Enhancing your business’ defence against nuisance birds

When you think of a pest that causes disruption to businesses, birds probably aren’t the first that spring to mind, and that’s because most bird species are innocuous and coexist with humans in relative peace and without causing harm to people, structures or the environment. In fact, most bird species are quite useful and play essential roles in pollination, seed dispersal and pest control.

But, there are those nuisance species that are out to give birds a bad name. Birds such as gulls, geese and starlings can wreak havoc on businesses and cause them costly problems. From spreading diseases with their droppings and damaging property and equipment to posing safety risks and creating a bad impression of your organisation, nuisance birds can cause extensive damage if they’re left unchecked. Not to mention the eyesore of bird mess and the never-ending challenge of cleaning it off.

It’s time to fight back against these troublesome terrors and protect your business against potential damage. There are a few important considerations and challenges that can make controlling bird species difficult, but let's dive into what some of these are and how we successfully navigate them for the benefit of premises and reputations alike.

The challenges with bird control

Firstly, there are various regulatory restrictions that aim to balance the need for effective bird control with the ethical treatment of wildlife and the preservation of biodiversity.

This absolutely makes sense as many bird species, in fact, help to maintain ecological balance (where various components, including living organisms, their interactions and the environment coexist in a harmonious and sustainable manner), and so are protected by wildlife conservation laws. Harassing or harming these protected species without proper authorisation is strictly regulated. While, in certain regions, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects migratory bird species, making it illegal to harm, harass or kill them without a permit.

Striking the balance between guarding the protected species while keeping nuisance birds away is a challenge. Not to mention different species being deterred by different targeted solutions. It all makes deciphering the best bird control for a specific species challenging.

But not for the experts. We’re here to help thousands of businesses tackle pest birds humanely and safely and have a unique and innovative solution to help. Scroll on to find out more!

The proven success of BirdAlert

Over the last few years, BirdAlert, a unique third-party product, has tackled nuisance birds discreetly, humanely and in a sustainable manner in over 800 Rentokil customer sites globally. It’s a pretty intelligent solution. Equipped with an active listening device boasting a substantial built-in library of species-specific calls, it employs AI algorithms to detect and identify birds and can even go further to distinguish background noise.

This means that the system can identify and separate the sounds of birds from other irrelevant background noises. This is important because background noise can often be a challenge in accurately identifying bird species. By being able to distinguish and filter out irrelevant noise, BirdAlert ensures that its identification of bird species is more accurate and reliable. This advanced feature allows BirdAlert to adjust its intensity, preventing birds from becoming acclimatised to the sound for more effective bird control.

When a bird is detected, the system kicks into gear, launching targeted distress calls to deter the feathered intruders. And get this – it can spot birds from a whopping 250 metres.

BirdAlert can recognise rooks, gulls, geese and starlings by their unique sounds, offering top-notch protection against a range of bird species. And that's just the beginning.

Our expert technicians use a mobile app to remotely monitor and control BirdAlert. They decide
when the scare tactics unfold, the intensity and the volume – all at their fingertips, making
safeguarding your premises a seamless experience.

Versatility is our forte. Whether you're shielding refuse sites, vast open spaces, expansive industrial buildings or warehouse roofs, BirdAlert does the job, even at sites where lasers can’t be used.

More sustainable and robust bird control with BirdAlert

Now, there are exciting things coming your way as BirdAlert has just been taken up a notch. It’s got some exciting new enhancements, perfectly tailored for the demands of the modern day. What’s different about it, you ask? Buckle up to find out.

Sustainable packaging and construction
All plastic has been removed from the packaging and replaced with cardboard, while the unit is made from 100% recycled plastic (polypropylene with 30% glass fibre). This sustainable shift aims to reduce environmental impact and promotes using recycled materials.

Redefined energy efficiency
BirdAlert now also consumes 60% less power, creating a longer battery life and contributing to an impressive 50% reduction in carbon footprint compared to the original BirdAlert.

Solar-powered options
Furthermore, you also have the option to power BirdAlert with solar panels. This may produce cost savings and help you minimise your environmental impact and reliance on traditional power sources.

Humane bird control
What’s more, BirdAlert offers you all the benefits of effective bird control while remaining chemical free and doesn’t harm birds or surrounding wildlife – helping you tackle nuisance birds humanely and in line with regulatory restrictions. This is not just a legal obligation but a commitment to ethical pest control practices and demonstrates corporate responsibility.

Preventing acclimatisation for optimal defence
If you want to strengthen your bird control defence even further, you can employ additional scare tools that increase efficiency, and these can be activated in a varied pattern to prevent birds from acclimatising to the sound.

How to keep your business flying

Ultimately, safeguarding your premises from nuisance birds requires a holistic approach. It's about embracing a strategy that aligns with sustainability, ethical practices and operational efficiency.

We’re not new to this. Rentokil has been a frontrunner in tackling the complexities of bird-related issues across the globe for over 95 years, helping to develop bespoke bird-management programmes for businesses of all types and sizes. We work with architects, surveyors, landlords, facilities managers and business owners in all industries to implement bird-control measures to tackle nuisance birds and help you regularly monitor activity, put prevention methods in place and prevent infestations.

Discover our range of bird control solutions and contact us today for expert advice on the best
solution for your unique environment.