Bird Netting

by Alex A. Kecskes

During a recent Indianapolis winter and spring, flocks of pest birds swooped down upon the city, dropping their “loads” on office windows, covering everything, it seemed, with brown splotches of disease-carrying droppings. Starlings by the thousands coated the city’s prized Soldiers and Sailors monument, as well as the sidewalks with droppings that crunched disgustingly under every pedestrian footfall. Many residents of the proud city were forced to remove their shoes before entering their homes, letting their shoes sit outside doorsteps and entrances, lest they contaminate their homes with the smelly droppings. For the most part, residents and visitors to the city found themselves tiptoeing around the droppings and holding their breath to avoid any of the 60 known diseases--including histoplasmosis or bird flu--carried by bird droppings.

If only the City Fathers had implemented effective bird proofing measures before their starling invasion. Chief among such measures would have been Bird Netting.

One of the best types of netting to use is Heavy-Duty Polyethylene Bird Netting. Fabricated from a U.V.-stabilized mesh and available in various stock sizes and custom cuts, Heavy-Duty Poly netting is easily installed and blankets key areas of a structure--those most likely to attract pest birds--with an effective bird barrier. For smaller birds like starlings, a 3/4-inch mesh would do the trick. Some manufacturers offer this type of netting in a variety of colors to blend in aesthetically with the structure or building. This type of bird netting is ISO 1806 protocol mesh tested, flame resistant, rot-proof, and waterproof. Depending on the location, one might even consider getting non-conductive netting, which won’t interfere with electrical wiring or cell phone, dish and other RF antenna systems.

Another type of bird netting that has been proven effective as a bird guard is No Knot Bird Netting. This netting is nearly 70 percent stronger than conventional knotted polyethylene netting and about 30 percent lighter, so it’s less expensive to ship and easier to handle. It also has a higher melting point than regular knotted polyethylene netting. Ideal for larger, horizontal applications, No Knot netting doesn’t need to be pulled into shape, which is often a requirement of ordinary knotted poly netting. No-Knot bird netting is available in various mesh sizes, including a 3/4-inch mesh to stop smaller birds like sparrows and starlings. Made of a multi-strand polypropylene fiber that's highly resistant to heat and many chemicals, No Knot netting meets ISO 1806 Protocols. It will not rot, absorb water, or mildew. It even contains U.V. inhibitors to tolerate high temperatures to 338F.

When installing any kind of bird netting, leave no gaps, openings, wrinkles or excessive sag in the netting. Most bird netting can be easily cut to size and shaped using scissors. Before cutting, allow extra netting for perimeter fastening and overlap seams (6" min. for both). Finally, be sure you cut a larger piece of netting than what's needed for the job.

Before installing bird netting, make sure the surface is clean and dry. Remove bird droppings, feathers and nesting materials. (Birds are attracted to this debris and “zero in” on the area thinking it’s safe.) 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.

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.

Big box warehouses often have pest bird problems. Many are located in rural or semi-rural areas, so birds are in plentiful supply. Unless they are controlled by bird netting, birds will take shelter in these large structures. They wild pests are drawn to the large open garden areas and other doors that are kept wide open all day and most of the evening. The stores also attract pest birds because they offer protection from natural predators. And they offer warm shelter from the elements. But most of all, the stores have plenty of high ceilings with all sorts of nooks and crannies where birds can nest and roost. 

Some stores have outside areas where employees eat lunches and snack at dinnertime. Trash cans in and around these areas are often littered with food scraps, which provide a handy food source for the pest birds.  All in all, big box retail outlets and warehouse stores are a pretty ideal haunt for most wild birds. Bird netting is one way to deter them.

When birds nest in the upper rafters of a warehouse, it's sometimes hard to get rid of birds. They often aren't even discovered until one notices the droppings on highly stacked merchandise. Their droppings can damage products and packaging.  And they can also create potential electrical fire hazards, since their nests are perfect kindling for starting fires. In fact, many pest birds like to build their nests near the warmth of light bulbs. These light bulbs are often high wattage and require ventilation, which bird nests seem to choke off. Bird netting can prevent these hazardous conditions.

Pest birds also create a distraction for customers as they sometimes swoop down on shoppers. Even more hazardous is the habit of birds distracting forklift operators as they move dangerously heavy loads high on upper shelves.

One Home Depot store had some pretty hefty bird problems. Seems that sparrows were nesting inside their store. What made things particularly annoying was the fact that the sparrows were nesting above the checkout area, depositing quite a mess with in bird droppings. The store manager was understandably worried  about the slip-and-fall liability. Customers and employees could be hurt. And there was the potential for the transmission of disease posed by the bird droppings—wild birds can carry any of 60 known diseases. The store was in dire need of some serious bird control to properly address the sparrow problem.

