Bird Netting

by Alex A. Kecskes

Year after year, pest birds cost homeowners, businesses and cities millions in property damage. While many have tried all sorts of repellents and deterrents, the birds just keep on coming. Shotguns, propane cannons, firecrackers, flares, even using predator attack birds to seek out and kill the pests have failed. There is one solution that many have adopted as an effective pest bird deterrent.

Netting…the Pest Bird Barrier that Works

Bird proof netting has been proven to be effective as a physical barrier in large indoor and outdoor areas. It has kept pest birds out of courtyards, patios, storage yards and similar areas. Thanks to bird proof netting, property owners worldwide have been spared considerable cleanup and repair expenses. Netting has also prevented the slip-and-fall accidents that have cost many property owners prohibitively expensive personal injury settlements.

Safeguarding Food

Bird proof netting has been used to keep pest birds away from restaurants, in particular, outdoor eateries. Birds, as any purveyor of food will tell you, love to hide in nooks and crannies to swoop down on tables and patios to annoy customers. Bird droppings splattered on signs, tables, chairs and entryways can ruin the reputation of even the finest bistro or outdoor café. And health inspectors, fully aware that birds can carry any of 60 known diseases, can and will cite a restaurant littered with bird droppings and nest debris.

Birds and Planes Don't Mix

Most people have read or heard about pest birds like seagulls being sucked into a plane's jet engines.  This not only results in an expensive repair, but a catastrophic emergency landing. Bird proof netting has been widely used in airports to discourage pest birds from nesting in and around airport facilities and terminals. Netting can also keep pest birds from nesting in aircraft maintenance hangars. Facilities managers are well aware that droppings, feathers and other nesting materials can easily get into delicate engine parts and assemblies. The result can be a huge expense and even engine failure in flight.

Keeping Pest Birds out of Factories and Warehouses

Those who own and run factories and warehouses know the damage pest birds can cause. Their nests and droppings can get into production equipment and stall a line. Quality control departments hate any kind of bird infestation on or near their product--whether in production or in an expediting warehouse. Bird proof netting can keep pest birds out of these areas. Netting has also been successfully used in preventing birds from nesting on rooftops. This can keep pest bird droppings from blocking vents, freezing up rooftop ventilators, obscuring light sensors, security cameras, and solar panels. Bird proof netting has also prevented fires by keeping birds away from wires and electrical equipment.

Choosing the Right Bird Proof Netting

In the old days, there was just one-size-fits-all bird netting. Today, bird proof netting comes in a number of different mesh sizes to deter all manner of pest birds. For pigeons or seagulls, there's 1-1/8” to 2” mesh size netting. For little birds that seem to get into everything--like sparrows or starlings--there's 3/4" mesh netting. Look for knotted polyethylene bird netting made of U.V. treated twine if you want the stuff to last in harsh weather.

Netting has Come a Long Way

To get bird proof netting that really lasts, opt for products that meet ISO 1806 protocols. Look for netting that's flame resistant, and rot- and water-proof. Some manufacturers offer bird netting that has a 250-degree Fahrenheit melting point and can hold up in "sub-zero" temperatures. If you're concerned about aesthetics, you can now get netting in different colors--including white, stone and black. There's also non-conductive netting for applications where electrical conductivity or radio frequency interference preclude metallic netting. One manufacturer offers bird proof netting that has a 40-pound burst strength and a 10-year guarantee.

Netting Installation

Installing bird proof netting is pretty straightforward and simple. If you're a grower, you can simply drape the netting directly over your crop or tree. Be sure to anchor the netting to an overhead fixture and completely enclose the area to seal up any gaps where birds might sneak in.

For Airplane Hangar, Warehouses, etc.

