Bird Netting

By Fran Prisco

Airplane hangars have often become a natural habitat for birds.  They are wide open, offer shelter and ideal nesting areas. Clinton Air Force Base in Oklahoma had six hangars with 200-300 house sparrows in each hangar. Lockbourne Air Base in Ohio had 2,000 to 3,000 house sparrows between three hangars with an additional 2,000-3,000 starlings.  Along with these birds come the droppings and debris they leave behind.  Bird droppings, accumulating on the aluminum skin of airplanes, can corrode the metal and eventually weaken the structure itself. Another serious concern is that if droppings, feathers, and other matter get into the engines, critically important parts must be cleaned as they could stop an engine during flight. Cleaning an aircraft engine is very expensive and time consuming.

Pest bird droppings can also pose significant health risks, carrying and transmitting any of 60 known diseases. Sparrows and Feral Pigeons can carry bacteria causing Salmonellosis. Feral Pigeons carry Ornithosis, which is similar to viral pneumonia. Not only do the droppings and debris left behind by birds damage the airplanes kept in hangars, they are also dangerous to the personal working on the planes.

Problem:  Pest birds are causing added maintenance to aircraft and endangering airline personal with their droppings and debris.  Thousands of dollars spent each year on cleaning aircraft skins, engines and airplane hangar infrastructures. 

Solution:  Install bird netting in the airplane hanger.  Bird netting is an exclusionary bird control system.  Once installed, pest birds are excluded from the area being protected by the bird net.  It is often necessary to install bird netting on the sides of the walls as well as under the roof.  The goal is to block off any areas that pest birds will find attractive to land, roost and nest.  Once installed, the bird netting is virtually invisible and will need very little maintenance.  In fact there are bird net installations inside airplane hangars that have gone untouched for well over 10 years and are still as effective as the day that they where installed.

When choosing bird netting to install in an airplane hangar or any area, be sure to get heavy-duty bird netting that has a break strength of at least 45 pounds.  This ensures that the netting will be strong enough to keep birds from defeating it.  Bird netting comes in various mesh sizes.  The ¾ inch mesh bird netting is ideal for all types of birds, the mesh is small enough so that even small birds like sparrows cannot get through.  If large birds like pigeons and gulls are the issue, choose a bird netting with a 2-inch mesh size, this can save a lot of money for large bird netting jobs.

If the bird netting installation looks to be too complicated, look for a professional bird control installer in your area that can help.   Manufacturers of bird control products can usually suggest the right person or company for the job.

by Fran Prisco

Why Bird Netting?

Each year more and more commercial buildings are being inundated with pest birds.  Not only are these birds landing on the buildings facades and rooftops, they are actually entering the buildings and living inside.  Buildings such as airplane hangars, warehouses, “Big Box” stores and other wide-open buildings make perfect places for birds to land, roost and nest.  There is protection from the elements, predators and often a food and water source.  To get rid of the birds, one of the best and permanent solutions is bird netting.

Not only do pest birds such as pigeons and starlings build nests in buildings, they also leave behind debris and their droppings.  Bird droppings are known to be acidic and can cause erosion to building materials and product stored in warehouses.  The droppings from birds may also carry any of 60 plus communicable diseases.  These diseases can be transmitted to humans and other animals, especially those with immune deficiencies. 

Bird netting is a cost effective way to keep pest birds out of buildings.  The bird netting is usually installed under the ceiling of the building and can also be installed along the walls if birds are landing there.  Often airplane hangars are protected with bird netting on the walls and under the ceiling.
Installing Bird Netting

Before installing any type of bird control product or system, it is important to do a thorough clean up.  All debris and droppings left behind by the birds must be removed.  It is best to disinfect the area as well especially in food processing plants and warehouses that store foodstuffs.

Bird netting is usually installed by attaching it to a wire system.  It is best to have the netting installed by a professional bird control installer.  It is important that the net remains taught and that there are no openings where birds can enter the netted off area. 

Heavy-duty bird netting is the net of choice for architects and contractors worldwide.  This type of netting can have up to a 10-year guarantee, is U.V. protected and rot proof. 

Properly installed, bird netting will be virtually maintenance free.  It may be necessary to remove netting to change light bulbs or make building repairs.  This is done easily by installing a zipper or access point into the netting.