by Pigeon Patrol | Aug 4, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
Daddi Long Legs
OVERVIEW
The Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device is a unique and versatile anti-perching device that will protect virtually any surface but is specifically designed to protect surfaces that require regular maintenance. The Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device is a spider-shaped deterrent with a rotating head from which fine stainless steel wire ‘arms’ protrude. This product is manufactured and distributed by a company in the United States called Bird-B-Gone.
The unit is mounted on a UV protected polycarbonate base and comes in three sizes; 1.25 metre diameter, 1.8 metre diameter and 2.5 metre diameter. Each model will protect a circular area equivalent to the spread of its ‘arms’.
The stainless steel ‘arms’ are constructed from extremely thin wire and as a result move and wave freely in the wind. When a bird attempts to land on the surface protected by the device, its feet will touch the ‘arms’ resulting in the bird feeling unsafe and aborting its landing. The ‘arms’ should extend slightly over the area to be protected (2″ is recommended by one supplier) to ensure that birds cannot perch on the edge of the surface. If more than one unit is installed the ‘arms’ of each unit should just touch each other.
The Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device can be used to protect a wide variety of surfaces including street lights, air conditioning units, grain silos, flat roofs, boats and virtually any other surface. Although the product is relatively expensive compared to industry standard products such as the anti-roosting spike, its main application is intended to be hard to protect areas such as a domed street light housing or the roof of grain silo where conventional products may be less effective. As the Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device requires no maintenance and is simple and quick to install the product will have particular appeal to those wishing to undertake a DIY installation. The product would also be ideal for mounting in areas where access is difficult or expensive.
The Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device is virtually invisible when viewed from a distance mainly due to the extremely thin stainless steel ‘arms’ and the white plastic base and head. When mounted against the skyline the unit is almost impossible to see. The plastic base and head are made from a material called delrin, a frictionless material that allows the base and head to rotate freely. The only disadvantage of delrin is that the material is resistant to glue so an acrylic mounting plate is supplied with each Daddi Long Legs so that it can be screwed to the base of the unit. The acrylic plate is then adhered to the surface to be protected with a strong adhesive. Alternatively the base of the hub can be screwed directly to the surface to be protected with stainless steel screws.
In areas where high maintenance regimes are necessary or where constant human access is required, the Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device is ideal due to the fact that the ‘head’ can be de-mounted from the base unit whilst maintenance takes place. Once maintenance is completed the head is simply re-attached to the base unit. The only other ‘reversible’ product on the market is the anti-roosting spike which can also be removed and replaced with ease when access is required.
The Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device is highly recommended for specialist installations such as pleasure craft in marinas where problems with gulls and pigeons are common and where conventional products are often inappropriate. Several ingenious adaptors are available to fix Daddi Long Legs to commonly-used perching places on boats. A railing mount is available to attach the unit to safety railings around the boat with a quick-release screw so that the unit can be de-mounted quickly and easily. A ‘boat mount’ is also available that allows the unit to be attached to almost any area of a boat with bungee cords or rope – examples of where the adaptor might be used to great effect is on a coiled sail or horizontal mast. Finally, for all areas where the ‘boat mount’ and the railing clamp cannot be used, a ‘sandbag base’ is available. The sandbag base is simply a weighted bag of sand to which the unit can be easily attached.
Another example of where the Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device can be used to protect an area often used by birds but difficult to protect is a flat roof. The roofs of single storey extensions are commonly used by garden birds and pigeons as a vantage point to exploit food provided on bird tables. Flat roofs are also used extensively by seagulls for the purpose of nesting. Most roofs, particularly felt roofs, are difficult to access and damage can be caused by constant human access to clean-up bird excrement. Daddi Long Legs can be adapted for installation on flat roofs and once installed, requires no maintenance. Daddi Long Legs can be installed on a flat roof by placing paving slabs on the roof at required intervals and then attaching the unit to the slab. The unit can be attached to the slab by drilling 3 holes into the slab, inserting a raw plug into each hole and then fixing with the stainless steel screws supplied. The base unit is ready drilled with three holes for the purpose. The units can then be moved as required, whilst still attached to the slabs, to ensure that the required protection and coverage is achieved. Alternatively the head can be detached from the base unit and then re-installed.