For really big jobs, there are certain things to keep in mind when installing bird proof netting. For example, to properly install bird netting in an airplane hangar or warehouse area, one would require thousands of square feet of bird netting. Installing netting this size usually requires special lifts and power gear. Your average maintenance crew really isn't trained or equipped to handle jobs of this size and complexity. Instead, it's usually better to call in a professional to do the job. Keep in mind that if bird netting is not properly installed, it can easily sag and droop, leaving gaps for pest birds to enter and wreak havoc.

by Alex A. Kecskes

Many commercial business facilities and growers suffer from pest bird infestation. Flocks of birds will nest and roost on or in the property, creating all sorts of damage—both to the facility itself and to the products housed therein. Birds can also interfere with workers in a warehouse or customers in a large store. Bird droppings can create slip-and-fall hazards on walkways and loading docks, resulting in a huge legal liability, should someone suffer an injury.

One of the most effective ways to get rid of birds is through the use of Bird Netting. Fortunately there are many types of bird netting, each with its own set of advantages geared to exclude specific types and sizes of birds, as well as the application and venue.

So which bird netting works best for your application? Some guidelines:

Heavy-Duty Polyethylene Bird Netting

Made from a U.V.-stabilized mesh Heavy-Duty bird netting is ideal for use in excluding pigeons, sparrows, gulls, starlings and crows from large outdoor or indoor areas. We’re talking warehouses, big box stores, aircraft hangars and the like. This netting comes in three mesh sizes: 2-inch, 11/8-inch, and 3/4-inch. For large birds like gulls, you would probably need the 2-inch mesh; for smaller birds like sparrows, you’d go with the 3/4-inch mesh. This type of netting will hold up for years in harsh weather conditions. One manufacturer offers a 10-year guarantee. Their poly netting is ISO 1806 protocol mesh tested, flame resistant, rot-proof, and waterproof. It’s also non conductive, which means you can use it around antenna arrays and other electrical equipment.

No Knot Bird Netting

Easy to handle and surprisingly light, No Knot Bird Netting is an effective bird deterrent in keeping pigeons, sparrows, gulls, starlings and crows from outdoor or indoor areas. In fact, this netting is roughly 70 percent stronger than conventional knotted poly netting and nearly 30 percent lighter. It also boasts a higher melting point than ordinary knotted poly netting. Another big plus with No Knot netting is that you don’t have to pull it into shape, something you need to do with other types of netting. Like its heavy-duty cousin, No-Knot netting comes in several mesh sizes, including a 3/4-inch mesh to stop smaller birds like starlings. This netting is fabricated using a multi-strand polypropylene fiber, which is resistant to heat and a number of chemicals, No Knot netting meets ISO 1806 Protocols and won’t rot, absorb water, or mildew.

Ultra Net Plastic Bird Netting

This lightweight plastic mesh netting is ideal for blocking out pigeons, sparrows, gulls, swallows, and crows from bushes, gardens, vines and small trees. The low-profile netting is fabricated out of resilient U.V.-protected polypropylene. You can choose from 3/4-, 1/2-, and 1/4-inch mesh sizes, depending on the bird size. To exclude pest birds from vegetable gardens, carefully wrap each plant in netting. You can also just suspend the netting over the entire garden. To protect blueberry bushes and grape vines, raise the netting 6 inches or so over the bush or vine. This will keep birds’ beaks and claws from getting at these plants. You can also suspend this netting on poles around a tree or large planted section. If birds are invading your fruit trees, cut the netting one-foot wider than the diameter of the tree's crown and tie the netting until it is taut.

Before installing any bird netting on buildings and structures, make sure the surface is clean and dry. Remove bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials. Use commercial disinfecting cleaning agents to prevent exposure to any of the 60 known airborne diseases caused by birds. You should also use eye and respiratory protection if the area is heavily contaminated with bird droppings.

Related articles

• Commercial Building Owners: Got Pest Bird Problems? Bird Netting Has You Covered. (get-rid-of-pigeons.com)
• Pigeons Invade KFC, McDonald's, Donut King and other Food Courts (pigeon-control-products.com)

by Alex A. Kecskes

There are songbirds, lovebirds and pet birds. And then there are pest birds. Birds we can all do without. Birds we don't want to harm--we just want them to stay away. One way to do that is the subject of this article.

