BLYTHE, California — Authorities say safety netting could have prevented the death of 64 birds at a Southern California solar energy plant.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise says the birds died this month at the Genesis solar plant near Blythe after getting mired in wastewater evaporation ponds that contained an oily toxic chemical.
The California Energy Commission says safety netting designed to keep birds away from the plant was destroyed by high winds in August and never replaced.
Roger Johnson, who oversees environmental compliance for the commission, says new netting’s been ordered but won’t be installed before year’s end.
However, authorities say the 10 acres of ponds are being drained and people stationed around them to keep the birds away.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS — A domesticated pigeon owner captured a red-tailed hawk who tried to make a meal of his trained pigeons on Monday, delivering the hawk to officials.
Rene Leclerc, 56, who keeps about 15 pigeons in two air-conditioner units he converted into pigeon shelters in the window of his third-floor 138th Street apartment said he saw the hawk divebomb his birds about 10:30 a.m.
The hawk managed to get inside one of Leclerc’s handmade shelters, tearing up the birds inside. When Leclerc saw the “carnage,” he said he opened his living room window to allow his birds a place to flee.
What followed was a chaotic scene when half a dozen birds, followed by the hawk, started flying around his apartment living room, he said.
“He had already killed two pigeons and injured at least four more when I got ahold of him,” said Leclerc, who once held a falconry license.
He used a towel to capture the hawk.
“He flew right into it,” Leclerc said.
After catching the hawk, who weighed a little more than a pound and had a 4-foot wingspan, Leclerc brought the raptor to The Bird Wildlife Fund, a nonprofit that provides medical care and rehabilitation to injured wild birds in the city.
“He seems perfect,” Wild Bird Fund Director Rita McMahon said after examining the raptor. “We found blood in his mouth but we think it was probably coming from when he attacked the pigeons because he was not injured,” she said, adding that the juvenile hawk would be released in Central Park Tuesday morning at the latest.
Leclerc, who used to be in the military, said he has had birds for more than 25 years.
“I’ve always gotten along with animals better than with people,” Leclerc said. “ I like training pigeons. It’s all based on faith and loyalty. I open their cage in the morning and I don’t know if they’re going to come back. I hope they come back but I have no guarantee. It’s all based on trust,” he said.
Most of Leclerc’s pigeons are Portuguese Tumblers and Budapest High Flyers, Leclerc said.
“They’re easier to care for because they’re small,” the bird owner said.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Details of the cruel treatment and illegal trade of animals have been revealed.
Created using data from the Metropolitan Wildlife Crime Unit, an online map features data for all 32 London boroughs.
There were seven cases of cruelty in Redbridge between February and July this year, including cases involving a swan, a fox and a pigeon.
One report was filed of a man shooting at pigeons in Hainault Country Park in Foxburrow Road, Hainault.
The report shows he was warned by police.
There were four cases recorded in Waltham Forest, including an illegal trade of a tortoise and goldfinches being illegally offered for sale on the internet.
The highest number of offences (26) was recorded in Richmond.
The map was compiled jointly by the Wildlife Crime Unit and charity World Animal Protection.
World Animal Protection campaigner, Alyx Elliott, said: “We commend the government for the work it has undertaken so far and welcome further dialogue around the specifics of our recommendations for fighting wildlife crime.
“We feel our report busts some myths about what wildlife crime looks like in the UK and demonstrates the urgent need for more to be done to tackle it here at home.”
If you witness wildlife crime, the Metropolitan Wildlife Crime Unit can be contacted on 02072308898
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Commonly seen defacing the structures that facility managers (fms) work so hard to build and maintain, pest birds can cause serious problems. From office buildings to schools and hospitals to food manufacturing facilities and restaurants, birds and their droppings create unsanitary conditions and add expense to facility maintenance.
Birds frequent areas because of two primary reasons: shelter and food. In all situations, cleaning existing bird mess away is essential, including droppings, feathers, nests, and any other territorial markings. This task requires proper safety precautions such as wearing protective equipment, as bird mess notoriously carries toxic fungus and transmissible diseases.
No matter what repellent measures are taken, the area must first be thoroughly cleansed of bird smell and visual markings for an approach to be effective. Using a strong cleaner is highly recommended. Certain species are protected under the United States Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, so fms should be certain these laws are understood prior to clearing away any nests to avoid any unexpected fines.
Food sources also must be removed or blocked off. Dumpsters containing organic waste must be secured with lids, and any workers or customers feeding the birds should be instructed to stop. Posting “Do Not Feed the Birds” signs is beneficial for this purpose. Birds are far more difficult to control if food is available to them.
Fms in urban populations are all too familiar with pigeons perching on the sides of buildings and defacing architecture, windows, and sidewalks with droppings. Not only is this aesthetically alarming but large quantities of bird droppings can cause slipping hazards and disease risks—certainly no liability any responsible business takes lightly. In these situations, simple physical barriers are easy to implement—installing bird spikes, bird wire, sticky bird gels, or electrified, low-profile bird track will quickly clear ledges of these pests.
The same methods may be used on the ledges of hospitals, restaurant windows, and schools, as they are humane to pest animals, do not make noise, and do not contain chemicals or poisons.
Fms in food processing facilities know the challenge of birds very well. These situations are even more difficult because not only is there a food source to attract birds, but the FDA and other health organizations have rigid regulations about pest animals and food production. A bird infestation during a health inspection can mean fines, citations, and even business closure.
Pest droppings are obviously unsanitary and can quickly contaminate an area through air conditioning and ventilation ducts or being brought in on workers’ shoes. If birds come in direct contact with the food or processing equipment, finished food products may contain pathogens and feces.