DEFRA’s view:
The Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device is not discussed on the DEFRA website.
Price range:
Daddi Long Legs is currently available in the UK and one leading pest control supplier offers the unit and optional extras for the following prices:
- Daddi Long Legs 1.25 metre diameter: £36.51 + VAT
- Daddi Long Legs 1.80 metre diameter: £41.46 + VAT
- Daddi Long Legs 2.5 metre diameter: £46.41 + VAT
- Optional sandbag boat base: £33.66 + VAT
- Optional railing clamp adaptor: £18.66 + VAT
- Optional strap on boat base: £4.34 + VAT
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for Daddi Long Legs but we will update this section as and when user reviews are made available to us. If you are able to provide a user review for Daddi Long Legs please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Comments from the Manufacturer/Distributor:
At present we have been unable to obtain the manufacturer’s comments.
Editorial comments:
Daddi Long Legs is a unique and versatile anti-roosting product that has its main application in difficult to protect and difficult to access areas. Its main advantage is that it is simple and easy to install and most installations can be undertaken without the need to instruct a specialist contractor. The product is as appropriate for residential and ‘home’ installations as it is for large-scale commercial applications, although the cost of the unit is always going to be an issue where the protection of large areas is concerned. Daddi Long Legs is also ideal for specialist applications such as boats or ships and can be fitted to virtually any surface.
Daddi Long Legs is a low visibility product and therefore has considerable appeal for those needing to protect an area where aesthetics are an issue. Any bird deterrent or anti-perching device that blends in with the architecture of the building or site concerned is highly sought after but many of the products that fall into this category, such as nylon bird netting, are often prohibitively expensive and can degrade very rapidly. The Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device is ideal for installations against the skyline, such as the roof of a grain silo, where the product is virtually invisible from the ground. The product is also ideal for difficult to protect architectural features due to its low visibility and versatility where installation is concerned. The optional installation products such as the sandbag, railing clamp and boat clamp will allow the product to be installed on to most surfaces with relative ease. Ease of installation also means that the product can be removed quickly and easily should access to the area or surface be required. The only other anti-perching product on the market that offers this degree of versatility is the anti-roosting spike.
Daddi Long Legs is ideal for specialist applications such as the protection of boats in marinas or boatyards. Historically gulls and pigeons have been a constant nuisance for boat owners and those managing marinas and boatyards with the only control options being the use of sonic or noise-related devices. These devices may, in part, be effective against gulls outside the breeding season (distress call-related devices are ineffective during the breeding season) but are completely ineffective against pigeons. Daddi Long Legs, however, is an excellent choice for the protection virtually any area of a boat with the added benefit that the product can be quickly and easily removed when not required and then reinstalled when the boat returns to the marina. The fact that the product is white (as are most boats) and is more or less invisible against the skyline further lends itself to this application.
One of the most difficult areas of any building to protect is a flat roof. Nylon netting is commonly recommended and used for this application by contractors.Nylon netting is expensive, invasive to install, has the potential to trap birds and often degrades quickly requiring regular maintenance. The Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device is quick and easy to install on flat roofs and has the added advantage that once installed the product requires no maintenance. Should access to the roof be required for any reason the ‘head’ can be removed and replaced easily as can the whole unit if necessary, assuming that it has been attached to a paving slab as is recommended for this application.