Bird Netting for Facilities Managers

If you're a facilities or plant manager, you undoubtedly know that pest birds can cost you a ton of money and aggravation . They can easily invade your aircraft hangar, factory or warehouse, gathering by the hundreds in eaves, canopies and other large covered areas. Support beams make ideal landing, roosting and nesting areas for these pest birds. If you don't keep them out with deterrents like bird netting, you'll have to contend with all sorts of problems.

One of the biggest problems with pest birds is bird droppings. Aside from being unsightly and unhealthy, droppings can stop up gutters and down pipes. They can also "freeze up" ceiling windows and vents, as well as rooftop turbine ventilators and siding windows. Bird droppings can eat into corrugated metal surfaces, cover light sensors and security cameras, even block out those new solar panels you just installed to save energy. In fact, the acid in bird droppings can eat into electrical equipment to create a fire hazard. If you manage  a warehouse, bird droppings can spoil finished products in loading bays and storage areas. They can damage goods, and ruin the appearance of expensive finished goods. And something few facilities managers think about are slip-and-fall hazards created by bird droppings--this can become a costly legal liability should a worker or visitor become injured.

All the more reason you need an effective bird deterrent like bird netting. The good thing about today's bird netting is that it's virtually invisible and blends in with the visual aesthetic of a structure's architecture.

Bird Netting For Growers

If you're a grower or farmer, you've seen the damage pest birds can cause to cornfields, fruit orchards, and vineyards. How quickly they can attack blueberries and blackberries, and how they can invade barns, stockyards and chicken coops. And because you deal in food, you know that bird droppings, bird nests and the mites that infest them can present a health hazard, carrying and transmitting any of 60 known diseases. Sparrows and Feral Pigeons, for example, can carry bacteria causing Salmonellosis. Feral Pigeons carry Ornithosis, which resembles viral pneumonia. You may have heard about bird netting, but you'd like to know more. If so, read on.

Bird Netting…Types and Sizes

So what kind of bird netting should you get? The good news is, there's a bird net for virtually every bird type and size. For large birds like pigeons and seagulls, you should go with a 1-1/8” to 2” mesh size. For smaller birds like sparrows and starlings, a smaller size in the area of 3/4" mesh would be best. Opt for ISO 1806 protocol mesh test netting for lasting strength. Some manufacturers will even custom cut the netting you need. Others offer U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof netting. Not a bad idea if you install netting outdoors and leave it exposed to severe weather changes. You can get bird netting that can stand up to temperature extremes--from nets that have a flame resistant 250 degree F melting point to those that can tolerate "sub-zero" temperatures. Consider non-conductive netting in areas where electrical conductivity or radio frequency interference presents a problem.

For aircraft hangars, garages, factories, warehouses, and large canopies, you should go with heavy-duty bird netting constructed of high strength polyethylene. If you're concerned about the appearance of netting and whether it will detract from your facility's architecture, not to worry. Today's bird netting comes in several colors, including white, stone and black. One note: Black bird netting won't discolor when it gets dirty or dusty. Installed properly, most bird netting is almost invisible. Resilient knotted polyethylene bird netting is available in U.V. treated twine for extended life. The burst strength on these nets can be as high as 40 pounds. Some manufacturers offer quality constructed bird netting that comes with a long guarantee--up to 10-years.

For growers, bird netting can keep pest birds from wreaking havoc in the field. For best results, drape the net directly over the crop (or over the trees). You'll want to affix the net to a structure overhead, which will allow you to completely enclose your orchard or vineyard. One bit of advice here: Make sure you drape your nets high enough to prevent birds from sticking their beaks through to eat your crop.

One last thing to remember about bird netting. If you need to cover an airplane hangar, warehouse or any large area, you'll need thousands of square feet of netting and special lifts and power gear. This kind of job calls for a professional bird control installer. If you don't install the bird netting properly, the net will sag and droop, leaving gaps for pest birds to sneak in.

by Alex A. Kecskes

Pest birds continue to create a number of problems in cities, towns, groves and vineyards. Pigeons, for example, carry infectious diseases. Their droppings can cause tuberculosis, flu, paratyphoid, lyme disease, toxoplasmosis, and encephalitis. In rural areas, pest birds will peck on fruits, vegetables and plants, costing growers money and plenty of grief. One very effective solution is bird netting. It's both humane and environmentally friendly, since pesticides and aroma repellants can kill birds, which in some areas is illegal. Regardless of your pest bird problem, the advantages of bird netting are manifold.

