Birds

Certain birds like the common myna, sulphur-crested cockatoo and the feral pigeon are considered pests in New Zealand as they create mess and serious health issues.

What birds are pest birds?

• Pigeons reproduce year-round, but more aggressively in the summer and spring. They increase in number very quickly, and the more food they can find, the faster they breed. They feed on grains, seeds, insects, plants and food waste humans leave lying around. Pigeons do not migrate and tend to make urban areas their homes. They are able to identify their home base from far away using their sense of smell and hearing. So once they have made their home on your property, it’s harder to get rid of them.
• Sulfur-crested Cockatoos are the large white birds, with yellow feathers running along the back of their head. These cockatoos live in the northern and eastern areas of New Zealand and have reproduced at a very alarming rate. They prefer living in urbanised areas and are considered a pest because of the damage they case to timber decking and panelling of homes.
• Common Mynas are not as widespread as the pigeon or Sulfur-crested cockatoo. Found in eastern New Zealand, common mynas are known bullies of other birds. Introduced in 1883, common mynas have successfully pushed out native birds from their natural habitats. They fight quite ruthlessly with other birds as common mynas are very territorial. They have adapted to urban environments well and cause problems for humans as they create nests in roof voids.

Why are birds pests?

Bird populations become harder to control the longer they are allowed to nest and roost undisturbed. So, it is best to get rid of a pest bird problem the moment you are aware of it and to actively make your property less habitable for them. Even if pest birds may seem relatively harmless, they can actually cause a whole host of problems such as the following:

• They endanger the health of the people around them by spreading illnesses like salmonella, E. coli and ornithosis.
• They soil buildings, cars, pavements and entrances with their droppings, and also cause surfaces to become slippery to walk on.
• The presence of birds encourages insects like bird mites, fleas and textile beetles to infest as these pests gravitate to roosting sites and nests.
• When situated close to wires, lights or other electrical equipment, nests may be a fire hazard.
• When birds nest close to places where food is produced or warehoused, they can contaminate products and equipment.

Do I need professional bird control?

Problems caused by birds can lead to poor business, the need for costly building repairs and contamination of food products. Some birds are even notorious for carrying diseases that humans can catch, and are officially recognised as threats to public health. Droppings are also a huge annoyance and not only damage the finishes of buildings but also cause hygiene problems. Cleaning up bird droppings can also be costly. If birds are causing you problems, it is advisable to call us and have one of our technicians devise a tailored bird control programme for your property.

How does Flick Anticimex control pest birds?

An effective way to control birds in the long term is to modify their habitats, such as by getting rid of their food sources and cutting off their access to areas where they can nest and roost. Any good bird control programme should deal with these issues. Your Flick technician will first inspect your property and then according to the information gathered, they will identify the type of bird and the most effective way to deal with it. Some effective methods of excluding birds from your property include setting up exclusion devices in areas where birds usually roost, rest or nest. Only methods that are humane while still working effectively and efficiently will be used to exclude the birds. Flick Anticimex provides a range of bird control programmes and methods that can permanently solve problems with pigeons and other birds. Our qualified technicians will recommend appropriate bird control methods based on the results of your property inspection. Other species of birds can from time to time create a hazard to humans. At Flick Anticimex, we have the solution for any problem you may face. In some cases and under the approval of the appropriate government regulatory body in that state or territory, baiting or culling to control flock numbers may be necessary. Generally, this is only carried out after all other methods of control have been exhausted.