Daddi Long Legs may be expensive relative to low visibility anti-perching products that achieve the same goal, but the product certainly has validity as a stand-alone device for use in hard to protect areas. If Daddi Long Legs is compared directly with a product such as nylon netting, however, there is no doubt that once installation and maintenance cost associated with the installation of netting are taken into consideration, Daddi Long Legs would be the more cost effective option. If used in conjunction with anti-roosting spikesthe combination of the two products will often be all that is required to comprehensively proof a building, particularly where aesthetics are an issue or where invasive bird exclusion products are forbidden, such as on many grade listed buildings. The benefits and flexibility of the Daddi Long Legs anti-bird device appear to outweigh any disadvantages associated with the initial cost of purchasing the unit.
Also commonly known as:
Bird spider, spider deterrent, whirlybird
Relevance to pigeon control:
‘Daddi Long Legs’ is a pigeon-specific anti-perching product
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Aug 1, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
Post & Wire System
OVERVIEW
The post and wire pigeon wire system is an industry-standard pigeon proofing device that is normally provided on solid flat surfaces to stop birds perching and roosting. Post and wire pigeon wire systems are used exclusively for the pigeon proofing of buildings where larger birds such as pigeons and gulls are causing problems. Post and wire pigeon wire systems used for the control of gulls require different fixings than systems used to exclude pigeons but the principle of both systems is the same. The main benefit of a post and wire pigeon wire system is that the system is virtually invisible when installed at height and viewed from ground level. Post and wire pigeon wire systems are suitable for pigeon proofing where daytime perching problems are the issue, such as ledges overlooking a regular feeding site, but should never be used in areas where birds are nesting or roosting overnight.
Post & Wire System
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can be installed onto virtually any surface that will support the vertical posts but as the integrity of the system is based on tension the foundation for the post must be solid. Post and wire pigeon wire systems are commonly installed on windowsills, ledges, ridge tiles and architectural features such as balustrades and string courses. Where the system is provided on masonry or wood, the vertical posts supporting the system would normally be installed into the surface to be protected by drilling. On surfaces such as lead flashing or bitumen where drilling is not an option, special vertical posts would be installed into a wide plastic base. The base would then be glued to the surface with a high-quality adhesive. The main disadvantage of using this method is that the adhesive must be allowed to ‘cure’ before the system is placed under tension. Curing can take a considerable time, particularly when installed in low temperatures. In temperatures below 5° C curing time can be several days. In temperatures above 5° C the product will need to be left overnight before tensioning the system. Where a post and wire pigeon wire system is considered for a Grade Listed building, permission must be sought from the Listed Buildings Officer before any works are undertaken, particularly invasive works such as drilling.
Post & Wire System
A conventional post and wire pigeon wire system comprises of a series of vertical posts installed onto (or into) the surface to be protected through which a plastic coated stainless steel wire passes at a height of between 110mm-150mm, depending on the target species. The wire is tensioned by springs which are attached to ‘anchor posts’ provided at each end of every 3 metre section. The principle of the system is that when a pigeon attempts to land on the proofed surface its feet will touch the thin steel wires making the bird feel unsafe and the landing will be aborted. The system can be used to pigeon proof ledges and flat surfaces of any dimension by providing multiple rows of the product.
Post & Wire System
A basic system would be provided with an anchor post installed at either end of each 3.0 metre span with intermediate supporting posts (guide posts) provided at intervals of no more than 1.5 metres. If a span is less than 3.0 metres an anchor post would be required at each end of the span. For spans of more than 3.0 metres the system would simply be built up in 3.0 metre sections until the entire surface is protected.
Post & Wire System
A spring is attached to each anchor post and the stainless steel wire is then connected to the spring via a nickel-plated copper crimp (or ferrule) for which a special crimping tool is required. The steel wire is then fed through the intermediate guide post (turned at a 90° angle from the anchor post) and crimped to the next spring, which is in turn hooked onto the next anchor post. Anchor posts would be positioned so that the flats of the eyelets are in line with the steel wire – this adds strength to the installation.