Types and Sizes of Bird Netting

Bird netting is available for a wide range of birds. There's 2-inch mesh for deterring pigeons and crows; 1-1/8-inch mesh for starlings and blackbirds; 3/4-inch mesh for sparrows and swallows; and 4-inch mesh for deterring gulls. Bird netting also comes in a number of different weights and colors--like black, stone and translucent to blend in aesthetically with your environment. Some manufacturers offer heavier woven hexagonal mesh white netting, others offer lighter, diamond mesh nylon black netting. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Many fruit trees and berry bushes--including blackberry, black/red current, loganberry raspberry, and strawberry--need to be covered with nets to protect them from birds as the fruit ripens. Bird netting is an extremely effective means of preventing blackbird infiltration. Birds such as grackles and crows can overwhelm trees and other vegetation, leaving damage and droppings in their wake.

Heavy-Duty Bird Netting--for Really Big Jobs

To keep pest birds from entering air hangars, garages, factories, warehouses, canopies and other large areas, there's heavy-duty bird netting. Made of strong polyethylene, this netting is usually a U.V. resistant mesh that meets ISO 1806 mesh test standards. Some heavy-duty bird netting is rot proof, waterproof, flame resistant and sub-zero stable. Like most netting, it comes in various sizes and custom cuts.

Installing and Using Bird Netting

There are certain guidelines that have proven helpful when installing bird netting. For vegetable gardens, blueberry bushes and grape vines, the netting should be suspended so as not to allow birds direct access to the crop. When protecting blueberry bushes and grape vines with netting, allow at least 6 inches of space. When covering a bush or vine, use support poles. To protect vegetable gardens, wrap the individual plants in netting or suspend the netting around the entire garden.

Before installing bird netting over trees, prune them to a height that allows you to spread the netting over the top of the tree without using a ladder.  If you have to move and go up and down a ladder, you'll waste time and energy. If your trees are just a little on the high side, use a pole to prop the net over the top of the tree. You might think about "summer pruning" your fruit trees to cut down on the number of branches you have to negotiate when draping the net. If your trees are too large to be covered by a single net, cut the net into smaller pieces and wrap the individual branches. Be sure to draw the edges of the net together under the branches to prevent birds from sneaking underneath the net. In many cases, special net zippers and clips are available to simplify maintenance. Finally, don't leave the nets on too long. Young shoots will grow through the netting, and you'll be hard pressed to remove it without ripping it to shreds.

Heavy-duty bird netting should be installed properly by professionals. Installed improperly, this netting will sag or droop, creating gaps where pest birds can squeeze through. Ideally, a cable should be set up around the perimeter of the netted area, and the net should then be attached to this cable. Bat netting is installed similar to heavy-duty bird netting. You set up a perimeter cable, then secure the net to this cable and pull it taught around all edges to eliminate any gaps.

by Alex A. Kecskes

Pest birds have been with us since man first crawled out of his cave and decided to build huts and grow food.  These mischievous birds pecked and pooped on early shelters, ate food crops, infected water sources and food storage.

Times have changed. But pest birds remain a huge problem, ostensibly improved by technology's ability to eradicate huge flocks of birds with poisons, yet restrained by society's needs to use more humane methods. The latter has prompted the development of pest deterrents--devices and means that discourage birds from landing and nesting in any one particular area.

Physical barriers like netting are one effective way to keep birds away. Straightforward, netting requires a one-time installation that blocks birds of various sizes from entering an area. Today's modern netting is durable and can last for up to several decades. And unlike banners, balloons and other scare devices, bird netting is barely visible at a distance.

