If you have a bird problem, you already know how stubborn birds can be. To successfully manage wild birds you may have to think through your approach and make sure the birds don’t out think you. Fly Away BMS can help.
Fly Away BMS is not a physical barrier. So, when you first deploy Fly Away in a bird’s favorite roosting spot, there are no physical means that prevent birds from returning. When Fly Away is first deployed, the birds will not know you have started efforts to keep them out and they will return as usual. They will land within range of the MA (methyl anthranilate) and immediately sense something is different. They won’t be happy and after a short time they will flutter away. Over the course of the next few days, they will continue to return to the roost, sense the MA and leave. Usually in about 2 or 3 days, most birds learn their favorite perch is no longer desirable and they leave for good. These birds learned their lesson and will never return. New birds may try the roost, but they too will soon learn this is not a good spot. In case after case, this behavior has been repeated and success is at hand. Under eaves, around ornamental yard water features, in utility sheds, boat houses, barns, etc., birds discover the discomforts of MA outweigh the characteristics that attracted them to these spots and leave for good.
There are several circumstances where this behavior doesn’t occur. A starving bird for example, can power through the presence of MA to gain access to a food source. Also, some bird’s territorial instincts will overpower the effects of MA. We’ve had one case where a Dark-eyed Junco insisted on doing battle with its rival that appears in an outdoor mirror.
Most every time Fly Away BMS if used as advised, it works well. Our goal at Fly Away BMS is to help you overcome your bird problems. The following paragraphs describe two problematic bird problems and actions taken. It is our hope that our lessons learned can be of help to you in addressing your bird management challenges.
Camano Island Yacht Club
The Camano Island Yacht Club (CIYC) is located on the west side of Camano Island on the north end of Puget Sound in Washington State. CIYC had a terrible problem with seagulls roosting on their dock. The dock itself was typically covered with gulls. And, as a result the dock was covered with gull droppings. Within two weeks after pressure washing, the dock would be covered with so much gull droppings, it looked like snow.
It was hoped that Fly Away BMS could be used to manage the gulls. Fly Away BMS pouches were placed at strategic positions on the dock and at first worked well. The gulls quickly learned that something had changed on the dock and moved elsewhere. Where did they go? Well, as it turns out, there are many boats moored just off shore near the dock and, as you may suspect, that’s where the gulls moved to. Now instead of soiling the dock, the gulls soiled every boat in the area which made the boat owners quite unhappy. Then as the time release function in Fly Away BMS eased the release of MA, the gulls returned to their favorite dock.
In the general location of the yacht club and the behavior or the gulls, it was learned that the CYIC is the only dock on the west side of the island and the ideal home for the gulls. The dock’s locked gate protects the gulls from people, dogs, and predators; and the prevailing winds and rain minimized the MA actually sensed by the birds. The dock is conveniently located next to food sources and meets all the necessary criteria for a good home. The gulls are back.
In consultation with CIYC, we suggested deploying an off-shore float that would substitute for the dock. In the end, the yacht club decided to try a professional falconer thinking the presence of a bird-of-prey would do the trick.
Rainier Washington Barn
A small barn in Rainier Washington was infested with about 100 pigeons. The owner had tried everything to rid his barn of pigeons. Fly Away BMS pouches were placed throughout the barn and success was at hand – or at least for a few days. The owner reported a greatly reduced number of pigeons on the first day and even less on the second day. When the third day report came in, it was thought the pigeons had gotten the message. However over time the pigeons began to return.
Common Factors
In examining the behavior of the gulls at the CIYC and the Rainier barn pigeons, several common factors were observed. First, both cases dealt with well-established, large colonies of birds. In both cases, the birds numbered around 100 and they had made the dock and barn their homes for a long, long time. The second common factor was although Fly Away BMS worked for awhile, the birds were never really driven off. In the case of the CIYC, the birds simply moved to neighboring boats. In the case of the Rainier barn, the owner reported the pigeons had left the barn but took up residency under the lean-to that is attached to the barn.
Lessons Learned
In the cases of the CIYC and the Rainier barn, many lessons can be learned that may help you in deciding how best to address your bird problem. First, large, established colonies of birds are difficult to displace. The birds may have been there a long time and there are powerful motivators for them to stay. To be successful, you have to understand why the birds are there in the first place and what keeps them there. Second, you have to really drive them off not inconveniently displace them for a short time. They can out wait you and return to their normal behavior.
To Maximize Your Likelihood of Success
If You're Still Having Problems
If you use Fly Away BMS and it doesn't seem to work the way you're expecting, double check to see if you've removed all attractants. Also, check to see if there are additional factors such as temporarily displacing problem birds instead of permanently driving them off. If you're struggling with particularly problematic birds, try viewing some of the products available from these suppliers:
Bird X
Bird Barrier
Bird B Gone
“We live on a lake in Beautiful Bellevue Washington. For years Canadian geese migrated north every year until people started feeding them. We started using Fly Away products about 2 years ago and are very happy to report that it really works. Thanks Fly Away. ”
- Randy, Bellevue, Washington