Post & Wire System
When installing a single row of product the ‘leading edge’ vertical post should be a multi-headed post that will allow for a secondary steel wire to be provided halfway down the vertical post. This would normally be provided to ensure that the target species cannot simply land on the leading edge of the surface to be protected and walk underneath the main wire. Where both pigeons and gulls are the target species a taller triple headed post is available. In a conventional installation, where multiple rows are required, the leading edge row would be installed with 110mm posts and the intermediate rows with 150mm posts. Spacing of the rows and posts is critical to ensure total protection is achieved. The following table indicates the rows of product that would recommended based on the depth of the area to be protected:
| Rows of Product Recommended |
Depth of Coverage Required (cm) |
| 1 |
0-5 |
| 2 |
5-12 |
| 3 |
12-20 |
| 4 |
20-28 |
| 5 |
28-35 |
| 6 |
35-43 |
| 7 |
43-51 |
| 8 |
51-58 |
| 9 |
58-66 |
Row spacing is also important when installing multiple rows of product:
- Spacing between intermediate rows of product – no more than 78mm
- Spacing between leading edge row and outer edge of the surface to be protected – no more than 26mm
- Spacing between the final row and the wall (or the rear edge of surface to be protected) – no more than 26mm
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can be installed onto wood, masonry, metal and glass surfaces and in each case a different installation is required:
Masonry:
A 26mm hole would be drilled into which a nylon anchor rivet is installed (25mm for 110mm posts and 38mm for 150mm posts). The main purpose of the anchor rivet is to keep water from entering the drilled hole. The vertical post is then installed into the anchor rivet. Once the vertical post has been seated into the anchor rivet a bead of silicone should be provided at the point where the steel post joins the anchor rivet to ensure water cannot enter the drilled hole. For a vertical application (window reveals, vertical stonework or ends of ledges) split pins can be inserted into the anchor rivet instead of a vertical post.
Wood:
A special ‘nail point’ vertical post would normally be used in woodwork. The ‘nail point’ post is a standard vertical post with a pointed nail-like head which would be hammered into place in the same way that a conventional nail would be hammered into a piece of wood. In order to stop the wood splitting a small guide hole should be drilled prior to inserting the post. The product can also be installed by using a nylon rivet as per a masonry installation. If using a ‘stick-on’ post with a flat plastic base the post can be screwed or nailed into place.
Metal:
For installation into metal a ‘stick-on’ post would be used. The post would be positioned and the holes in the plastic base marked on the metal surface. Small guide holes would then be drilled and self-tapping screws (metal screws) would be screwed into place securing the post in position.
Glass:
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can be installed directly onto glass and for this installation stick-on posts would be used with an appropriate adhesive.
Post & Wire System
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can also be used to pigeon proof the ridge tiles on a roof and for this purpose a special ridge-mounting bracket is required. Two different types of bracket are available depending on what shape ridge tile is to be proofed: a triangular ridge bracket and a half-round ridge bracket. Both brackets come with posts already mounted and installation is undertaken by use of an adhesive or by screwing in place using the mounting holes on the bracket. Steel wire is then passed through the eyes of the posts and attached to springs mounted on the ‘anchor’ brackets at each end of the span. Two sizes of bracket are available depending on the target species: 110mm brackets would be used for the control of pigeons and 150mm brackets for the control of gulls.
Post & Wire System
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can be installed as aDIY installation and the product is available in kit form or as individual parts. Although the system may appear to be relatively simple and straightforward to provide, installation does require more advanced DIY skills as well as an understanding of how the target species will react and respond to the system once installed. It is possible to cause serious damage to the surface upon which the system is installed if installation is undertaken without fully understanding the risks. Even experienced contractors can sometimes cause very considerable damage to a building when installing the product if care is not taken during the installation process. It is therefore essential to follow manufacturer’s instructions to the letter.
DEFRA’s view:
Post & Wire System
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the UK’s Government body that oversees the Wildlife and Countryside Act and produces legislation to which the pest control industry must adhere. The following information is taken from a document provided on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’. By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan.