The solution was both effective and humane. To deter the sparrows, 3/4-inch mesh bird netting was installed by bird control product experts. The netting created a permanent bird barrier in key store locations. Sparrows no longer  had unrestricted access to the store. Bird netting completely blocked the birds so they could no longer nest and roost in the area. As an added bonus, the bird netting even blended in with its surroundings. It was barely visible from below.

Bird netting can be ordered in several different colors--including white, stone and black. Non-conductive netting is available for installations where electrical conductivity could cause problems. For outdoor patio areas of a store, choose U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot- and water-proof netting.

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
You know a pest bird when you see one. They're not those lovely little birds that helped Cinderella tie ribbons around her waist. Au contraire. They're the flocks of birds that invade your property, costing you big money in cleanup and property damage. And you've tried everything, it seems, to rid yourself of the little buggers. This includes shotguns, propane cannons, firecrackers, flares, even hiring falconers and predator hawk experts to get them off your property. Nothing seems to work. They just keep coming--in greater numbers--to cost you more time and money. What to do? 

Time to Fight Back with Bird Netting

Facilities managers and building owners, vintners and growers are discovering the many merits of bird netting. This highly effective and humane pest bird deterrent has kept birds out of courtyards, patios, storage yards and other open areas. It has also saved boat owners from annoying cleanup and damage expenses. And prevented the slip-and-fall accidents that have cost many property owners tens of thousands in personal injury settlements.

From an "A" to a "C" Rating

Restaurant owners have used bird netting to keep pest birds away from their establishments. Bird droppings can ruin an eatery's reputation faster than any food critic. And health inspectors will turn an "A" rated restaurant into a "C" rated one if they spot nests or droppings nearby. They know that birds can carry any of 60 known diseases. Feral pigeons, for example, have been known to carry a bacterium that causes Salmonellosis. Pigeons can also carry Ornithosis, a serious disease that's similar to viral pneumonia.
Flight Risks

Airport facilities managers also rely on bird netting to keep pest birds away from runways where birds have been sucked into jet engines. Netting has been used to deter birds from eaves, canopies, support beams and other large open areas in and around airports. Aircraft maintenance facilities must be kept free of bird nests, droppings and feathers, since these can get into delicate engine parts and assemblies.

Pest Birds: Anathema to Commercial Buildings Owners

Commercial building owners have used bird netting to keep pest birds and their nests from clogging gutters and drain pipes. Netting has also proven effective in preventing bird droppings from blocking vents, freezing up rooftop ventilators, obscuring light sensors, security cameras, and solar panels. By preventing the buildup of bird droppings and nests, netting has reduced the likelihood of fires in enclosed areas of industrial buildings. Keeping birds out means their bodies can't "arc" across electrical equipment. Or that bird nests can no longer act as kindling for sparks in electrical junction boxes.

Big Mesh or Little Mesh?

Many facilities managers appreciate the fact that bird netting comes in a variety of mesh sizes to deter a wide range of birds. To deter big birds like pigeons or seagulls, for example, calls for 1-1/8” to 2” mesh size netting. Smaller birds like sparrows or starlings can be efficiently kept out with 3/4" mesh netting. The best bird netting is knotted polyethylene that comes in U.V. treated twine to last longer in tough weather.

Strong, Hot or Cold

Some manufacturers offer netting that has a 40-pound burst strength and a 10-year guarantee. Others offer bird netting that meets ISO 1806 protocols, is flame resistant, and rot- and water-proof. You can even get bird netting with a 250-degree Fahrenheit melting point that also stands up to "sub-zero" temperature environments. And, yes, netting comes in different colors--including white, stone and black, which makes it more aesthetic to building owners. Finally, if electrical conductivity or radio frequency interference is a problem, non-conductive netting is available.

Installing Netting to Stay
 
There are some rough guidelines one should follow when installing bird netting. Growers, for example, should install bird netting by draping it directly over their crops or trees. To protect orchards or vineyards from the ravages of pest birds, netting should be anchored to an overhead fixture. The goal is to totally enclose the area being pestered by birds. In addition, bird netting should be draped high enough to prevent birds from getting at crops using their beaks.

Leave the Big Jobs to the Pros

To most efficiently keep pest birds out of an airplane hangar, warehouse or any large area, it usually takes thousands of square feet of bird netting. Maneuvering this much netting accurately into place also calls for special lifts and power gear. Most crews aren't trained to handle jobs of this complexity, which calls for professional expertise. Better to call a professional bird control installer. When bird netting is installed improperly, it will sag and droop, which can leave gaps for pest birds to work their way through.