Bird Netting is Broadly Effective

Modern bird netting has been shown to effectively keep pest birds off the following:

•    Outdoor Air Conditioners
•    Signs &Letters
•    Steeples
•    Bell Towers or Domes
•    Trees to keep birds from roosting
•    Billboards
•    Support Structures
•    Roofs
•    Perimeters & Chimneys
•    Cables & Awnings
•    Projections
•    Columns & Cornices

The Benefits of Bird Netting Add Up

If you're a facilities manager for a large company, university, or municipality, using bird netting to keep pest birds off your property can result in huge savings in labor and materials. In fact, larger cities have spent over $1 million annually on pest bird cleanups and repairs. Bird netting systems can significantly bring down these costs.

Installing bird netting has a number of important benefits for property owners. For one, it saves insulation, siding, and roofs from replacement or repair. It eliminates destructive, corrosive bird droppings; droppings that can corrode metal, destroy finishes and change the color of paint. By doing this, bird netting cuts down on the number of costly repairs and prevents a drop in property aesthetics and value.

Keeping pest birds from entering and nesting on your property also eliminates your exposure to over 60 potential bird-related diseases, including Avian Flu, West Nile, Histoplasmosis, Salmonella,E. Coli, and more. Bird netting keeps out the pest birds that raise these health concerns and the legal liabilities they create. In addition, installing bird netting is one way to reduce workman's compensation claims and eliminate FDA and OHSA inspection failures. By keeping pest birds off your property, you will also help prevent health department citations and fines.

by Alex A. Kecskes

One of the most effective ways to deter pest birds is through the use of bird netting.
Growers and farmers have discovered that this is a great way to keep cornfields, fruit orchards and vineyards from being ravaged.  For example, lightweight plastic mesh netting is ideal for protecting fruit trees, blueberry bushes, gardens, vineyards, eaves and more from pest birds. This netting is virtually invisible, available in large sizes, and easy to work with. Better bird netting is U.V. protected to last longer. Lightweight bird netting can also be used as a temporary barrier to block birds from getting into storage garages, barns and warehouses.

Installing Bird Netting

There are a variety of ways to install lightweight bird netting. For fruit trees, vegetable gardens, blueberry bushes and grape vines, the netting should be suspended. When draping over a fruit tree, measure the circumference of the tree and cut the net so that you are left with at least one foot extra. You should then secure the netting with twine, zip ties, or hog rings.

For blueberry bushes and grape vines, suspend the netting over the bush or vine and allow at least 6 inches of space. This will prevent pest birds from sitting on the net and poking their heads and beaks through the net to get at your fruit. One common way to suspend the netting over the bush or vine is to use a series of poles placed around the perimeter. If you want to protect vegetable gardens, you can either wrap the individual plants in netting or suspend the netting around the entire garden. Finally, to keep pest birds out of eaves and similar open spaces, the best lightweight bird netting comes with handy clips. You can also use a staple gun to secure the netting around the perimeter.

Heavy-Duty Bird Netting

For larger more demanding applications, there's heavy-duty bird netting. This netting is constructed of strong polyethylene and is typically used to block pest birds from entering air hangars, garages, factories, warehouses, canopies and other large areas. The best netting is this category is usually a U.V. resistant mesh, meets ISO 1806 mesh test standards and comes with a long guarantee--10 years. Some heavy-duty bird netting is rot proof, waterproof, flame resistant and sub-zero stable. This netting is available in various sizes and custom cuts and is preferred by architects. Heavy-duty bird netting should be installed properly or it will sag or droop. This can create gaps that birds can squeeze through. For best results, a cable should be set up around the perimeter of the netted area, and the net should then be attached to this cable.

Bat Netting

If your facility or property is troubled by bats, you can get bat netting. This bird netting is 3/8” mesh and is typically available in 10’x10’, 25’x25’, and 50’x50’ sizes. It will block bats from getting into eaves, attics, garages, and similar areas. The best bat netting is made from a strong polyethylene mesh, and carries a long guarantee—as long as 10 years. Bat netting is installed much like most heavy-duty bird netting. Once a perimeter cable is set up, the net is secured to this cable and pulled taught around all edges to close up any gaps.