“Pigeon proofing with a thin wire over the perch, which prevents the bird from landing is probably the simplest method. The wire should be low enough that the bird cannot stand under it, but also high enough to prevent the bird from straddling it (Johnson 2002). If a variety of bird species are to be deterred from the same perch, a series of wires at different heights should help to meet the above criteria for all species. White wires deterred pigeons from perching on stadium ledges (Andelt and Burnham 1993). Up to three lines were placed in front of the ledges and at different heights above the ledges. Short-term success was good.”
“All these designs (anti-perching products) may help to deter perching birds but their success is dependent on all perches being treated to discourage birds from the area.”
Price range:
Post & Wire System
All the fixtures and fittings required to undertake a tailor-made post and wire pigeon wire installation are available as separate items and normally sold in quantity (i.e. packs of 100 vertical posts). For the purpose of this review we will look at the price of installation kits rather than the price of individual fixtures and fittings. The following installation kits are available from a leading UK supplier of pest control products:
Masonry post and wire pigeon wire pigeon proofing kit for pigeons: £127.18 inc. VAT
This kit includes the following items and is sufficient to install a double run of wire on a surface of up to 30 metres:
Pigeon Wire x 100m
Pigeon Post 130mm Single Head x 30
Pigeon Post 130mm Twin Head x 30
Micro Springs x 100
Nickel Crimps x 200
Masonry Rivets x 60
Screw Pin & Plug x 10
Crimp Tool x 1
6.6mm Straight Shank Masonry Drill Bit x 1
Surface mount post and wire pigeon wire pigeon proofing kit for pigeons: £154.48 inc. VAT
This kit includes the following items and is sufficient to install a double run of wire on a surface of up to 30 metres:
Pigeon Wire x 100m
Pigeon Post 130mm Single Head x 30
Pigeon Post 95mm Single Head x 30
Micro Springs x 100
Nickel Crimps x 200
Surface Mount Bases x 60
Crimp Tool x 1
Surface Activator 500ml x 1
Silicone Adhesive 300ml x 1
Masonry post and wire pigeon wire pigeon proofing kit for gulls: £169.23 inc. VAT
This kit includes the following items and is sufficient to install a double run of wire on a surface of up to 180 metres:
Gull Wire x 200m
Gull Post 180mm Single Head x 30
Micro Springs x 100
Copper Crimps x 200
Masonry Rivets x 60
Screw Pin & Plug x 10
Crimp Tool x 1
6.5mm Straight Shank Masonry Drill Bit x 1
Surface mount post and wire pigeon wire pigeon proofing kit for gulls: £202.68 inc. VAT
This kit includes the following items and is sufficient to install a double run of wire on a surface of up to 180-metres:
Gull Wire x 200m
Gull Post 150mm Single Head x 60
Micro Springs x 100
Copper Crimps x 200
Surface Mount Bases x 60
Crimp Tool x 1
Surface Activator 500ml x 1
Silicone Adhesive 300ml x 1
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for post and wire pigeon wire systems but we will update this section as and when user reviews are made available to us. If you are able to provide a user review for post and wire pigeon wire systems please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Comments from the Manufacturer/Distributor:
To date we have been unable to find any manufacturer comments about post and wire pigeon wire systems other than basic descriptions of the product. If you are a manufacturer or distributor/retailer of this product and can provide a view please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Editorial comments:
Post & Wire System
The post and wire pigeon wire system is used extensively for the control of both pigeons and gulls and is considered to be an industry standard pigeon proofing method. The product is not suitable for the control of smaller birds or for use in areas where breeding is taking place and therefore the product is considerably less versatile than other anti-perching products. The main advantage of the post and wire system is that it is a low profile product and as a result, is ideal for use where aesthetics are an issue such as the frontage of a historic building.
Post & Wire System
The post and wire pigeon wire system is relatively complex to install based on the various installation options and also because the product will almost certainly need be installed at height. The product is available in kit form for a more basic DIY installation or, for a more complex DIY or tailor-made installation, the various fixtures and fittings can be sourced individually. Professionally fitted systems can be extremely expensive because installation is labour intensive, particularly where stick-on posts and adhesives are used. In some cases this may require the contractor to stop work for up to 2 days whilst the adhesive is ‘curing’ and then return to finish the installation.
