Why Control Birds
Problems Caused by Urban Pest Birds

Birds can harbour many infectious agents or diseases (pathogens) communicable to humans and to animal species. They threaten our personal health - often through unsafe food production premises. This has become more apparent as health and safety and food audits become routine;

Health risks from birds are now being assessed in public institutions such as hospitals and schools, community facilities such as refuse disposal sites, sewage and water treatment plants, and at any point in the food production chain - from 'farm to the table'.

What bird diseases can threaten human health? The most serious include...

• Ornithosis (Chlamydia psittaci) (a condition passed directly from bird to man); Cryptococcus neoformans and Histoplasma capsulatum (fungi which develop in droppings and can produce lethal diseases in susceptible humans)
• Campylobacter spp
• Eschericia coli 0157 ,
• Listeria spp,
• Salmonella spp,
• Vibrio cholerae - food poisoning organisms which can be picked up by birds and then scattered around, contaminating water supplies, cattle pastures, and even human foods directly.

How can these diseases enter our work and home environments? A few means are...

• Dried guano (faecal material) can enter buildings via contaminated air conditioning units on ledges.
• It can be walked into a building on our footwear, with listeria being the end result in many reported some incidents.
• Inhalation of pathogenic organisms can occur.
• These faecal deposits and nesting materials besides look unsightly and can damage buildings through direct chemical action.
• They can also block gutters and drains leading to water damage.

Why encourage these additional Insect pest problems too?

Bird nests can be the source of many unpleasant insects, including:

• Blood-feeding insects such as fleas, mites, bugs, ticks and lice,
• Fabric-damaging insects such as carpet beetles and clothes moths,
• Stored food pests like spider / dermestid beetles and book lice,
• Carrion-feeding insects such as house flies and blow flies.

URBAN PEST BIRDS:

This web site concentrates on bird species which are often regarded as pests. They include pigeons "flying rodents" gulls, sparrows, starlings and mynah birds (more info). 

The photographs which follow (with one exception) were taken in New Zealand. They depict bird contamination scenes and property damage, providing many reasons to consider professional bird proofing options.

This business's Gull pollution problem was solved when BirdNet was installed across their open roof.

Another example of birds defacing buildings

Contractors who work on the exterior of such sites are at risk of infection when removing or contacting bird excreta, even more than those who work or live inside. Bird Mite can enter the offices or apartments through windows or air conditioners.  Bites from Mites are often confused with Flea bites, and are just as annoying.

Bridge Damage
What started as routine bridge maintenance became a major problem.  The extent of rust damage was only recognised after maintenance works commenced.  It was hidden under years of accumulated pigeon excreta (guano).  Today, bridge and motorway tender documents increasingly recognise bird proofing as part of the maintenance contract.

This heritage building was later successfully proofed from pigeons

The continued presence of nuisance birds is a hazard for any business

Generations of birds living inside some manufacturing plants and stores cause extreme contamination and present an unacceptable and serious health risk to all who work in there.

Seagull heaven - refuse recycling plant	Unsecured refuse will continually attract problem birds

Anyone for cricket?

To prevent or rectify the unsightly situations depicted above, please contact Ace Birdproofing today and talk through any proofing concerns you have. We offer a large range of birdproofing options. There will be one or more that will help to protect your building from damage and the public and your staff from health risk.