Bird Repellent: How to Keep Unwanted Birds Away with a System-Based Approach
Birds can cause significant damage to agricultural crops, interrupt industrial operations and even pose a danger to humans, such as during airplane bird strikes. Unfortunately, when birds are rewarded with a safe place to roost, food or other high value attractants, they can be difficult to keep away. Luckily, non-lethal repellent tools used in a strategic system can chase birds away and keep them from returning. There are three different classes of deterrents: Audio deterrents, Visual deterrents, and Active deterrents. You can create an effective bird repellent system by using a variety of options from each class. In this way, it is possible to efficiently protect anything from backyard blueberry crops to the biggest airports in the world in an affordable manner. While some individual species can be more sensitive to specific stimulus, this general strategy holds true for all species of birds. Repellents or deterrents work by utilizing involuntary physiological stress responses from birds when they think that they’re in danger. The greater the perceived threat from the deterrents are, the higher the likelihood of the birds believing they’re in constant danger; keeping them away from the controlled area. We call this “creating a landscape of fear”. For this to work, the fear you impart must be stronger than the attractant that brought them there in the first place. The most effective way to create this landscape is to use repellents from each of the deterrents classes to prevent habituation. Deterrent Classes Explained: Audio Audio: Deterrents that incorporate loud noises to startle and chase birds from the control area. Examples: Our Propane Cannons emit a 120 decibel (dB) audio blast, similar to the sound of a shotgun. All species of birds are sensitive to this sound. Continually move the propane scare cannons from place to place to keep birds from becoming accustomed to it. Propane cannons can effectively be combined with one of our Bird Gard speaker systems, which replicate the sound of injured birds in distress. Unwanted birds will connect the area with danger when they hear the cries from the speaker. Specific sounds combinations are available to most North American bird species. Visual Visual: Deterrents that make use of reflective material, lights, flashing, simulations or other visual elements. Examples: The strongest sense for a bird is their eyesight, which they rely on for flying, finding food and avoiding predators. Visual deterrents, such as predator effigies or dead decoys, are a non-lethal way to trick even the most intelligent prey species into believing predators are hunting in the area when they see “one of their own” that has been “killed” or a “predator” perched nearby. This further convinces them that your control area is unsafe to remain in. Active Active: Deterrents that are directly controlled by humans as a responses to birds in the area. The active class can include audio and visual deterrents as well. Example: Our most popular products, 15mm pyrotechnic scare cartridges, offer a variety of visual and audio effects and travel between 30m – 380m+ (90ft – 1250ft+) through the air. We stock the largest selection of pyrotechnic scare cartridges in North America. Combining different cartridges creates more chaos and prevents birds from becoming habituated to any one special effect and since you are using the deterrent only when needed, it is difficult for birds to become accustomed to these disruptive sights and sounds. We also supply the strongest hand-held bird control lasers allowed in Canada. Geese are particularly sensitive to the strange light pattern from the laser and react immediately. Like all tools, different bird repellent tools have their strengths and weaknesses. Don’t leave any safe havens in your control area; active and immediate use of deterrents prevent birds from being rewarded. The best bird control programs combine audio, visual, and active deterrents.
From Fruit to Fences: How I Became a Leader in Wildlife Management
My name is Jeff Marley and I’m the founder and owner of Margo Supplies. Working on my wife’s family orchard, I quickly learned how wildlife damage can impact total yields. I began experimenting with pyrotechnic scare cartridges and developed my own techniques to reduce damage in our fields back in the late 1970s. Using this experience, I began to develop my own techniques to reduce the incidents of wildlife in our fields. Developing these products became a passion of mine. After moving to Alberta, I started expanding my product offerings, sold units to neighbouring farms, then began working with government agencies and other industries. Margo Supplies was born in 1980. Behaviour-Based Solutions Throughout my career in wildlife management, I’ve learned the importance of working with and taking advantage of natural animal behaviour. By creating a “landscape of fear,” we can deter animals from entering control areas and create lasting changes in the local environment – your control area. Our goal is to get the target animals to associate your control area with negative stimuli, reducing their determination to enter the area. Behavioural solutions are often the best way to ensure that an animal doesn’t simply replace another in the future. We want to create a lasting impact in the target area. Whether you have issues with birds eating your fruit or bears invading your camps and parks, if you convince them it’s unsafe, they will learn. Non-Lethal We are manufacturers and users of our products. We prefer to use simple, yet effective tools that don’t get in the way of your home or operation. And because they’re effective, you likely will incur fewer costs with generate better results. Systems-Based Approach I’m in this business because I love the outdoors. I believe it’s important to give back to support wildlife conservation efforts. We donate our time, products and services as well as financial support to the conservation of black, grizzly and polar bears in western North America and the High Arctic. Logistics Support Conflict with wildlife often happens in the backcountry. We understand these are remote areas, that are difficult to ship to – and when you need a product, you need it right away. That’s why we’ve set up four shipping warehouses to dramatically reduce the time it takes to get you your solutions. We’ve shipped to every corner of the globe. Practical Solutions By protecting an area using our “landscape of fear” tactic, we can achieve behavioural-based solutions in a humane and environmentally friendly way. Our use of visual, auditory, or painful stimulants in the control area are more effective – which saves you money over time. Lethal tactics can solve one problem, but it won’t solve multiple ones down the line. I know first-hand that a predominantly non-lethal philosophy will better serve your needs. Conservation We take a systems-based approach to resolving wildlife conflict issues. This means by using our tools and techniques, we’ll help you create a comprehensive strategy that will keep unwanted wildlife away from the control area. Our systems and philosophy are implemented on our site and used by many of our industry partners. We extensively research and test each system and product. After over 35 years, I’ve worked with and gained insight into the various needs of industry, government, and outdoors people, and feel confident that my expertise can create a lasting solution for your needs. -Jeff Marley Margo Supplies was born out of a love for the backcountry life, a desire to help people’s businesses thrive, and a respect for the wildlife that share our planet with us.
