Figure 1 PCT Bird Management Field Guide
Giridhar Pai Associates LLP launches the PCT Bird Management Guide in India
GIE Media published Dr. Richar Kramer’s PCT Bird Management Field Guide in 1999 as a comprehensive manual for preventing and resolving pest bird problems.
This field guide is a 116-page book with twelve chapters, eight about bird control and four related to that subject.
Book contents: The PCT Bird Management Field Guide introduces the subject in the first chapter, lists the diseases and ectoparasites associated with birds in the second chapter, and describes the biology and habits of pest birds in the third chapter.
The fourth to eighth chapters are on bird control, with the fourth chapter discussing preparing to do the work of bird control, the fifth chapter elaborating on tools and techniques of bird control, the sixth chapter on safety, the seventh chapter on rules and regulations and the eighth chapter on case histories and solutions.
In the ninth to twelfth chapters, the book has a quiz to test the reader’s knowledge, a glossary of terms in bird control, companies that sell bird control products and references used for the book.
Pest birds in the PCT Bird Management Field Guide: Pest birds such as pigeons, starlings, and sparrows are common pest birds, which the book discusses in detail. Gulls, European Geese, woodpeckers, crows, ravens, magpies, jays, blackbirds, grackle and cowbirds are other birds discussed in the PCT Bird Management Field Guide.
Bird control survey: The book contains a bird control survey report format.
Bird Control Tools and Techniques: The author emphasises an integrated pest control approach in the chapter on bird control tools and techniques. The book starts by listing habitat modification approaches to deter pest birds.
Using chimney caps, hardware cloth, and closing holes are simple methods to modify structures to keep away pest birds. Dock seals, air curtains and double-door entry systems are also helpful in preventing pest birds.
In bird exclusion, the bird discusses structural repairs, monofilament and steel lines, spikes, netting, electric shock, gels, and pastes.
Monofilament and steel lines: Monofilament and steel lines deter birds on ledges and other flat surfaces – they are easy to install, generally cost less and are not visible in many cases. Coiled wires also serve the same function. These systems are effective in various situations, including building ledges, signboards, and hoardings.
Spikes: Plastic and metal spikes are common bird deterrents that keep pest birds off roosting and nesting sites. Debris accumulation impacts the effectiveness of spikes, and sometimes, pest birds could get impaled by spikes.
Netting: Netting is among the most popular bird-proofing materials, and it can be used against one or numerous birds. Nets can last even up to a decade and can cover horizontal and vertical spaces. Nets used depend on the bird being excluded and for which the mesh size varies. Nets are available in varied colours, strand thicknesses, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP).
Shock wires: Electric shock-generating wires against pest birds have low voltage and low amperage with low risk to humans and do not result in fires if debris falls on them.
Gels and pastes: Gels and pastes repel birds that are sticky enough to cause discomfort to birds but do not trap the birds. They are available in various formulations, including aerosols, caulk, gels, pastes, and sprays.
Frightening agents: Frightening agents are also discussed, along with shooting and trapping.
Bird frightening agents typically involve light, sound and replicas of bird predators to scare pest birds.
Shooting: The government regulates the shooting of birds for their control and requires a licence to use firearms.
Trapping: Trapping of pest birds works for flocking species rather than for individual birds. The book cautions about the disposal of trapped birds that may return to the site if they have been captured.
Avicides: When the other tools and techniques do not control birds, the last resort is using avicides that repel, alarm or kill birds. As their name suggests, avicides are pesticides and require registration with a country’s pesticide-approving authority for sale and use. Avicide users need pesticide handling licences.
Feeding deterrents: The chapter also discusses feeding deterrents, which are plant-derived and effective against geese, ducks, starlings, and gulls. Deterrents are applied to grass or garbage and have limitations in that heavy rains may wash them off.
Safety in Bird Control: Respiratory and safety from falls are important in bird control work and are discussed in the book.
Bird control case studies: The last chapter has five case studies to illustrate the book’s concepts.
The first case study is an interesting one that deals with starlings roosting in trees surrounding a quadrangle of historic buildings and a zoo, where the bird droppings led to worker complaints and damage to parked cars.
The second case study describes the resolution of pigeons nesting in the louvres on the top two floors of a thirteen-floor university hospital.
The third case is about the goose problem at a retirement home in a rural area with an expanse of open grounds and a water body.
The fourth case study lists the solution to a food storage warehouse having a problem with sparrows fouling food products with their droppings.
The fifth case study is about a municipal building with severe pigeon, starling and sparrow problems and is useful to refer to situations with multiple pest-bird problems.
Bird Control Quiz – Chapter 9: The PCT Bird Management Field Guide has 79 multiple-choice questions at the end of the book for the reader to test their understanding of its content. The book provides the right answers to the questions to test the reader’s knowledge of bird control.
Glossary – Chapter 10: The glossary lists forty-four bird control terms the reader may be unfamiliar with and their meanings.
Bird Control Resources – Chapter 11: The chapter lists the leading manufacturers and suppliers of bird control products in the USA, including the following.
- Avitrol
- Bird-B-Gone
- Bird Barrier
- Bird Shield Repellent Corp.
- Bird-X
- Cat Claws, Inc.
- Ecopic
- Fly-Bye Bird Control Products
- HotFoot
- InterNet
- JT Eaton & Co., Inc.
- Kness Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Nixalite of America, Inc.
- RJ Advantage, Inc.
- Tomahawk Live Trap
Why you must buy the PCT Bird Management Field Guide: A pest management professional (PMP) can read this handy book in one or two hours to understand bird control. As no bird control training courses or books are available in India, the PCT Bird Guide is an excellent source of PMP information for the Indian pest control industry.
Giridhar Pai Associates LLP (GPA) imported this guide from GIE Media and sold many copies to Indian PMPs.
GPA now offers the PCT Bird Management Field Guide as one of six PCT Field Guides for Asian PMPs.
You can contact us to buy PCT Field Guides for delivery to your city.
Giridhar Pai Associates is happy to announce that this blogpost is the fiftieth on its website.
Figure 2 GPA publishes its 50th blog post on its website