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Question about how to keep birds from perching and leaving bird droppings on my 5th floor balcony.

Q: "We live on the fifth floor of a condo high rise. We have a high protective railing but no screening above the railing. Birds try to build nests in our outdoor plants. Cleaning off the balcony furniture and the floor is a continuous issue due to bird droppings. How do we get rid of them? Thanks. Diana."

Answer: We suggest a combination of the Balcony Gard and other bird deterrents. If possible, install the Balcony Gard before the "bird season" in your area. Keeping birds away is easier than getting rid of them once they have built nests or begun to roost.

The Balcony Gard by Bird-X operates on 4 C batteries or on AC current. The strongest settings on ultrasonic would be the LO position, the lowest frequency. Rarely humans can hear this frequency. Having the unit run constantly works best. Otherwise the unit makes repellent sounds only if the bird (or animal, like squirrels) starts the unit by moving past the motion sensor. Coverage is up to 900 square feet in a generally oval pattern: the speaker projects sound on a horizontal plane in one direction. You can adjust the motion sensitivity and the frequency of sound generated.

More than one unit may be required. Getting rid of birds is more effective if you use the Balcony Gard plus other deterrents such as bird netting and a visual repeller like Bird-X Holographic Bird Tape or Tanglefoot Bird Repeller Ribbon,2 inch X 100 ft or bouncing ball repellers like the Terror Eyes Moving Eye Holographic Bird Repeller Ball.,

Point the Balcony Gard away from dogs or cats: outward is the best choice. The Balcony Gard operates at 15,000 to 25,000 vibrations per minute, Usual coverage is 50 feet forward and 30 feet wide at the higher frequency. At the lower frequency, this increases up to 80 feet forward by 50 feet wide.

You'll know it is operating when the red light is in during continuous AC use or when the red light comes on when something passes in front of the unit. The unit should make a chirping sound when turned on. Batteries last about a month on the MS or motion sensor mode.

The warranty is 6 months from the ship date. Weatherproof – casing is designed to withstand outdoor use (rain cover included)

Thank you for your question.

Sincerely,

Barbara

Question about the Bird Net Knotted ¾ In. Polyethylene 50 Ft x 100 Ft

Q: "Is the Bird-X BirdNet PE-Plus the correct bird net to install to cover the rafters of a salt storage building in north western Pennsylvania? Birds are roosting and causing a mess with bird droppings. We have the contract and want to make sure this is the correct product. Also any hints for installing it? The building is about 80 feet by 90 feet. Trucks move in and out all day during winter, which lasted a long time this year! How many pieces do we need? The specs call for an mesh opening between 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch and must withstand 40 lbs per square inch break strength. Thanks. Tom."

Answer: I phoned the manufacturer to be sure (and then phoned you back as you know). Bird-X emphasized that this bird netting is what you need. This Bird-X BirdNet PE-Plus is the strongest bird net they sell and probably will last longer than the building. I was told that the break strength is actually based upon pounds per strand as noted below and the burst strength is a different measurement all together.

Joe noted that you will need two pieces since this comes in 100 ft lengths and is tricky to install if you try to "piece" it together. He also included a spec sheet of the possible bolts, cables, etc. you will need. Here are the Installation instructions. If there was electricity at the salt storage facility, a better choice would be a combination of sonic and ultrasonic bird repellers placed at the entrance and inside. The Super Bird Xpeller Pro and Terror Eyes or other visual deterrents would be the best choices.

Knotted Bird Netting Specifications:

• Thickness: 0.071" thick (6 strands, each 0.012" thick).
• Quality Control: filaments are twisted and knotted, pressure stretched and tightened for strength and durability.
• Mesh (hole size): 3/4"
• Color: Black.
• Waterproof: no water absorption, does not rot.
• Material: knotted polyethylene UV treated twine.
• Break strength: 52 lbs./23.6 kgs. per strand.
• Burst strength: 44 lbs/20 kgs.
• hemical Properties: Polyethylene, a paraffin hydrocarbon, is chemically inert and highly resistant to most chemicals at ordinary temperatures. High resistance to acids and alkaloids at all concentrations.
• High Temperature: 210-239°F/100-115°C.
• Low Temperature: -139 to -166°F/-95 to -110°C.

