Bird Control

Locating & Removing Birds from Residential & Business Properties

Despite the propensity for bird watching and the many beautiful species that inhabit California, there are some birds that are true pests. They can cause physical damage as well as health-related consequences (birds are associated with over 60 diseases, including salmonella, encephalitis, and Newcastle Disease) in both homes and businesses. The most common pest birds in California are the pigeon, house sparrow, starling, and crow. Each species has unique characteristics and potential hazards.

At Advanced Integrated Pest Management, we have proven solutions to help with your bird problems and prevent their costly damage. Schedule your service by calling 800-655-3993  today.

Common Pest Birds

Pigeons

An inherently social bird, pigeons thrive on human interaction. In fact, they rely on us for food and habitat. As such, they are frequently found in public places, and aren’t deterred by the presence of humans – you’ve likely noticed their unbothered attitude. They are just over a foot in height and have very distinct, grayish-colored bodies with stark red feet and claws. They can produce a dozen offspring in a year, with a short incubation time of less than a month. Because of this, an infestation can occur quickly, especially if there are multiple pigeon nesting sites in the area. Pigeons are also persistent. They’re non-migratory and will stick around a nesting site even months after exclusionary tactics have been performed.

Also known as rock doves, homing pigeons, and more accurately, flying rats, pigeons carry a wide range of health-related problems. Harboring a myriad of parasites and infectious diseases, including histoplasmosis and salmonellosis, pigeons aren’t just a nuisance to passerby in the park. Producing up to 25 pounds of acidic defecation per year, they can release dangerous spores as well as damage roofing, ventilation systems, and other structural aspects of a building. Additionally, a pigeon infestation can also trigger secondary pest problems, like ticks and other mites that reside between a pigeon’s feathers.

Because of their persistent attitude and food foraging, getting rid of pigeons can prove a long process, and if not done properly, often results in many failed attempts. A trusted bird control professional, like our experienced technicians at Advanced Integrated Pest Management, can help reduce pigeon recurrence and infestation resurgence.

House Sparrow

A non-native species, the house sparrow is originally from Great Britain, and are also known as English sparrows and flying mice. Because of this, they’re known to displace native species due to their aggressive nesting habits, causing an ecological disruption. Largely an urban pest, these birds are relatively small, only about six inches in height. You’ll recognize them by their constant series of chirps and brownish body accompanied by a cream-colored chest and some black spots.

Sparrows, like pigeons, are also social birds, so they feed on food products, disseminate diseases, and carry secondary pests in large numbers. And because, individually, they’re so small, they can make their way into buildings through small gaps and openings that you may not even notice, making an infestation go unnoticed until it gets too late. Speaking of a sparrow infestation can spread quickly – with females able to produce up to 28 offspring a year, and an incubation time of only two weeks.

House sparrows don’t like to leave a building or property once they’ve gotten settled. They’re extremely adaptable and resourceful, even known for drinking water from A/C pans and floor machines. Despite their small size, their nests are often bulky, made of materials like straw, grass, feathers, and strips of paper. As such, their nests, which are commonly found near breaker boxes and electrical equipment, can pose a fire hazard. Preferring man-made habitats, house sparrows are opportunistic when it comes to infesting your home or business.

Starlings

So-called for their glossy black appearance dotted with small white spots, starlings are medium-sized birds that have disrupted the native ecology with their sheer numbers. Commonly considered noisy, they vocalize not only frequently, but at high pitches. When a roosting site is developed, those on the property will notice boisterous noise and large accumulations of corrosive droppings.

Starlings travel often, meaning their likelihood of picking up parasites and diseases along the way is increased. Of those, includes fungal diseases, protozoan disease toxoplasmosis, and blastomycosis. Starlings also pose a large agricultural threat through the spread of livestock diseases and mass consumption of agricultural products like fruits and grains.

Because of their mass group tendencies, starlings pose unique pest control challenges. The buildup of nesting materials as well as droppings can make cleanup challenging, while controlling so many at once can also prove difficult.

Crows

As large, solid-colored black birds, crows are inherently spooky. Pop culture and movies even use crows to symbolize foreboding characters and scenes. Crows are unquestionably intelligent – they’re often known to outsmart bird exclusionary tactics. Affecting both rural and urban populations, crows are omnipresent as pest species.

As aggressive birds, crows can intimidate people and pets, and they displace “preferred” birds, like hummingbirds, bluebirds, and robins. They are especially aggressive when it comes to begging for food, often foraging roadkill, compost, and garbage. Common complaints revolve around the mess and noise – crows communicate with repeated loud caws, which can be loudest just before dawn – that large roosts create. Unlike northern states, in California, crow roosts can be year-round. Associated with these large crow roosts are the accompanying droppings, which contribute to health risks of its own.

Once crows have found reliable food and shelter, it can be difficult to get them to leave, even after removing the easy pickings. For the best results, trust an experienced bird control technician. Contact us at Advanced Integrated Pest Management for a quick solution to your crow problems.

Our Bird Removal Method

At Advanced Integrated Pest Management, we use many products that are designed specifically to exclude birds from your property without inhumanely harming them. Exclusionary tactics are successful in the proactive prevention of pest birds as well as the reduction of current nesting. Our technicians will perform a detailed inspection to identify your unique bird infestations and any damage that has been caused. We’ll use this information to locate any at-risk areas and distinguish the best solutions for you.

Our trained technicians have experience in creating custom solutions for birds and bats. Because every structure and pest bird species combination require a unique solution, our technicians will custom-evaluate your situation to determine the most cost-effective method for you.

Advanced Integrated Pest Management uses many products designed to exclude the birds from the areas they are damaging, such as:

• Bird Netting: Made of Polyethylene twine and secured with steel installation hardware, this netting can close off openings big and small, from parking structures to HVAC units. This creates a long-term solution for serious bird problems and is a harmless barrier that accommodates the exclusion of all pest bird species.
• Stainless Steel Spikes: Placed on ledges, pipes, and lights, these spikes are harmless deterrents that keep birds from roosting where they’re not wanted. These spikes are also discreet so your building’s façade will stay pristine.
• Shock Tracks: A low profile, nearly invisible deterrent, shock tracks teach birds to keep off ledges, signs, and roof areas.
• Avitrol: A bait that acts on birds’ nervous systems without causing them any pain, Avitrol is meant to frighten birds away from the structure. Birds that eat the material will emit distress signals and leave the area due to the perceived “threat.”
• Humane Trapping: Live bird traps intend to catch whole flocks of birds safely and effectively, which are then released far away from the structure. These traps are made from a durable wire mesh material, and the birds are lured with food and water.
• OvoControl®: OvoControl® is a method of bird birth control designed to combat the growth of bird infestations. This bait interferes with eggs’ hatchability and can reduce populations by up to 50 percent.

Our trained technicians are experienced in creating custom solutions for birds. Every structure and bird species combination creates unique situations that need to be evaluated so the correct, most cost-effective solution is installed for your bird problem.

Requestion an inspection online or call 800-655-3993  from a local bird control expert today.