In a previous blog post we looked at whether its fact or fiction that birds spread disease, and concluded that it’s definitely fact. In this blog, we look at 5 common signs your warehouse has a birding problem.
The main bird species that cause problems on buildings are Pigeons, Starlings, House sparrows, Seagulls and the Indian myna. You can read more about the types of diseases that these pest birds spread in one of our previous blog posts. Let’s discuss the 5 most obvious signs that your warehouse or business premise has a bird problem.
It is important to recognise the signs of a bird problem as early as possible to keep the costs of control to a minimum.
The 5 most common signs of a bird infestation are:
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Birds settling and bird noises:
Birds settling on roofs, ledges, cables and wires, and continuous bird cries, especially from young chicks, are both a sure-fire sign that you have a bird problem. Larger birds such as pigeons can dislodge roof tiles, while birds gaining access to roof spaces can damage insulation which is costly to repair.
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Bird droppings:
Bird droppings on roofs, ledges, paved areas, vehicles and goods are the second sign you have a bird problem.
Unsightly droppings can build up in roosting sites, and foul the paved areas directly below nesting and roosting sites. This may cause a slip and fall risk for your staff or any visitors to your warehouse.
Birds also foul vehicles parked nearby and if you have any raw materials in the warehouse, the contamination of bird droppings will spoil your good, resulting in them having to be discarded at a financial loss.
Bird droppings also corrode stone, metal, paintwork and other building materials.
And finally, bird droppings can contain many types of bacteria, viruses and parasites which can contaminate food, surfaces and goods. The pathogens in the bird droppings include Salmonella, E. coli and Histoplasma, which can then infect people handling the goods and eating contaminated food.
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Bird nests:
Nests on roofs, ledges, gutters, roof spaces, beams are the next sign of a bird problem.
The issue with bird nests is that birds carry ticks, fleas, lice and mites and can infest their nests and spread around the building. There are also various beetles, moths, flies and mites that feed on nest detritus and which can infest nests, such as carpet beetle, fur beetle, biscuit beetle, clothes moth, dust mite and other stored product insects. -
Debris from nests and feathers:
The fourth sign you have a bird problem is finding nest and feather debris scattered around your premises. Nests block guttering and drain pipes, leading to flooding on the roof. This causes 2 additional problems: the water can then become breeding sites for flying and biting insects, and the flooding can cause internal leaks, rotten timbers, metal corrosion, damaged plaster and other wall coverings and flooring inside the building.
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Damaged stock from bird droppings and pecking
The final sign you have a bird problem in your warehouse is noticing that stored food such as grain and flour (if you store food products) is being lost to birds. Birds can gain access to grain silos and stores through doors, ventilation points and damaged roofs. Bird pecking causes damage to packaged goods, as birds peck to access the food, or from droppings fouling the packaging.
Rentokil experts can help with your birding problem.
Now that you know the signs to look out for, you need to identify the bird you consider to be a pest before taking any action to control it. wildlife laws protect certain speciesof birds in most countries and can only be disturbed or killed in certain circumstances or seasons.
Your best option is to check with a professional pest controller like Rentokil who will come out and survey your premises and confirm the type of bird species that is causing the problem. Contact our team to book a survey of your premises with us today.
Now that you know the signs to look out for, you need to identify the bird you consider to be a pest before taking any action to control it. wildlife laws protect certain speciesof birds in most countries and can only be disturbed or killed in certain circumstances or seasons.
Your best option is to check with a professional pest controller like Rentokil who will come out and survey your premises and confirm the type of bird species that is causing the problem. Contact our team to book a survey of your premises with us today.
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