For people who want their options spelled out, I'll gladly break them down for you:
Visual Scares: These devices are meant to intimidate birds by resembling their predators. Most people think of scarecrows, rubber snakes, or plastic owls when they think of this category. If you’ve ever used one of the aforementioned products you’re probably already aware that they don’t work. A rubber snake has the same effect on a bird as it does on you. At first you might be scared and then once that initial reaction passes you quickly see that it’s not moving and you go on with your daily business. Birds do not get intimidated by things that look like predators; they are intimidated by things that act like predators. This is why having a stationary object is ineffective. Look for scares that incorporate movement along with the appearance. One effective product is a special balloon that can be attached to a tree or post. These balloons have holographic eyes on them that follow birds as they fly by and bounce around in the wind creating the feeling that this thing might actually be alive. Just make sure, when using visual scares, to move the devices around every so often so birds don’t become accustomed to seeing them.
Auditory Devices: Auditory devices are broken down into two subcategories: sonic and ultrasonic. Both categories are heard by birds but ultrasonic devices use a frequency that is above the range of human hearing.
Ultrasonic devices are best used in semi-enclosed or enclosed areas because the waves dissipate fairly quickly when compared to sonic devices. They are good for places like outdoor restaurants, airplane hangars etc because they can cover a small area effectively without people even knowing that it’s working. These products also drive away bat populations. Look for a system with multiple speakers so you can control the direction of the sound waves and create a surround sound effect.
Sonic devices are heard by both humans and birds. They use a variety of recordings that can include the sounds of predators, gunshots, and most importantly, distress calls of birds. The combination of sounds from predators like coyotes or owls and the distress calls create a very convincing ruse. When birds hear these sounds they feel unsafe in the surrounding environment. These products can be species specific or for general use. Something that makes a sonic device more effective is the inclusion of change in the product. Like the visual scare devices, birds become accustomed to anything that stays the same for too long. Make sure the device you use alternates the order and frequency of the sound effects.
Physical Barriers: Physical barriers are pretty straight forward. If you see a bird roosting somewhere, but a barrier on it. There are rows of spikes available to attach on your roof, on ledges, etc that do not hurt the birds, they just make the surface very uninviting and uncomfortable. In addition, there are sticky gels that you can either dot on small surfaces or dilute and spray over a larger surface that stick to the birds feet and feathers that just make them feel uncomfortable and want to find another place to land next time. Another option is netting which physically keeps birds out of a particular area.
Taste/Smell Aversions: Birds have a sense called the Trigeminal sense which humans lack. It is something like taste or smell. As it turns out, this sense is very much disturbed and overwhelmed by the scent of a chemical found in concord grapes. There are products which use this chemical, called Methyl Anthranilate (a common flavoring used for candy, gum, soda, and drugs for decades), which you can spray on your land that gives birds a similar sensation to what humans get when exposed to the scent of bleach. It won’t kill the birds, it will just make them want to get away from the source of this feeling.
There are tons of products out there that can help you to reclaim your property. While they are all helpful on their own, they are best used synergistically. If your land offers a lot to the birds they are going to need a lot of motivation to leave and try to find a replacement home. They will be willing to put up with some abuse. If you take an approach that addresses more than one of their senses they will be much less enamored with the home they’ve made on your property—and much more likely to leave you in peace to enjoy your upcoming spring season.
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