Bird Management Demands

Avian flu has made the public very much more aware of the health risks posed by birds. At the same time, growing street feeding and increasing litter levels in many town and city centres have increased bird nuisance problems. And budgetary pressures are placing increasing constraints on building and street cleaning and maintenance schedules.

Under these circumstances, it isn’t surprising that nearly 80% of the UK pest controllers involved in the 2007 national bird control study report growing demands for bird proofing work from a wide variety of public and private sector organisations and businesses.

Greater health and safety concerns are identified as the most important factor driving this increasing demand, being cited by more than 90% of pest controllers. Concerns over property damage, public image and higher cleaning and maintenance pressures are also seen as particularly significant, while greater nuisance complaints, bigger infestations and worries over avian flu are mentioned as contributory factors (Figure 2).

Figure 2

With health and safety concerns so much to the fore, it comes as no surprise either that the primary demand for bird management work is from warehouses and factories, consumer premises – most notably restaurants and food outlets – and public sector buildings like hospitals, civic centres and churches (Figure 3).

While clearly less important, more than one in every three pest controllers list private offices and public places – including railway stations, airports and sports venues – among the top three situations in which they are called upon to carry out bird work, underlining the wide range of urban locations currently suffering bird problems.

Figure 3

Good Behavioural Understanding >><< Urban Bird Problems