Thank you for your question and your order.

Sincerely,

Barbara

Question about the Nite-Guard Animal Control Light.

Q:"How does the Nite-Guard work? How many do I need to protect my yard from raccoons? Do I need to mount them differently for deer?" Thanks. George

Answer: The Nite-Guard Solar is a new addition to animal control products. Solar powered, each Nite-Guard light flashes a red light on and off from dusk to dawn. Scientific research shows that night animals flee when they see the red flashing light as they fear they have been discovered or are being watched. This completely weatherproof animal pest repeller works best if used in multiples of at least 4 units. Otherwise the animal most likely will enter your yard or property from a direction away from the flashing red.  Each light mounts to flash in only one direction with an approximate 30 degree angle of sight as one moves right or left away from it. This is why multiple units are needed and spacing between lights is needed as well.

If mounted high, the light can be seen for a long distance, depending on the lay of the land. A flat, open area with four Nite Guards placed at 10’ for owls will protect an area 1/2 mile in each direction. Even at 3 feet off the ground a range of several hundred yards' protection is common. A night predator stops the instant he sees the flash. So mount lights according to what you want to keep away. Deer will respond to higher lights than bobcats, raccoons, etc.

For small predators, these are the manufacturer's installation instructions:

For predators like raccoon, opossum and skunk; put lights approximately 25 feet apart, around your entire perimeter (all four sides of the area) and place them eye level to the predators approximately 10-12 inches off the ground. If the area has sides longer than 50 feet, more lights should be used on each side. Face lights outward from protected area.

For deer, these are the installation instructions:

1. Four Nite Guard lights placed on a single stake 4 feet high, each light facing a different direction. Moving the Nite Guard lights and stake every 7 to 10 days is absolutely critical as it breaks the pattern that deer may get used to. You do not have to move them far, 20 or 30 feet is fine, more is better. If you do not move the post with the lights around the deer will begin to “pattern” them in the exact position night after night, thusly losing fear of the flash.

NOTE: Deer are perhaps the most destructive nocturnal animal in modern times, they are also the most intelligent. Deer are very hard to deter from an area and, with the exception of the Nite Guard, will ignore most attempts to stop them from getting at the food that they want. The also act differently than a predator type animal and so we need to approach the placement of the lights differently.

2. You could also use a perimeter type placement against deer, placing lights 100 feet apart and approx. 4 feet high. Again, you will need to move the lights around every 3-10 days to break the pattern. Suggestion: Use the Nite Guard in conjunction with some of the other “weapons” they may already have in their “arsenal” against deer. Most people with deer problems are very well away of the deer’s intelligence and know that they get used to things easily. Use the Nite Guard lights along with some type of “repellant spray”. The deer then will not only “see” the predator (the flash of the light), but they will also “smell” the predator. This can be a very powerful deterrent for those deer that seem impossible to repel. You will be able to outsmart deer and protect your gardens and crops with the Nite Guards!

Some suggestions about deer deterent sprays or granules are: Deer Scram , a granular repellent; Deer Away spray for deer and squirrels by Havahart and Deer Off Deer and Rabbit Spray by Havahart. All three use natural scent repellents.

This is a solar powered unit that is completely weatherproof. Daylight as well as direct sunlight can power the battery. Best results are when the solar panel is mounted to capture the most light.

Thank you for your questions.

Sincerely,

Barbara

Question about protecting blueberry bushes from birds.

