them at a
place removed from
their regular roosting
and feeding place.
c) For the control of
birds indoors, proofing
must always be the first
consideration.
d) The “Avistrand”
system consists of
nylon covered stainless
steel wires, suspended
and sprung at such a
height above perching
and roosting sites to
stop birds landing,
settling or taking off.
This system has several
distinct advantages.
 Wires can be
installed on any
surface.
 Wet or icy
conditions do not
effect installation.
 The materials used
are long lasting and
not affected by
corrosion.
 It is effective
against pigeons,
starlings and
seagulls.
Bird repellents are
usually used to
supplement
"Avistrand" for the
surfaces and
embellishments where
wire cannot be used.
Surfaces favored by
birds are of two kinds:1. Those used for
daytime perching,
especially
overlooking good
feeding grounds.
2. Those used for
roosting. Bird
repellants, though
not enough to trap
birds, frighten them
off to find a more
secure perch
elsewhere. Ideally
treatment should
coincide with the
cleaning of a
building.
Mist netting and
trapping is used to
capture sparrows and
pigeons from buildings.
An effective method of
controlling flocks of
pigeons involves the
use of large cage traps.
In this way many
towns and cities have
been helped to cull the
flock and keep the
pigeon population at an
acceptable level.
Proofing: wherever
pest birds occur, the
first objective should
be to bird proof the
building before other
methods are used.
Otherwise the building
is likely to be
recolonized by the
birds.
Internal proofing is
achieved by: Installing strip
curtain doors.
 Closing off roof
spaces by netting.
 Sealing all eave or
ridge gaps.
 Repairing or
sealing all other
holes by which
birds gain access.
External proofing is
achieved by installing
polypropylene netting
to roof spaces, light
wells, eaves and
recesses.
CONCLUSION
Everyone loves birds –
but pest birds have to
be kept under control.
They spread disease
and cost money. Any
pest bird problem can
be solved. Humane
techniques applied by
specialist pest control
operators are speedy
and effective.