Many businesses know how troublesome nesting birds can be.
With nesting season about to hit its peak throughout February and March, now is the time to ensure that you have systems in place to deter birds from nesting and creating future issues for your business.
Once birds have started nesting, their presence can cause disruption, delay and can also result in additional property maintenance costs. Bird droppings cause mess and, if left for periods of time, their acidity can cause damage to fascia and buildings.
This can include but is not limited to…
- Damage to roofing
- Blockage of drainage systems
- Nesting within ventilation systems
Additionally bird droppings carry a health risk due to the bacteria they carry. Areas that require maintenance are often perfect shelters for nesting or roosting birds. To minimise the risk of serious illness these areas should be cleaned, sanitized and have bird deterrent measures installed.
As wild birds and their nests are protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, removal should always be carried out by a licenced expert who will first carry out a comprehensive survey and ensure that any action meets general licence conditions in order to abide by the law.
Anyone that acts outside of these conditions and…
- Kills, injures or takes a wild bird
- Takes, damages or destroy the nest of a wild bird included in Schedule ZA1
- Takes, damages or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built
- Takes or destroys an egg of any wild bird
Anybody who does this is liable for prosecution, so making sure that you hire a licenced professional is always the best way forward. Many urban areas are affected by gulls and as they can be particularly aggressive, especially in nesting season, many businesses require a solution to a growing gull population on their premises.
NBC Bird & Pest Solutions can potentially remove the nest and eggs and have had great success using falconry to deter gulls and manage bird populations. As many birds, especially gulls, return to the same nesting spot year on year, it is vital to ensure that if they have been successfully deterred deterrent measures. This will restrict birds’ future access and prevent health and safety issues reoccurring.
NBC Bird & Pest has over 21 years of experience providing pest and wildlife prevention and control solutions. Our bird management programmes and surveys identify the environmental, ecological and behavioural factors in every case. This holistic approach ensures that an effective plan can be implemented to prevent birds impacting a business, development or surrounding community.
A bird management programme may include…
- Identification of bird nesting safe zones
- Bird proofing to prevent entry of nuisance birds prior to development or demolition
- Bird scaring using falcons or hawks to deter birds form the affected area
- Dog scaring methods
- Audio bird deterrents
For effective, humane and legal recommendations to manage birds or nesting birds, talk to your local branch surveyor for free advice or to book a survey by calling 0800 169 9646.
