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

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

Q: "Now in my 3rd summer of using a black polycarbonate battery powered P3 International molechaser stake in my garden. I have been very pleased with the results although now it seems the gophers may be getting used to it and no longer are repelled. I am thinking of buying a second unit. Do you have other suggestions?" Ken

Answer: Multiple units are always good. You may want to get the Supersonic Molechaser to add to the Vibrasonic molechaser as it makes a noise rather than vibrating. It also helps to move the stakes around a bit. Hope this helps.

Comment from Customer: "Thank you for your quick and helpful reply. Based upon the information you sent, I have ordered a "supersonic" from your company. Thanks again, Ken."

Comment from Barbara: We sell several mole chaser products. These are also helpful in getting rid of gophers and voles. Gophers are more difficult to chase away as, once established, they have an elaborate network of tunnels under the ground while moles stay near the top where they can eat grubs.

Some suggestions to get rid of moles:

• Install molechaser stakes. Multiple units work best especially if your soil is mostly clay and rocks or mostly sand. Sound is contained in a smaller area and more intense in heavy soil and is dispersed farther and is less intense in sandy ones. We sell green PVC plastic ones, vibrasonic molechasers, solar mole chaser stakes and supersonic molechasers.
• Spray grass with Scoot Mole.
• Use grub control granules in mid summer.
• July 17, 2009 Note: MoleScram is a granular product we've sold now for almost 2 years with great reports from our customers. This application of mole chaser lasts about 3 months. This is fast to apply: use a lawn fertilizer spreader, rather than dragging hundreds of feet of hose behind you as with Scoot Mole liquid. Treat one half of your yard on Day 1 and half on Day 2. Water in well or apply before a storm. You'll move the moles back out of your yard!
• A new and popular addition to the mole stake line are the Smart Solar Mole Chasers. Customers in sunny regions love these vibrating mole chaser stakes for two reasons. First, installation is easier than with the P3 International solar mole stake. which has to be buried after digging a hole. First, make sure the ground is soft through watering. Next, take the bottom half of the stake and pound it into the ground using a board and mallet (hitting the board). Connect the electric connections to the solar panel, put on the top and the unit begins to charge and operate.Smart Solar also advertises mouse control in your yard as a bonus.
• The Transonic Electronic Mole & Gopher Chaser Solar Stake is a new unit by Bird X that is solar powered, vibrates and buzzes every 20 seconds plus flashes a downward light every five seconds. Coverage is up to 1/6 of an acre.

Good luck with your gardens and grass.

Sincerely, Barbara