Q: "How do I keep birds from eating my blueberries? This is the second year for the bushes which are covered with green berries. Would a Bird-X bird repeller do the job? I don't want to deal with bird netting if I don't have to."Thanks. Jack

Answer: Your best choice is not the bird repeller unless you install multiple units of the smaller units, the Bird-X Peller 1 and the Bird-X Peller 2. Each unit has only one speaker. You would have to have at least two units or install the Super Bird-X Peller with four speakers. These are noisy, you would have to have AC power and your neighbors might be unhappy.

I recommend that you either drape the plants with standard 3/4 inch mesh bird netting or build what is called a walk-in blueberry cage. Essentially that is a frame over which you drape the netting. That way you can secure the bird net so birds cannot get underneath. After harvest, which usually takes a few weeks per variety, you can remove the netting. The netting should last for years since it is UV treated.

Remember that rabbits and other rodents enjoy the young branches of blueberry plants. To keep them out in the wintertime, surround the bushes with tall chicken wire fencing

Blueberry bushes require little care, if you are in the right climate zones, keep the soil acidic and provide enough water. In 1964, I gave my dad a half dozen small bushes. Four of them survive to this day in western Pennsylvania and continue to produce huge numbers of berries 45 years later. Each spring the bushes are covered with bird netting that is anchored along the edges with bricks. Rarely a bird will get underneath and need to be rescued.

Thanks for your question. Enjoy those pies!
Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the 25 inch long Floating AlliGator Heads and getting rid of geese.

Q: "I live in Cordova, Tennessee. I have a swimming pool and a pond that is about 1/3 of an acre. Every year at least one pair of geese invade: I think the offspring plus the original parents. They nest, hatch their goslings and leave piles of goose droppings on my lawn and sometimes not just in the pond but in my swimming pool. I'd like to shoot them but my wife won't let me. The local park has had good luck with the Floating Gator Head. What do you think?" Thanks. Joe.

Answer: I do recommend at least one of the 25 inch long Floating Gator Heads. Joe and I spoke on the phone: he was ready to buy a Goosebuster repeller until his wife realized it would be noisy and objected! We also discussed the Goosechase spray for the yard. What he decided on and purchased was one Floating Head plus a 3-D Coyote replica. (Coyote replicas work great to scare off ducks, too.) Joe has a fenced in yard so he was not concerned about the Coyote wandering off during the night like the ones did at the local park!

Joe has agreed to let me know the results.

Thanks again for you question, Joe.

Question about Bird Proof Gel and Bird Proof Liquid.

Q: "I have birds perching on my gutters and store sign. Sometimes customers have to duck and sometimes they get a messy surprise on their clothing. I would prefer to avoid products that are noisy or toxic. What are the active ingredients in Bird Proof Gel and Bird Proof Liquid? Are they toxic?" Thanks. Steve.

Answer: Bird-Proof Gel is EPA registered (708, EPA Est. # 1621-MI-1) as is TRANSPARENT BIRD REPELLENT (EPA Registration No. 8254-3-8708) The chemical name for both is polybutene which is a petro chemical and is not a DOT regulated products. Bird Proof Gel is not a hazardous material as defined in 29 CFR 1910.1200.

Both can be skin irritants with no long lasting health hazards. Both are listed as
Hazardous Polymerization: NONE. But incomplete burning of the liquid can produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other harmful products.

It is advised that the user wear safety goggles. If you need more information, we can send you the Material Data Safety Sheet which will soon be posted on our website.

I recommend that you get sufficient Bird Gel and/or Bird Proof Liquid to do the gutters as well as the entire top of your overhang. If you can get neighboring businesses to do the same, your bird problems should be over.

Thanks. for your question. Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the Product: BirdProof Gel

Q: "If we put this on the balcony railing, will it be visible on the black wrought iron? When you say transparent, does that mean you cannot see it at all? Will it damage the paint. There are also porous stucco waist-high columns that the birds roost on. What do you suggest we do for that?"

