What Is That Bird ... and Why Does it Matter?

A bird is building a nest on the ledge outside your dock door. A small flock has started to gather along the roofline. A pair of ducks is floating on your pond, waddling to the break area whenever lunch is finished. Should you be concerned about any — or all of these situations? If so, what methods will work against which birds; and what can you, or your pest management professional, do — legally?

With a myriad of federal, state and local laws governing the management of birds; species knowledge necessary for identification and control; and public relations aspects to consider (Even if it is legal, will elimination methods subject you to the ire of neighbors or local groups?), most bird management efforts are best left to knowledgeable professionals. However, to prevent pest birds from becoming established around — or in — your plant, it is advantageous for plant managers to be able to identify the most common birds, understand their legal status, and know the why and when — as well as the who, what, where and how — of each.

The Feral Pigeon 
Averaging 11 inches in length, a pigeon is generally gray with a lighter rump, black bars on its secondary wings, a black band on the tail, and red feet.

What
Pigeons are often referred to as flying rats, and with their abundance, filth of their droppings and general contamination, and the diseases they carry, the term is not so far off base.

Why
One of the most common and most recognized of birds, the pigeon also can be the most problematic of pests. Preferring to live in human habitats where food and shelter are plentiful, the pigeon droppings deface and deteriorate buildings, clog drain pipes and air intakes, and contaminate food. Pigeons carry ornithosis, encephalitis, Newcastle disease, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, toxoplasmosis, pseudotuberculosis, pigeon coccidiosis, and salmonella. In addition, they carry ectoparasites including fleas, ticks, mites and other bugs.

When
Pigeons have no specific season, rather they can be a year-round pest, attracted to plants for food and shelter. Some areas, though, may see an increase in pigeon populations during the winter months as the pest bird seeks out the plant’s warmth and harborage.

Where 
Pigeons are found across the U.S. as well as Mexico and southern Canada, primarily in areas of high human habitation or food availability. They will roost and build nests anywhere a building opening allows.

How 
Pigeons are not protected by federal or state law (local ordinances may vary), and are considered a pest bird.

The best control method for pigeons, according to the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control is to “build them out” — screening openings, rafters, bridge bracings and other entry or roosting sites. The introduction of light-weight, mesh netting in recent years made this the most common and most effective method for “building out” pigeons and other pest birds. 

Baiting, trapping, repellents and nest destruction also can help to rid a plant of pigeon problems. While the cost and labor associated with repellent products — such as installation of sharp projections, thin wires and other anti-landing devices — can be significant, this method generally provides a permanent solution, thus making it worth the cost.

The House Sparrow 
Generally measuring just under six inches in length, this is a small, brown, stocky bird. While the female appears similar to other non-pest sparrows, the male’s black “bib,” white cheeks and gray crown set him apart.

What  
Sparrows get inside plants probably more than any other bird, which quickly becomes a food safety issue, through contamination from droppings and feathers.

Why 
Sparrow droppings can carry more than 25 diseases such as histoplasmosis and salmonella; in addition to this potential disease transmission, however, food and surface contamination can result from bird feathers, parasites living on the birds, and dermestid beetles harboring in the sparrow nests. Because these birds are such prolific breeders, their numbers can increase significantly in a short amount of time, intensifying the potential for damage and contamination.

When 
Sparrows can be a problem year around, with breeding beginning midwinter to early spring; once the male settles on a nesting site, he will hold fast to that site, bonding with the site more than with the female. However, repeated destruction of the nest and eggs every ten days or so will reduce offspring and eventually drive birds away.

Where 
Found throughout the country, the sparrows live in flocks nesting near one another, and preferring areas where food and shelter are readily available. Sparrows will build their nests in just about any elevated, protected spot.

How 
Sparrows are not protected by federal or state law (local ordinances may vary); considered a pest bird.

The most critical factor for control of sparrows is keeping their numbers down outside the building in order to reduce the potential of them entering the food processing plant. Exclusion techniques are especially critical around dock doors which tend to be a common entry area for these common pest birds.
The birds also can be driven away through reduction or elimination of roosting and nesting sites through physical barriers such as pointed wires, spikes or electrical wires on ledges, rafters, and other potential roosting sites.

European Starling
About the size of a robin, this short-tailed pest bird has iridescent blue/black feathering with light tan tips. Its beak changes from winter black to a yellow coloring with the approach of spring. It is distinguished by its harsh squawking calls; however, it will also imitate other birds in its vocalizing.

What  
Starlings are generally attracted to plants not so much for feeding as for warmth and overnight roosting. For this reason, control tactics are different for starlings than for other pest birds.

Why 
One of the most negative aspects of starlings is that they roost in extremely large numbers, thus the contamination even over a short period of time can be extreme, a concern for food processing plants. Droppings can build up to several inches in non-tended areas, and tracking of droppings from around a facility into the plant can be a critical food safety issue. 

Starlings will roost on almost anything — from billboards to marquees, from trees to building ledges, sitting side by side by side to create a virtual wall of birds … and droppings. Starlings transmit encephalitis, ornithosis and histoplasmosis; they not only spread disease to livestock, but also consume their feed.

