Feral birds may become pests by:

1. Feeding on agricultural products
2. Displacing desirable birds
3. Roosting or nesting around human habitations
4. Contaminating foods
5. Colliding with aircraft
6. Carrying diseases or ectoparasites affecting man
7. Destroying vegetation
8. Causing hazardous or unpleasant walking or working conditions

Our Company develops a detailed bird management programme for each feral bird control problem undertaken. These programmes should include careful inspections and surveys to determine pest bird species, feeding areas, roosting areas, potential secondary poisoning problems, the presence of any non-target birds or other animals and any special conditions present.

The programme outlines the methods and tools to reduce or eliminate the pest birds and limits reinfestations. They also include a range of alternative strategies dependent on variable conditions.

Our feral bird management programmes all comply with Federal, State and Local laws and regulations and are safe and environmentally sound.

Economic and Health hazards of Feral Birds

Disease Transmission: Many disease organisms have been associated with the main feral bird species. e.g. pigeons, starlings, indian mynahs and sparrows. Some of the major diseases associated with these species of birds are Histoplasmosis, Cryptocaccosis, Toxoplasmosis, Encephalitis and Salmonellosis.

These diseases can infest staff or visitors to a facility if bird numbers are left out of control.

Feral birds also cause property damage, contamination to food products, cause slippery surfaces on ladders, floors, sidewalks etc.

Nuisance Factor

Birds may also become pests simply by being a nuisance in a particular area at a particular time. When they congregate in large numbers in urban areas, their noise, droppings, feathers and simply their physical presence can be offensive.

Prevention and Control of Feral Birds

There are five main methods of control:

Proofing Out

• Building ledges and facades can be made non-inhabitable for bird roosting and nesting by fitting fine wire mesh or U.V resistant woven netting over the ledges and structures to further prevent this situation.
• Ledges, building facades and structural beams under awnings can be completely sealed from bird roosting or nesting by fitting U.V resistant woven netting to the entire undersides of the awnings or covering complete building facade sections.
• Single ledges and ornamental building facade sections can be fitted with stainless steel or plastic bird spikes to prevent birds roosting or nesting on

Repelling

This method of control actually drives birds from one situation to another and is normally a temporary control method.

To prevent feral birds from landing on building ledges, beams etc, we fit stainless steel spikes to prevent birds from roosting and nesting on these surfaces.

These spikes are flexible, durable and adaptable to curved surfaces. They are an environmentally acceptable alternative to solving feral bird problems.

Trapping

Cages can be utilised to catch various feral bird species.

This method of control is very time consuming and requires daily attention for the replacing of food within the traps.

Poisoning

This method is taken as a last resort with the approval to carry out the poisoning programme authorised by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife prior to any treatment occurring.

All other methods of control should be exhausted prior to to carrying out any poisoning programme and only feral pigeons, starlings, Indian Mynahs which are non-native species to Australia can be targeted for culling at commercial facilities.

Shooting

This method of control is sometimes used in food factories and commercial facilities by our licenced operators to cull feral pigeons, starlings and Indian Mynah birds when all other control measures have been exhausted. We have fully qualified staff to carry out this work.