Wednesday, March 30, 2011

How Swallows Destroy Homes



Get-rid-of-swallows
And What You Can Do to Deter Them
by Alex A. Kecskes
Swallows are sleek, slender birds typically found in North America. They are very territorial, returning to the same nesting site in the spring and summer. Once confined to cliffs, swallows have become a growing nuisance in suburban areas. Instead of attaching their nests to cliffs, many prefer man-made sites like the wood beams and stucco of modern houses. They often build their characteristic mud nests in the outer walls and eaves of homes. (One home was "decorated" with at least 32 swallow abodes constructed of hardened mud.) Left on your home long enough, swallow nests will leave an unsightly stain.
A colony of birds will also leave a trail of droppings down the sides of your home and the ground below. Property owners spend time and money cleaning up the mess and concern over the slip-and-fall hazards from swallow droppings. The bacteria, fungal agents and parasites found in swallow droppings and nests can carry hosts with serious diseases, including histoplasmosis, encephalitis, salmonella, meningitis, toxoplasmosis and more.
Worse yet, swallow mud nests are often infested with insects. The insects tend to move into your home to find new hosts. Even when swallows leave, their vacant nests simply attract new birds.

Homeowners should be rightly concerned about swallows nesting on their homes, but there are limitations to what one can do. You see, swallows and their nests are fully protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which makes it illegal to intentionally kill, injure or take any migratory bird. It is also illegal to intentionally damage or destroy the nest, eggs, or young of a swallow while it is being built or in use. The Act allows fines or prison sentences for every bird, egg or nest destroyed.

Fortunately, there are some swallow deterrents one can use that are both effective and humane. 

An effective type of swallow bird netting one can rely on to safely exclude swallows is Ultra Net. This low-profile netting is an ideal way to prevent birds from getting under eaves, barns, balconies, garages, sheds and other areas around your home. The netting is a lightweight plastic mesh made of durable, U.V. protected polypropylene. It comes in three different mesh sizes: 3/4”, 1/2”, and 1/4” and a variety of cuts to match the area being treated.
Ultra Netting is easy to work with and can be readily secured with twine, zip ties, or hog rings. For vegetable gardens, wrap individual plants or suspend netting around the entire garden area for protection. Ultra netting is meant for temporary use and hangs easily using the clips provided by the manufacturer. You can also just use a staple gun to secure the netting around any perimeter.

Another effective tool is Bird Slope. This is a humane way to block small and large birds from landing or nesting on open ledges. These slippery PVC panels are ideal for use on any ledge that meets at a 90 degree angle. They can also be used on eaves. As an anti-perching, anti-roosting deterrent, bird slopes have proven to be effective against all types of birds, including swallows. Each bird slope section is 2 feet long, and you get 4 feet per box. The specially fabricated panels are made of U.V. protected PVC to make them sun and weather resistant.

Installation is a snap, since there are a variety of bird slope accessories available to accommodate different areas. For example, there's a "snap on" extender, so you can easily adapt it to wider ledges. And special “end caps” are also available to keep swallows from getting behind the slope. The product comes in two colors (stone and grey) to match your home's décor.

There are also nearly invisible physical deterrents such as the No Nasty Nest which feature a unique design for deterring swallows from nesting on your home. No Nasty Nest is easy to install and will deter swallows by creating a barrier of plastic twine that is uncomfortable for the birds to fly through. By placing it under your eaves, it makes your house an undesirable location for swallows to build their nest.


Also effective in getting rid of swallows are Sonic Bird Deterrents. These devices broadcast distress and predator calls every few minutes to scare swallows from open spaces like backyards, gardens, courtyards, patios, and pool areas. Some devices come with a built-in speaker that will cover up to an acre of land. The best sonic devices are rugged and weatherproof and can be programmed to turn on/off at night.

Working with ornithologists at a major university, the Bird Chase Super Sonic deterrent was developed to offer the latest technology in pest bird deterrents. Unlike other bird sonic devices that play high-pitched noises that can bother pets and animals, this device cycles through a series of recorded bird calls and is safe to use around pets.

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Home Owners - Prepare now for the Swallows Invation

Spring is just around the corner and so is the arrival of Swallows. They'll be looking your home over for nesting and roosting spots. Yes, they're beautiful birds, but what they can do to your home and yard is not so pretty.

They'll be building their mud nests on your garage, gazebo, patio and home.  In fact, the eave of your home offers the perfect nest-building spot for swallows. It protects them from predators and it offers shelter from the elements.  So unless you've prepared your property properly with the right bird deterrents, you'll be plagued with swallow nests, the mess and debris.

Swallows prefer to nest in colonies, causing major headaches and thousands of dollars in damage for homeowners. And it's not just the nests; swallow droppings are unsightly and hazardous, carrying diseases that can be transmitted to humans.  When swallow nests eventually fall to the ground, the bugs, fleas, ticks and mites harboring inside can spread to dogs, cats and children who may pick them up.

Before you whip out the BB gun or bird poison, you should know that in the United States, all swallows are classified as migratory insectivorous birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.  The birds are also protected by state regulations.  Once the birds have begun to construct their nests, it's too late to get rid of them. Disturb their nests or injure them at this point and you'll pay a fine for your folly.

The secret to avoiding the "swallows problem" is to take action before they arrive. That means using effective non-lethal bird deterrents designed to discourage them from calling your house a home.

Keep in mind that swallows will usually build their nests in a shady area under the eaves of a home, in a gazebo or patio cover, or any other area with right angles to the walls.  Another point to remember is that swallows will often build their nests against a textured surface where mud will stick more easily—surfaces like rough-sawn wood, stucco, masonry and concrete.

Once swallows have settled in to build their nests, it's virtually impossible to get rid of them.  Hosing down the nests won't discourage them; they'll just keep re-building their nests if they like your particular eave, garage, patio or gazebo.
So what are some ways to discourage swallows from invading your property?

Here are a few humane suggestions:
  • Plastic Bird Netting. Use a 3/4-inch mesh and hang it from the outer edge of the eave of your home down to the side of the wall creating a 45-degree angle. 
  • No Nasty Nest. Block birds from getting to potential nesting sites by installing No Nasty nest under your eaves. Birds will not want to wade through the hanging strings and will move on to a new spot.
  • Bird Slope. These slippery PVC panels create a smooth surface under the eave of your home that won't allow mud nests to "stick." Attach them under your eaves with adhesive.
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