Why You Need Bird Netting

You don't have to be a grower or vintner to appreciate the value of bird netting. Facilities managers and building owners know that pest birds can invade their property, causing extensive damage to courtyards, patios, storage yards and other open areas.

One big problem with pest birds is their droppings. These pose a serious health hazard, since it's well known birds can carry any of 60 diseases. Bird nests and the mites that attach themselves to their feathers compound the problem. Feral pigeons, for example have been known to carry a bacterium that causes Salmonellosis. Pigeons can also carry Ornithosis, a disease that resembles viral pneumonia. Bird netting is the effective barrier deterrent that can keep out these disease carrying pests.

Airport managers know that pest birds can be a major headache in aircraft hangars. Facilities managers realize that when birds gather in eaves, canopies, support beams and other large open areas, bird droppings and nesting debris can end up in engines and delicate aviation parts and assemblies. What's more, when bird droppings fall onto the smooth floors in hangars, they can create serious slip-and-fall hazards. Bird netting is an effective deterrent that can prevent pest birds from nesting in these areas.

In general, most building owners, whether private or public, will suffer from the invasion of pest birds. For example, bird droppings and nests can block gutters, drain pipes, and vents. They can jam up turbine ventilators, block light sensors, obscure security cameras, and ruin solar panels. Pest bird nests can also create ideal conditions for starting fires, as their dry twig and feathers make ideal kindling. Again, bird netting can keep out many of the birds that create these problems.

Finally, food processors, packagers and other food intensive areas can suffer dearly from pest birds. Health inspectors visiting these facilities don't look kindly at pest bird infestations in these areas. They know that bird droppings can create all sorts of health hazards for foods being processed and readied for shipment. Birds can also eat into packaged products in loading docks and warehouses. Bird net can keep pest birds out of these sensitive areas.

By Alex A. Kecskes

Commercial buildings seem to attract pest birds like flies to sugar. The problem is that these buildings have all sorts of places birds just love to hide and build nests in. Birds will gravitate to open beams, lofty attic areas, storage lofts and many other nooks and crannies.

When pest birds roost and nest in these areas, they create a number of problems. Dry nesting materials and feathers make perfect kindling for fires. Any slight spark can ignite these materials and you have the potential for a destructive fire with loss of inventory and escalating insurance rates.

Then there are the droppings. This chemical waste can corrode virtually any material over time, including electrical wiring. Bird droppings can also jam up skylights, windows and rotating rooftop ventilators. And they can create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards for employees. Finally, dried bird droppings in the form of dust can carry any number of serious diseases.

There are, of course, a number of ways to get rid of pest birds. Poisons, BB guns, loud horns may work for a while, but they all have their drawbacks.  One of the most popular solutions is No-Knot Bird Netting.

No-Knot Bird netting has been successfully used to block a wide variety of birds from entering unwanted areas. It's a humane, low profile way of blocking out pigeons, sparrows, gulls, starlings and crows. It comes in a variety of stock sizes and custom cuts. You can generally choose from two mesh sizes to deter the species of pest bird that tends to invade your particular commercial building: a 2-inch mesh and 3/4-inch mesh. The best No-Knot Bird Netting has the longest guarantee on the market--10 years.
 
The best No-Knot Bird Netting is made of flame resistant, multi-strand polypropylene fiber. Polypropylene is chemically inert and highly resistant to a wide range of chemicals at ordinary temperatures. This netting has been ISO 1806 Protocol Mesh tested. No-Knot Netting will not rot, absorb water, or mildew. It features U.V. inhibitors and can withstand a wide temperature range from 250F to 338F. It is very light, non-conductive and easy to install, yet it boasts a break strength of 50 pounds.

For optimum bird proofing results No-Knot Bird Netting must be properly installed. Before installing the netting, thoroughly clean all surfaces to make sure they are free of bird droppings, nesting materials, rust, peeling paint or other debris. Netting that is improperly installed can sag or droop, creating gaps that birds can work their way through. Birds are smart and very skilled at poking through nets that are not correctly installed. For best results, cables should be set up around the area and the net should then be attached to this cable. When in doubt about proper installation, consult a bird control expert.