The best success strategy for any food processing plant is to block the food source from pests physically. Securing dumpsters with lids and closing off openings to warehouses and silos will help drastically. If areas are kept semi-enclosed, securing openings with bird netting will not only keep birds out, but will also deter bats, rats, mice, and other pests. In facilities that contain restaurants, bird netting can form an attractive enclosure for patios and open windows.
In semi-enclosed areas such as parking garages, airplane hangars and open warehouses, ultrasonic bird repellent systems are extremely effective with the added benefit of being silent to humans. Ultrasonic soundwaves are above the average human’s hearing range, however the frequencies are disruptive to birds and other pests. Light deterrents such as strobes and laser systems work well in dim warehouse corners, or when pest control is only needed at night.
Large, open outdoor areas such as golf courses with bodies of water, orchards, vineyards, and small lakes can be frustrating for fms due to their attraction for birds, especially when food is available. Taste aversion liquids and physical barriers may not be feasible in these areas, so sonic bird control methods can come into play. Additionally, one of the most effective bird control methods for preventing bird strikes at airports is a sonic control system.The overhangs of all man-made structures, including buildings, overpasses, garages, warehouses, stables, and barns are often prone to problems with barn swallows. These birds exclusively build their mud nests on man-made structures when caves are not available. These birds are protected by federal law (inhabited nests may not be disrupted), so repelling them humanely before nests are occupied is essential. Their nests can cause structural damage, mite infestations, and unsanitary conditions, as well as obvious aesthetic problems. Applying deterrent liquids along the upper walls and eaves of structures, and in certain situations installing physical barriers such as netting, are effective and legal methods to control swallows.
Every facility and bird scenario is different, but no matter the situation or budget an effective solution is available. Avoiding the costs of constant cleaning and maintenance, equipment and property damage, and liability risks make bird control an important part of responsible facility management.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
PEOPLE who want to feed pigeons in a Bradford suburb should have a designated place to go to, according to one councillor.
Cllr Mohammed Shafiq said droppings are making life a misery for many residents on a daily basis in the Bradford Moor neighbourhood where pigeons are being pampered.
Droppings are covering rooftops, porches and windows in some streets particularly in Wensleydale Road and a children’s play area at the back of Derby Place.
He is worried the droppings are not only a health hazard and could attract more vermin into the streets but are also damaging the look of the area.
Cllr Shafiq (Lab, Bradford Moor) says leftover chappatis and raw rice are being scattered early in the morning by people, some in the spiritual belief that by feeding the pigeons any problems they are experiencing within their families will be resolved.
He added: “Other might just be doing it to use up leftovers and be kind to the birds but there are those who believe it will help them personally – and their families.
“I have spoken to local spiritual leaders who tell me they are not encouraging this but the belief is there and people will keep doing it.”
Cllr Shafiq said that is why he is contacting Labour-run Bradford Council and its portfolio holder for the environment, Councillor Andrew Thornton asking it to designate a special pigeon feeding area on an area of scrap land, away from homes, where people could go and feed pigeons without a guilty conscious.
The lake in Bradford Moor Park is also getting filled with chappati scraps which is another problem that needs addressing by the Council, he added.
“It is about behaviour modification and I feel having a set area where people can go and feed the birds without feeling they are under the spotlight for doing something wrong,” said Cllr Shafiq.
“There are plenty pieces of scrap land in this area, there’s a derelict place just off Dick Lane.”
Most councils try to deter people from feeding wild pigeons due to the problems highlighted by Cllr Shafiq and in extreme cases can go further.
Earlier this year Birmingham City Council threatened to take a man to court after he was seen persistently feeding the pigeons despite being warned against doing so.
Cllr Thornton told the Telegraph & Argus last night: “We note the intention of Cllr Shafiq to raise this issue we’ll look at it and discuss it with him when he does.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Feathered diners at a McDonald’s restaurant in Wellington have driven a customer to lay complaints with the city council.
Wellington man Vinod Mistry is a fan of the fast-food franchise, but does not want to share his table and fries with a pigeon.
The Lambton Quay McDonald’s was a haven for hungry pigeons and the Wellington City Council needed to force the fast-food giant to keep them out of the indoor dining area, Mistry said. The birds make their way to the second floor via an internal escalator.
However, the council said it was up to the company to deal with the pigeons and it has repeatedly asked for the issue to be dealt with for six years.
McDonald’s said it was working with the council to fix the problem.
Mistry said he made two separate complaints last week about the pigeons in the restaurant.
The council appeared to swoop on a small business if there was a squeak of a mouse, rat or spider in their premises, he said.
But it appeared that, when it came to the feathered vermin, the council was turning a blind eye.
“Pigeons are just as much of a health risk as other animals. You never know when one flying around the restaurant or sitting on table could put droppings in your food.”
Council’s public health operations team leader Andrew Taylor confirmed there was a health risk, but only if diners inadvertently ate pigeon poo with their meal.
“Bird poo can contain bacteria such as salmonella, so it is not safe. But the person would have to ingest some of the bacteria through direct contamination or hand contact,” Taylor said.
The council had been trying to get McDonald’s to keep pigeons out of the premises since 2008, he said. “Every time we’ve spoken to them about the pigeon issue, we have been told by management that they will address the issue.”
The restaurant had tried different methods, such as a distress-call speaker at the entrance and lowering the entry-space height to the food premises, but none had proven to be effective, Taylor said.
Council staff would be contacting McDonald’s this week to discuss how they proposed to rectify the matter so “these ongoing complaints cease”.
McDonald’s spokesman Kim Bartlett said pigeons were a widespread issue in the Wellington CBD and the Lambton Quay McDonald’s had taken a number of measures to address the problem, including “working with an external company on effectively managing the presence of the birds”.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