Post & Wire System
The post and wire pigeon wire system is an extremely expensive option relative to many other anti-perching systems and although the product is low profile and virtually invisible from the ground when installed at height, these are probably the only two positive aspects of the system. On narrow surfaces where very light pressure pigeon-related problems are being experienced and where access is simple and easy, the product can be effective and relatively straightforward to install. For more extensive areas, such as long wide spans of parapet where multiple rows of product are required, post and wire pigeon wire systems are prohibitively expensive relative to products such as the anti-roosting spike.
Post & Wire System
The post and wire pigeon wire system is renowned for failing, in some cases only days after installation. This is generally due to poor quality installations. It is common to see a row of upright posts installed on a building with steel wires hanging from them – this is normally because the posts have collapsed inwards and the springs have become detached from the posts as a result. In some cases the copper crimps have not been sufficiently tightened so that when the system has been placed under tension, or when a bird lands in the centre of a span of wire, the wire has become detached from the springs rendering the system ineffective. Either way the result is that the system will have to be repaired or replaced. If the system has been installed at height the cost of access alone can be extremely high with the cost of labour and parts on top. If stick-on posts have been used the system is even more vulnerable to collapse as the contact point on the base of the stick-on pad is extremely small relative to the height of the wire. When a large bird such as a herring gull lands halfway between two stick-on posts it is almost certain that the two vertical posts either side will collapse inwards. Even an adult pigeon can have this effect. Once one section of the system has collapsed the integrity of the whole system is compromised and diminished, with repair or replacement being the only option.
Post & Wire System
Another more serious problem associated with post and wire pigeon wire systems is the potential for damage to the fabric of the building upon which the system is installed. Where a system is provided on masonry, and where posts are installed by drilling and fixing, it is essential that the hole into which the post is seated is filled with silicone once the post has been installed. The reason for this is to stop rainwater building up within the hole. Some contractors fail to backfill holes and the results can be extreme. Once water seeps into the post hole and freezes, the ice will expand and can crack the masonry around it with serious implications. The following examples confirm the dangers inherent in poorly installed post and wire pigeon wire systems:
- In the city of Cambridge a famous university listed building had been experiencing minor pigeon-related problems on the frontage of the building. A national pest control contractor was called in for advice and recommended a post and wire pigeon wire system. The system was installed to narrow ledges and architectural features across the frontage of the building. Soon after the system had been installed, crumbling masonry was found on the busy pavement area below the building. It would appear that the masonry had cracked either because the post holes had been drilled too close to the leading edge of the ledge concerned or because the holes had not been backfilled with silicone and water had frozen and expanded within the holes. Whichever the case, the potential for serious injury to those using the pavement below was considerable and the cost of an invisible masonry repair to a listed building cannot be discounted either.
- In the town of Solihull, West Midlands, a large Council-owned Victorian building in the town centre was pigeon-proofed with an extensive post and wire pigeon wire system to all windowsills and architectural features. The system was recommended by an established pest control contractor. The wide windowsills and architectural features were protected with numerous rows of post and wire pigeon wires. Although the system appeared to have been installed correctly, retaining the aesthetics of the building as a result, the system failed dramatically during a period of sub-zero temperatures. Drilled post holes had not been backfilled with silicone and water had built up within the holes. When the water froze large chunks of masonry cracked and fell to busy pavement areas below. Not only did this represent a serious threat to human life but the damage done to the building was serious and expensive to repair. The system also failed to resolve many of the perching-related problems for which it was first installed.