Answer: The Bird Proof Gel is sticky, kind of like a Vaseline type substance. So it won't be “completely invisible”. If your balcony railings are at a height where people might lean on them or touch them, you don't want to use bird gel.

I recommend that you install a Bird Xpeller Pro 2 , that scares off blackbirds and similar birds. You can put it on a timer setting and adjust the volume so it is not obnoxious. A complimentary option that I recommend is to purchase Irritape . These streamers rattle in the wind and dazzle in the sunlight, both of which keep birds away. Since the stucco columns are waist high, installing bird spikes is not an option.

Good luck and thanks for your question.

Sincerely, Barbara

Question about the Bird-X BirdXpeller Pro 1

Q: "Will this product scare away roosting robins in a tree? I will mount it in the tree and need to run it at night starting at dusk when they arrive. Please offer your reply and any guarantee that it will work. Thanks. Franco"

Answer: This sonic bird chaser can be set to operate at night as well as during the day. Set switch 3 and switch 4 to on and it will operate at night. Or set switch 3 off and switch 4 on and it will work 24/7. The unit uses birds in distress sounds and predator sounds to scare away birds. Your neighbors may be unhappy if you operate it at night!

Other choices:

• Spraying the tree with Birdproof liquid: birds won't roost if the roost is sticky. Lasts a few years in most climates.
• Hanging Holographic Irritape in the tree: wind makes the tape rustle and sun glare scares the birds away.
• Hang a Terror Eyes This orange ball bounces with the breeze to scare away birds.
• Tangle Foot Ribbon Repeller is a 2 inch wide by 100 ft length of pest repeller ribbon that creates an audible and optical discomfort zone for bird pest and animal pest control. For best results, cut in 2 feet to 3 feet lengths. Use twine to tie to tree branches, boat masts or other structures so the bird repeller tape hangs freely and moves and rattles in the wind. Replace as needed when sun bleached.

Getting rid of birds and keeping them away is easier and more successful if you use more than one bird control method at the same time.

Thanks again for your question. Good luck.

Sincerely, Barbara

 

 

Question about the product Product Code: =KN-CD01 Koolatron 9 Volt Battery Powered Cat & Dog Repeller

Q: "Does this product repel nuisance ducks??"-Leslie.

Answer: No, the Koolatron Cat and Dog Repeller frequencies are not heard by ducks and other birds. What you need to repel ducks and geese are other products designed and tested for this purpose. For ducks, the choices include visual scare devices, taste repellents and the Goosebuster sonic repeller. Using 2 or more devices usually works faster and is more effective.

Visual scare devices that repel ducks and geese are:

• Two-dimensional Coyote decoy: Realistic photo silhouettes are portable and easy to set-up or take down. And repel ducks and geese.
• 3D Coyote replica: The lifelike furry tail that changes positions with a breeze. This gives 360-degree coverage, visible from any angle and guards about 1/4 acre. This works best if you have several replicas and periodically move them around. Combine with the Garden Scent-ry plastic holder and the Shake Away Small Animal or Deer Repellent granules to add predator scent.
• Gator Guard. The Gator Guard floats in your pond or swimming pool. It is a realistic, floating alligator head that is 25 threatening inches long and moves and bobs with the wind and water. Its life-like eyes flash in the light and scares away ducks, geese and small animals.

Taste Repeller: GooseChase repels geese and ducks from grass. This is a biodegradable food-grade repellent spray for grass made from grapes. one gallon of Goose Chase treats 1 acre or 1 pint treats 1/8 of an acre. Unfortunately, when it rains, this is washed off and needs to be reapplied.

Sonic Repellers: Goosebuster is a great choice if you have a lot of ducks and geese, a lot of property to protect and the funds. We've sold this to resorts, golf courses and those with larger properties who are tired of ducks and geese. This unit covers up to 7 acres, has 4 speakers and blasts out predator and ducks and geese in distress sounds.

Thanks again for your question. Good luck in getting rid of the ducks.

Sincerely,

Barbara