Birds can present all sorts of problems for any kind of building. They create nests on ledges, get stuck in air ventilation ducts, become loose in buildings through chimneys, and make themselves at home in drains and gutters.
And, don’t forget the erosion and unpleasant sight that is caused by bird droppings.
“People are really concerned about rodents, right? If we see rats, we’d know they spread disease and that sort of thing,” says Michael Gallion, director of business development for Bird Barrier Inc.
“Birds actually transfer twice the number of disease vectors—over 60 known disease vectors versus about 30 for rodents. The big difference is rodents stay down here on the ground. Birds have the gift of dropping from above, especially in outdoor eating areas. Like on tables where you see bird droppings. It’s a very common problem and a very serious risk,” he continues.
[More product highlights from BOMA 2019]
Bird Barrier Inc., along with Avian Flyaway Inc., are two companies that highlighted bird repelling products at BOMA 2019. Learn about their differences below.
Optical Gel from Bird Barrier Inc.
Gallion introduced Bird Barrier’s Optical Gel at BOMA 2019, which is the company’s new all-natural bird deterrent. It uses sight, smell and touch to drive the animals away.
“Basically, it’s changing bird control,” says Gallion, who has been with the product since it was first created. He explains that when installed, Optical Gel reflects UV light and primarily triggers the fear of fire in birds, a natural instinct they will react to. It also helps prevent birds from reclaiming their nesting spots season after season.
“All bird problems at facilities usually relate to core nesting problems,” he says, because they imprint on a building’s roof or ledge.
[Read also: How to Find the Right Mobile Vendor for Your Facility]
Gallion adds that Optical Gel contains no pesticides and is “generally regarded as safe” for birds, in comparison to bird nets or bird spikes, which could hurt the animals. He explains what the product is made of and how it works in the video below.
Michael Gallion, director of business development for Bird Barrier Inc:
Optical Gel installs as easily as it works. Facility managers and building owners need to simply remove covers from the dishes and then glue, magnetically stick or zip-tie them to the affected areas. The product works for all bird species and each dish is expected to last from two to four years.
Electric Barrier Systems from Avian Flyaway Inc.
Avian Flyaway Inc. also showcased its bird deterring solutions, which included the Avian Averting System. It’s an invisible electric barrier system made of stainless steel that gives birds a mild shock to train them to stay away from the property.
“They create a slip hazard, fall hazard and medical hazard,” says Sheridan Jones, regional manager for Avian Flyaway Inc., of birds and their droppings.
The Avian Averting System is based on the Pavlovian Theory of behavior modification, which trains birds to avoid buildings and in turn, eliminates nesting and roosting sites. Jones explains how the product works in this video.
Sheridan Jones, regional manager for Avian Flyaway Inc.:
“The electric system gives the birds a mild shock and it does train them, whereas the spikes are considered perch modification and they tend to get around the spikes,” says Jones on comparing Avian Flyaway’s products to others on the market. “They are actually able to nest right in the spikes. The spikes help hold their nesting debris together.”
The Avian Averting System is proven to last decades in well over 90% of installations.
Both it and Bird Barrier’s Optical Gel showcase the range of bird-deterring products currently available on the market, whether you need a short-term or long-term solution.
More BOMA 2019 Coverage:
