Bird misting systems can be
effectively used to deter pest birds from loitering dangerously near aircraft
flight paths. Following the recent crash landing of a US Airways Airbus in the
Hudson River after bird strikes apparently disabled both engines, misting
systems have caught the interest of airport managers and flight safety
organizations throughout the country.
The good thing about these bird-hazing systems is that they are both
humane and effective. They work by releasing an ultra fine mist into the air
that pest birds can't see and just don't like. The mist is usually a chemical
called methyl anthranilate, a grape extract that naturally occurs in concord
grapes. Recognized by the FDA as a safe substance, methyl anthranilate is a
food-grade material, often used to flavor grape soda and candies. The extract has been widely used for decades
to safely deter a wide variety of pest birds including, sparrows, pigeons,
starlings, crows, blackbirds and geese. Yet it's safe for people,
pets, plants and birds.
Methyl
anthranilate is a chemical substance that irritates the trigeminal nerve and
mucous membranes of birds when it enters their eyes, nose or mouth. A
flying bird will inhale the repellent up to 30 times faster than a bird at
rest. The mist affects larger birds first. Smaller birds like sparrows will
usually require longer periods of exposure.
Many misting
systems have a central console to which you can attach a number of satellite
misting “drop” units. In some systems, the control console
can be placed as far away as one mile
from the drop units. In
better systems, each of these drop units can be controlled individually, and
each unit can cover thousands of square feet. The central console will
typically keep track of liquid levels and let you know when to refill the
units.
If you opt for a programmable
misting system, be sure to time the misting units to spray when pest birds are most
active in the area you want to protect. In general, you will get best deterrent
results if you set your spraying units to mist in the morning hours and in
the evenings –typically dawn and dusk.
And don't forget to consider the effects of prevailing winds to make sure the
mist is being carried in the correct direction. Some mist systems will work in
the rain, but will be ineffective as a deterrent. And misting units will not
work below 32 degrees Fahrenheit because the methyl anthranilate will freeze.
Advanced bird misting systems will allow
you to program the drops for a set time of day, or to go off throughout the day
and or night. You can also control how long the mist sprays. The cycle time of each drop should be based
on the type of facility you want to protect. The specific guidelines for use in
warehouses, garages, loading docks, food processing plants, golf courses will
vary depending on bird type and level of bird activity. Better systems will
have individually adjustable nozzles on each unit to make sure you direct the
deterrent chemical exactly where you want it to go. Up close, the mist looks
like a fine vapor with its visibility increasing the farther the mist travels from the unit.
The better systems will not leave a residue behind. For those concerned about
chemical odors, methyl anthranilate, will only have a grape odor.
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