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| How to control the birds |
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| Written by Chaeli Glass | |
| Wednesday, 07 July 2010 | |
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By Chaeli Glass At dusk in Flemingsburg, some neighborhoods during summer months resemble the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. An overwhelming amount of starlings have been roosting in the area for several years, and residents have been trying a variety of tactics to keep away the birds and the accompanying nuisances that come with them—white splats on cars and pavement, the sound of thousands of birds screeching and roosting, the smell of uric acid in the air, for example. Why do the flocks return to Flemingsburg each summer? According to state veterinarian Dr. John Poe of Kentucky Department for Public Health, starlings feed on insects, small seeds (not corn, which is to large for them to digest), and garbage. They probably come to Flemingsburg to feed, and to roost overnight for protection. “The summer timing of the roosting suggests that weaned young birds are contributing to the flock size,” he said. How can the community stop the nuisance birds from returning each summer? Homeowners in the area have been trying to keep birds off their properties in creative ways: ringing bells, clanging pans, clapping loudly, and even playing audio sounds of predatory birds and birds in distress. According to experts, these tactics aren’t going to keep the birds away for more than a few minutes. Keith Stucker, the district supervisor for the USDA Wildlife Services, said that while some individual efforts will help, ridding a community of birds is a collaborative effort. According to Stucker, there are some things that will deter the birds from infesting our neighborhoods: Make the area less attractive to the birds. The starlings are attracted to the food and trees in the area. Stucker advises not putting out bird feeders during March and April, when birds should be foraging on their own. In addition, he advises thinning the canopies of thick trees. This does NOT include topping or cutting down trees, but rather the skill of trained arborists thinning limbs in the thick canopies of trees that attract the starlings. Use pyrotechnics designed for bird harassment. Harassing birds with loud noises is only effective if the noise reaches the birds at tree top level. Non-lethal pyrotechnic pistols such as Bird Bangers and Screamer Bangers send harassing sounds and visuals hundreds of feet into the air, therefore harassing the birds at tree top level. Stucker says that one individual using a pyrotechnic pistol cannot single handedly rid the birds. “The more shooters, the better,” he said. “It takes coordination among residents, and city officials like the police and the mayor.” With collaboration, Stucker says a neighborhood or community can significantly lower the amount of nuisance birds, even up to 95%. Stucker advises residents in the area to use pyrotechnic devices for seven to 14 consecutive days at dusk each night. The shooters should be in place about 30 minutes prior to dark. There is no reason to continue harassing birds after dark, because at that point they have chosen their protective trees and are unable to leave until daylight. “It will resemble a fireworks display. It is meant to be harassing and disturbing to the birds so they want to go there anymore,” said Stucker. “It is possible to move a roost, but it takes time, effort, and a little bit of money.” Stucker says that residents can expect the flock to thicken in number during the months of July and August. Neighborhoods that want to move roosts of starlings away from their homes must work together, using pyrotechnic devices, to effectively solve the problem. Websites like www.margosupplies.com sell non-lethal pyrotechnic pistols intended for harassing birds for about $35, with ammunition for about $20 a box. |
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