By:Monte Leeper
Q. A year ago, I had a powered roll-up awning installed outside. This is fine; however, birds bring all kinds of stuff to make nests, which causes me much aggravation. I was told to try Lysol spray or put mothballs in a can on either end to ward off birds with the unsavory odor. So far, all has failed. I do not have a bird feeder or water bowl or bird house to encourage their coming to this property.
Any suggestions you might render to eliminate this problem would be appreciated.
A. Answering your question is likely to invite those letters telling me I am a bird hater who ought to be sued or jailed, so bird lovers should stop reading right here. The rest of you can continue.
As usual, you need to do a little homework. Determine the kind of bird that nests on the electric awning. One of my clients swears that his plastic owls, strategically placed, keep all kinds of birds away. Tinsel hung in the area just above where the birds roost may have enough motion to keep them from landing.
There are bird specialists who sell devices that make a random clicking sound that startles the birds. Then there is the less humane set of spikes that keep birds from landing.
I have not found a chemical or spray that is
effective against birds without being harmful to others, so I do not advocate their use. I have had to devise enclosures for some types of awnings that include screening or chicken wire in the opening, which prevents the birds
from getting in. The key is to eliminate a surface they can get to or land on.
I hesitate to give the names and addresses of companies selling the less humane products, because there is no need to advocate hurting the birds, but
pest-control companies can be a worthwhile investment as your final resort.
Besides, they don't seem to get the same kind of mail that I will.