Post & Wire System
It is clear from these examples that the post and wire pigeon wire system is far more vulnerable to failure than many other anti-perching systems. The system is not only expensive to install when using a specialist contractor but even where a DIY installation is concerned, the cost of raw materials alone can be prohibitive certainly relative to other anti-perching devices. For wide surfaces or for the protection of extensive areas, the post and wire pigeon wire system cannot be considered to be a cost-effective anti-perching product. The potential for damage to the building upon which the system is installed is considerable and the potential for the system to fail due to wires becoming detached or posts collapsing inwards is also a very real concern.
Post & Wire System
In the majority of cases where a post and wire pigeon wire system is considered, a system using anti-roosting spikes would not only offer a comparable low visibility option but the spike-based system would cost considerably less than that of a post and wire pigeon wire system. This is because a standard row of 4-point spikes will protect an area of up to 200mm wide and yet to protect an equivalent area using a post and wire pigeon wire system would require a minimum of 3/4 rows of product. The cost of 30 metres of top quality stainless steel anti-roosting spikes (including adhesive) would be in the region of £179.00 inc. VAT. The cost of protecting the same area with a stick-on post and wire pigeon wire system, using the product in kit form, would be approximately £309 inc. VAT. Installation costs for a post and wire pigeon wire system would also be significantly higher than an equivalent anti-roosting spike system with the spike system lasting in excess of 25 years before requiring replacement.
Sources:
DEFRA quotes:
PDF on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’ By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan.
Post & Wire System
Also commonly known as:
Spring wire systems, pigeon wire, bird wire, gull wire
Relevance to pigeon control:
The post and wire pigeon wire system is a pigeon-specific anti-perching product
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 30, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
EFFORTS to clear Leatherhead’s main shopping mall of pesky pigeons have taken off after conservationists began the fowl task of clearing the birds and their mess.
Volunteers from the Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF) began work to clear the pigeons and put up meshing at the Swan Centre last Thursday to stop the birds from nesting in the building’s alcoves.
The Leatherhead-based wildlife charity said it was brought in by the shopping centre’s management to make sure the unwanted guests were removed “as humanely as possible”.
The charity’s founder and chief executive Simon Cowell said it was common practice for building managers to remove pigeons by shooting or poisoning the birds.
He said: “There is no good or bad time to remove pigeons as they nest all year round, but it is better that they are removed than killed and we will do so in a completely humane and sensitive manner.
“The cleaning was started as was the meshing but sadly the job was much bigger than we first anticipated so we will be working with the Swan Centre to finish up over the coming days.”
He said shopping centre managers will now finish installing the netting and charity staff will then return and remove small parts of the netting to complete the clear-out, before replacing it.
Mr Cowell added that he hoped the method for dealing with the Swan Centre’s pigeons could become the model for how wildlife intrusions are dealt with in shopping malls and public spaces in Surrey.
“We got one baby out and it was a hell of a mess up there,” he said. “It was really nice that they wanted and asked for us to deal with it as opposed to the much nastier way.
“The Swan Centre deserves praise because to see big companies taking the less practical but more humane route is rare and it shows the community cares about its wildlife.
“Pigeons might not be the most popular of wildlife but they are just as important as any other and deserve as much of our attention as anything else.
“It’s a shame that when these shopping centres are built thought isn’t given to the wildlife. If they were built properly in the first place we would have no need for meshing or the spikes.”
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 24, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
Another slow news day, another bird-themed Japanese Twitter picture making the rounds.
To put it lightly, Japan’s major cities have a bit of a pigeon problem. According to Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies, the pigeon (or, holy crap, technically the “feral rock dove”), is an invasive species to the Japanese mainland that now inhabits essentially every speck of land, including, even, some distant islands belonging to Japan.
As with invasive pigeons in other cities throughout the world, Japanese pigeons have largely adapted to an urban environment, losing their instinctive fear of humans, nesting in and among buildings and, apparently, even frequenting McDonald’s.
A visitor to a Hachioji-area McDonald’s on the outskirts of Tokyo proper snapped this photo recently of a trio of pigeons just hanging out at one of the restaurant’s tables, presumably having a chat about how much they love pooping on things and enjoying some fry crumbs and a Coke.