When 
Because their presence at food plants is more often a search for warmth and shelter rather than food, starlings are most likely to be an issue in the winter months. And it can be an extremely problematic issue as the flocks return each night to the same site for four to five months.

Where 
Starling nests are generally built in holes and cavities of trees, bird houses or structures. Though the young start out in small flocks upon leaving the nest, by the end of summer a single flock may include thousands of birds.

How 
Starlings are not protected by federal or state law (local ordinances may vary); considered a pest bird.

There are baits available for starlings, however permits are required for their use. Again, because starlings don’t typically feed at plant sites, a bait must be highly attractive and competitive to get the attention of this pest bird, thus the starlicide is not formulated as a bait, but is mixed with a food source.

Exclusion or repellents are a better bet against starlings, and the earlier in the season that a plant implements its control strategy – before the birds become accustomed or entrenched, the more successful the efforts will be.

The Woodpecker 
Averaging 7 to 15 inches in length, woodpeckers are most readily distinguished by their backward-pointing toes and stiff tail features by which they are able to cling to vertical wooden surfaces. Most are of bright, contrasting color, with males generally having red on their heads.

What  
There are 21 species of woodpecker in the U.S., with 10 of these most likely to cause structural damage.

Why 
While it is commonly believed that woodpeckers peck holes where they detect insects, the birds also will make holes in sound wood without insect presence. If it creates a large enough cavity, it may roost or nest in the resulting area. In addition, woodpeckers can be very persistent and are not easily driven away, which can prove problematic for QA professionals.

When 
Woodpeckers are most active, causing the most damage, from February through June, while breeding and establishing their territories.

Where 
With woodpeckers found across the U.S., structures near wooded areas are most susceptible to their attack.

How 
Woodpeckers are protected migratory, non-game birds, with some species on the endangered list. In extreme cases, permits may be issued for lethal control, but in most cases control must be achieved through non-destructive methods. Exclusion, using netting or metal barriers, is one of the most effective methods; visual devices that incorporate movement and/or reflection have been reported to have some efficacy; sudden, loud noises can have some frightening effect if repeated each time the bird returns; taste and odor repellents have not proven to be successful; sticky repellents can discourage return, but can also damage paint or wood siding.

Waterfowl
Geese, ducks and swans can cause problems for QA professionals, particularly around food processing facilities.

What  
A single pair of ducks or geese is often welcomed on a pond; however, as the flock grows year after year, the waterfowl quickly turn to pests.

Why 
The primary problem with waterfowl around food plants are their droppings, which can be tracked into a facility, causing a wide range of contamination problems. 

When 
In the Northern states, control will be most needed during the winter months, while year-round control may be necessary for non-migratory birds and in areas to which the birds migrate.

Where 
Most North American waterfowl are migratory, breeding throughout the continents; some species, though, do remain in a single geographic area year around.

How 
Most waterfowl — including their nests and eggs — are protected as migratory birds. The birds can be legally controlled through scare or herding tactics, although state and local laws should be checked prior to implementing any frightening tactic. No method of pursuit, killing, trapping or capture is legal.
The key to waterfowl control is putting frightening devices or repellents in place before a flock is established. To make a pond unattractive to fowl, keep grass trimmed right to the edge of the pond; use herbicides to eliminate aquatic growth; prohibit any feeding of waterfowl; allow pond to freeze over in the winter. Fencing also can be placed around ponds, and where possible, overhead netting can be used.  QA

The author is staff editor of QA magazine. She can be reached at llupo@gie.net.
 
Information and recommendations for this article were compiled from interviews with or information from Judy Loven, Indiana state director, USDA Wildlife Services; Pat Hottel, technical director, McCloud Pest Control; The Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, Arnold Mallis; and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife and USDA APHIS Wildlife Services.

Top Five Pest Bird Deterrents

1. Incorporate good exterior sanitation practices; this can go a long way toward reducing the attractiveness of a food plant to bird populations, particularly when it comes to the delivery dock areas where pest birds have significant opportunities to enter the building.

2. Use repellent products on pipes, ledges and other potential perch areas. Heat trace pipes can be particularly attractive to birds until the weather warms, as the pipe warmth, itself, is ideal for attracting birds even were no food is available. In addition, it is often the very aesthetics of the structure that attract the birds, with insets, porches and overhangs providing sheltered, protected perch areas.

3. Enclose open ceilings, rafters and supports particularly in warehouse and delivery areas. While freely accessible and exceedingly attractive to birds, the areas can be difficult for plant personnel to reach. Depending on the facility, netting may be appropriate. Simply enclosing the ceiling can be a better, longer-term approach.

4. Screen vents and air intakes, ensuring that the mesh is small enough to not only eliminate bird entry but also keep debris and nesting materials out. Bird feathers have been known to float in through vents and contaminate vats of product; requiring not only disposal of the product but complete breakdown and cleaning of the production line.

5. Incorporate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods. There is rarely a simple approach to bird management; rather control generally requires a multi-phase approach, from control initiatives to behavior modification — of the birds and employees.