Pest Control
Helping keep your Bird Management in check
Pest Control
Eden Falconry are able to offer several natural and humane options to assist you with certain bird management situations which may affect your business or personal property, be it commercial or residential locations, we are able to provide a solution to your issues.
Urban birds such as pigeons, gulls, geese, ducks and starlings are great opportunists. Handed a ready food source and sheltered nesting site, these birds can grow rapidly and what initially attracted a few birds can soon become a thriving colony.
These birds carry a variety of diseases such as Ornithosis, Listeria and E.coli that can be transmitted to humans not only from the droppings but also the birds themselves. When dry, pigeon droppings can become airborne in small particles; these can lead to respiratory complaints such as Psittacosis. Not only that, bird droppings are known to be acidic and can corrode or erode metals, stonework and brickwork.
Often nesting materials birds us can block chimneys, flues and guttering, causing possible issues with carbon monoxide and damage to buildings as water overflows from blocked gutters. Buildings covered in fouling look and can smell unpleasant and projects a poor image of your business, potentially running an organisation's reputation. If customers spot evidence of a heavy bird infestation on a premise, they may not want to do business with you. Finally, closely link to bird activity such as nesting are parasites such as mites, ticks, fleas and beetles. So if you have a current or past problem with birds and have done nothing, you may find you'll suffer from a parasite infestation too.
Bird Management
Bird prevention and control is a highly specialised skill. Control of birds through population reduction techniques is generally both less desirable and less effective then removing their food sources or blocking off sites where they perch or roost. The latter technique, known as proofing, is now used extensively.
For proofing, some pest controllers will use methods such as barriers, spikes, nets and wire to great effect. More recently active systems like shock strips, audible scarers and optical gels have been used to create negative associations in birds wishing to land or roost on buildings. All of these methods of proofing have their merits and some can offer a stronger and more lasting deterrent, but as with any method of control, they may become less effective over an extended period of time. For a heavy bird infestation, Eden Falconry would recommend employing methods of control such as flying our birds of prey as a more humane deterrent or shooting or trapping as a last resort.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the primary legislation which protects animals, plants, and certain habitats in the UK. Eden Falconry operates within this act under the general license, which enables us to carry out control of certain species of birds.
Pigeons
Feral pigeons usually produce 2–3 broods per year with two eggs in each clutch and new eggs can be laid when the young are just 20 days old, without any control their numbers grow dramatically.
If you are suffering with pigeon problems we offer a free survey and will provide advice and recommendations to help deter these nuisance birds. We are able to help tackle and control these populations with a falconry response, bird deterrents and bird proofing solutions.
Pigeon control and prevention is necessary for many reasons, most are associated with health risks and disease. Bird droppings/fouling carry a variety of diseases such as Ornithosis, Listeria and Ecoli that can be transmitted to humans not only from the droppings but also the birds themselves.
Not only that, bird droppings are known to be acidic and can corrode/erode metals, stonework and brickwork to listed buildings, heritage sites or your home and are closely linked to parasitic insects. This unsightly mess and smell projects a poor image of your business, potentially ruining an organisation's reputation.
Gulls
Gulls commonly nest and roost on rooftops mainly in cities, towns and villages. During the 70's the number of rooftop nesting gulls has steadily increased causing several problems, including, noise caused by calling gulls, mess caused by their droppings and fouling as well as damage to property due to nests which block guttering.
Gulls often pair for life and are very productive breeders with just a single pair able to raise up to 30 chicks over a ten year period. Nesting commonly begins in February with breeding commencing from March through to July producing on average three eggs.
For proofing, some pest controllers will use methods such as barriers, spikes, nets and wire to great effect. More recently active systems like shock strips, audible scarers and optical gels have been used to create negative associations in birds wishing to land or roost on buildings. All of these methods of proofing have their merits and some can offer a stronger and more lasting deterrent, but as with any method of control, they may become less effective over an extended period of time.
For a heavy bird infestation, Eden Falconry would recommend employing methods of control such as flying our birds of prey on a regular basis along with egg and nest removal as a more natural and humane deterrent. This will encourage most gulls to nest elsewhere as it is an unsafe environment to raise their chicks.
Corvids & Other Birds
If you or your business are experiencing similar health and safety problems to those above with other birds such as magpies, crows, rooks or starlings, Eden Falconry are still able to assist you with several bird management methods.
For proofing, some pest controllers will use methods such as barriers, spikes, nets and wire to great effect. More recently active systems like shock strips, audible scarers and optical gels have been used to create negative associations in birds wishing to land or roost on buildings.
All of these methods of proofing have their merits and some can offer a stronger and more lasting deterrent, but as with any method of control, they may become less effective over an extended period of time. For a heavy bird infestation, Eden Falconry would recommend employing methods of control such as flying our birds of prey as a more humane deterrent or shooting or trapping as a last resort.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the primary legislation which protects animals, plants, and certain habitats in the UK. Eden Falconry operates within this act under the general license, which enables us to carry out control of certain species of birds.
Ducks & Geese
Many places which have even the smallest of areas of ponds or lakes such as parks, country houses, hotels and even some sports fields can suffer from overpopulations of ducks and geese due to people feeding them. In most cases people tend to feed bread which can not only cause health conditions for the ducks and geese, but can lay uneaten in the water causing it to become stagnant, smelly and unsightly.
This process also reduces the oxygen and pH levels within the water, which can lead to the death of other water inhabitants such as fish. Combined with droppings/fouling overfeeding ducks and geese can produce a significant amount of mess, which in both private and public areas poses a health and safety risk.
Like geese, duck flocks can generate noise and contaminate areas of grass, crops and during their breeding season show aggression towards people. Left unattended numbers of ducks will continue to grow along with the problems associated with them.
Most methods of proofing have their merits and some can offer a stronger and more lasting deterrent, but as with any method of control especially with ducks, they may become less effective over an extended period of time. For a duck infestation, Eden Falconry would recommend employing methods of control such as flying our birds of prey as a more humane deterrent or shooting and trapping as a last resort.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the primary legislation which protects animals, plants, and certain habitats in the UK. Eden Falconry operates within this act under the general license, which enables us to carry out control of certain species of birds.