Japanese media and Twitter aggregates picked it up and the photo now has the Japanese Internet buzzing.
While most Netizens seem to be having a quiet chuckle about it, at least some are reacting with genuine concern. Pigeons are, after all, notorious harbingers of disease, including something called cryptococcosis, which doesn’t sound pleasant at all, and one does have to wonder why there don’t appear to be any employees attempting to escort the animals to the nearest bronze statue or something.
Then again, there’s a chance they were legitimately paying customers, in which case demanding that they leave purely because of their feathery exteriors would be asking for a discrimination lawsuit from the pigeons’ lawyer.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 23, 2015 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
Those artificial, screeching bird noises atop the Briggs Building have gone silent, but the reason remained a mystery to the city manager as of Friday morning.
In early March, Hollister officials responded to problems with too many pigeons at the Briggs Building that were leaving droppings all over the structure. The city paid $2,200 for equipment that continuously emitted loud, automated bird calls meant to shoo away the pigeons.
“There’s pigeon droppings everywhere. It’s not sanitary at all,” City Manager Bill Avera told the Free Lance in March. “We talked with some different folks and this seemed to be the most humane way to get them out of there.”
The city installed the boxes in early March. But the hope at the time was that eventually, the speakers could be turned on intermittently while keeping pigeons out of the parking structure.
In the past two to three weeks, those previously constant bird sounds suddenly stopped. When informed of the pause in bird screeches, Avera said on Thursday he went to check out the equipment atop the Briggs Building.
The equipment was there, yet Avera did not have a ladder and could not gain access to the machinery, however, so he had to find out whether someone turned it off or if it may be broken.
Katie Helland contributed to this report.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jul 19, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
THE pigeon pest is back in Newent, and some traders in the town are fed up.
Anne Haines, who runs florists Flowercraft of Newent in Broad Street with her daughter Emma, is so incensed she has written to Newent Town Council pleading with them to do something – like a cull.
“The pigeons just make a huge mess, on the canopy, the walls and pavements,” she said.
The problem isn’t new. Last year Mrs Haines had to replace her canopy, that protects her flowers, at a cost of £750 because it was covered in mess and rotting through.
Peter Curtis of the Buttery Tea Rooms is opposite Flowercraft and sees first hand the problem – but he isn’t affected.
“It’s not a problem here. Probably because they have nowhere to perch or roost. But the flower shop and the pharmacy opposite is covered in pigeon poo. It’s a right mess and can’t be very nice for them,” he said.
Newent Town Council’s clerk said she would be approaching the district council for advice on how to deal with the problem.
Councillor Roger Beard of Newent Town Council said he will back moves for the town’s pigeon population to be controlled.
“Pavements are covered in detritus in certain areas. The big problems is that their population is increasing and it’s not being controlled,” he said.
If tourists are to be encouraged to the town, said Mr Beard, then the streets will need to be clear of pigeon mess.
A district council spokesman said: “It is the responsibility of the building owners and landlords to put in place pigeon-proofing measures. The district ouncil’s pest control team is happy to advise on the different types of preventative measures available and assist where possible.”
But some traders believe the birds are “part of the countryside” and the authorities will never get rid of them.
Gloucester city has a similar problem with seagulls and the search continues for an effective solution.
Councillor Paul Toleman (C, Westgate) is unequivocal in his views on these ‘feathered rats’.
He said: “They are dreadful winged vermin and are an absolute nuisance in the city.”
Gloucester City Council has tried many methods to manage the problem, he said, but thus far the seagulls continue to return.
“I understand there have been considerations for a hawk to scare them off. I don’t know if it would do it. They are a serious problem. But the council we has made other efforts and have made sure all food outlets use gull-proof bags, because food is one the reasons they come here,” he said.
The key, he believes, is to stop the birds nesting. But it will all cost money.
Now is the wrong time to tackle the seagull pest in the city because the birds have nested and chicks born, he 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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
