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Birds and Pigeons:

No matter how much fun we have watching birds in the backyard, there are times when birds can become pests and require a little control. It is sometimes necessary that you call a pest control company to come to the rescue and take care of the problem.

If birds start nesting in your vents and no matter what you do, they keep coming, it is time to call a pest control professional to come and help you control the situation.

In cities, pigeons are considered the biggest nuisance birds. They flock in huge numbers and leave buildings and statues filthy with the corrosive droppings and feathers.

Canadian Geese:

In recent decades, Canada Geese have become truly urbanized; huge populations of them now live in cities and suburbs, feeding on lawn turf and taking over ponds, streams, and wetlands.

Ironically, when populations started becoming acclimated to urban areas, their offspring were intentionally introduced to some towns and cities, but in most places have outstayed their welcome.

Canada Geese especially like expansive lawns; when turf can be replaced with taller native vegetation, they often go elsewhere, especially in early summer when they try to keep their goslings safe from hidden predators by feeding on manicured lawns.

When a lawn is covered with plastic mesh, geese often leave, but that’s impractical for most spaces.

In the short-term, the best way to discourage geese is to employ a dog to chase them off. In the long-term, the wisest way to keep goose populations at more sustainable levels is to promote natural vegetation instead of lawns in as many areas as is practical.

Transmissible Bird Diseases from Nuisance Birds:

More than 60 transmissible bird diseases (some of which are fatal) are associated with geese, pigeons, starlings and house sparrows. For example:

Histoplasmosis

is a respiratory disease that may be fatal. It results from a fungus growing in dried bird droppings.

Cryptococcosis

is caused by yeast found in the intestinal tract of pigeons and starlings. The illness often begins as a pulmonary disease and may later affect the central nervous system. Since attics, cupolas, ledges, schools, offices, warehouses, mills, barns, park buildings, signs, etc. are typical roosting and nesting sites, the fungus is apt to found in these areas.

St. Louis Encephalitis

an inflammation of the nervous system, usually causes drowsiness, headache and fever. It may even result in paralysis, coma or death. St. Louis encephalitis occurs in all age groups, but is especially fatal to persons over age 60. The disease is spread by mosquitoes which have fed on infected house sparrow, pigeons and house finches carrying the Group B virus responsible for St. Louis encephalitis.

Salmonellosis

often occurs as "food poisoning" and can be traced to pigeons, starlings and sparrows. The disease bacteria are found in bird droppings; dust from droppings can be sucked through ventilators and air conditioners, contaminating food and cooking surfaces in restaurants, homes and food processing plants.

E.coli.

Cattle carry E. coli 0157:H7. When birds peck on cow manure, the E. coli go right through the birds and the bird droppings can land on or in a food or water supply. Besides being direct carriers of disease, nuisance birds are frequently associated with over 50 kinds of ectoparasites, which can work their way throughout structures to infest and bite humans. About two-thirds of these pests may be detrimental to the general health and well-being of humans and domestic animals. The rest are considered nuisance or incidental pests. A few examples of ectoparasites include:

Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius)

may consume up to five times their own weight in blood drawn from hosts which include humans and some domestic animals. In any extreme condition, victims may become weak and anemic. Pigeons, starlings and house sparrows are known to carry bed bugs.

Chicken mites (Dermanyssus gallinae)

are known carriers of encephalitis and may also cause fowl mite dermatitis and acariasis. While they subsist on blood drawn from a variety of birds, they may also attack humans. They have been found on pigeons, starlings and house sparrows.

Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor)

perhaps the most common beetle parasites of people in the United States, live in pigeon nests. It is found in grain or grain products, often winding up in breakfast cereals, and may cause intestinal canthariasis and hymenolespiasis.

West Nile Virus

while West Nile is technically not transmitted to humans from birds, humans can get infected by the bite of a mosquito who has bitten an infected bird. The obvious lesson is that the fewer birds there are in any given area, the better. This translates into a smaller chance of an infected bird in that area, a smaller chance of a mosquito biting an infected bird and then biting a human.