Bird Spikes and Other Bird Deterrents used in Dubai

Background

The city of Dubai has transformed drastically into a very modernized metropolitan area with many high rise buildings, large shopping centers, and posh hotels that include a lot of birds, primarily pigeons. Pigeons are nice to look at only when they are in an urban city like Dubai. But for the building owners and property managers, birds account for many problems within the premises. Firstly, their droppings degrade the beauty of the buildings after a certain period of time and efforts spent cleaning and maintaining the building will be quite expensive.

As a result of this, the property has to hire a lot of bird control measures. One of the most common and effective of these is the use of bird spikes in dubai however there are other methods of bird control to employ. In this article, we will compare bird spikes with other methods, including bird netting, electronic deterrents, ultrasonic devices and chemical repellents and ascertain the best bird control approaches in regard to Dubai’s environment.

Bird Control for Towers: Bird Spikes

Bird spikes are perhaps the oldest and most common forms of bird control methods. They are long thin metallic or plastic rods that are arranged in such a way that makes it hard for birds to alight on ledges, and windows sills and other flat surfaces. The spikes are not meant to inflict injury on birds but are intended to make the surface uncomfortable enough that the birds do not settle on it.

Benefits

Most Efficient: This is because it is more effective against larger birds of prey, such as pigeons that tend to be a nuisance in places like Dubai.

Requires Less Attention: After fixing the bird spikes, very few or no maintenance activities are needed. They can cope with weather factors such as the heat and sand storms of Dubai without deterioration.

It is Affordable: These spikes are quite cheap in relation to other advanced birds controlling techniques hence can be bought by property owners.

It Does not Infringe On Animals Right: They offer an animal control technique in which birds are denied landing without any injury to them.

Limitations of this method

It’s Geographically Limited: Geographically limited as these bird spikes can be fixed on ledges, rooftops, and other flat surfaces the same cannot be used in an open space.

Aesthetic Concerns: The need for a bird spike is a liquid issue: every other building owner will consider these unpleasing to look at as they will interfere with the aesthetic nature of structures.

Not Effective For Small Birds: The actual deterrents, when used on bigger birds, work more so than for small birds, where the decoration, although with spikes, some smaller species manage to go past these and still stand.

Bird Netting

Bird netting is yet another method of controlling birds with high efficiency, especially in the instances of large open places like courtyards, gardens or some enclosed spaces. Nets are fixed on the locations around the perches of the birds, thus creating an exclusion net.

Advantages of Bird Netting

Alert Knobless Fence Picket: Bird netting is more effective when there is large area coverage since it prevents use of netted cages on courtyards, balcony or overhangs where spikes may not be used.

Great Quality and Endurance: The bird nets being do not become damaged easily due to no or minimal exposure to UV rays as they are durable and made out strong climate materials.

Fitting Option: Different types of building netting can be adjusted to suit certain designs and buildings hence making it easier to control birds and the adjoining structures.

Disadvantages of Bird Netting

Installation is Expensive: Since it emanates from professional installation, you are likely to incur some higher expenses based on area measurements which at times can be small and materials for netting installed.

Maintenance: Regular maintenance of the netting may be necessary to prevent damages or loss of efficiency due to the extreme weather conditions in Dubai.

Aesthetic Impact: Similar to bird spikes, bird netting might be an eyesore to some property owners.

Electronic Bird Deterrents

These deterrents use either motion sensors, lasers or wavelengths of sounds to keep birds out of defined areas. Such devices are often mounted on roofs, balconies and similar other places.

The Advantages of the Electronic Deterrents

Non-Invasive: Electronic devices do not need physical alteration construction of a building and thus it is hidden within the environment.

Effective for Various Species: Electronic deterrents can be used to chase away different varieties of birds according to the device used including small birds that cannot be controlled using spikes or netting.

Automated Functionality: There is very little human touch with regard to the devices once the installation is done as they will activate when birds are sighted.

The Disadvantages of the Electronic Deterrents

High Initial Costs: Used in the initial installation of electronic bird deterrents are relatively high and especially in Dubai where large and tall buildings are the order of the day.

Energy Consumption: This application will need an electrical supply causing an increase to power costs as operation is non stop.

Unreliable: Some species in the long run will get used to the devices so they will cease to work as intended.

Ultrasonic Devices

Ultrasonic bird control devices emit high-frequency sounds that cannot be heard by humans but makes all the birds uncomfortable. The sound waves make sure that the birds don’t settle or nest in the surrounding region.

Advantages of Ultrasonic Devices

Humane and Environmentally Safe: Ultrasonic devices provide a safe and environmentally acceptable means of solving the problem of birds. They do not involve the use of poisons or other physical measures/obstructions.

Low Visual Displeasure: These devices are unobtrusive and have no sharp or bulky accessory to change the aesthetics of the structures.

Disadvantages of Ultrasonic Devices

Small Coverage Area: The range and area of use of ultrasonic devices are minimal which makes them very impractical for use in large structures or wide open areas.

Some insecurity to target, other species do not seem to care about the sound: All birds are not affected by sound waves in the ultrasonic range and a few of the birds get used to the sound in a few days.

Power Requirements: They do work like electronic deterrent therefore they need a constant source of power, this increases the running costs.

Chemical Bird Repellents

Such chemicals are known bird repellents that come in forms like sprays or gels that make the surface sticky or rough. Such repellents are generally painted on surfaces like ledges, rooftops or such other surfaces where birds rest most of the times.

Perks of The Use of Chemical Repellents

Easy Application: Chemical repellents are user friendly, requiring no special skill or tools for use.

Invisible: Once applied these repellents are hardly noticeable, thus preserving the initial aesthetic value of the construction.

Drawbacks of Chemical Repellents

Reapplication Required: As most chemical repellents practice, they have only short-term usage. This is more magnified in cities such as Dubai, where the weather conditions are extreme and heat exposes chemical substances such as spray to or break it down.

Environmental side effects: There are certain chemical repellents that have a negative effect on the environment such as the water, especially those that get washed away with rainy water.

Limited Coverage: Application of bird proofing methods such as repellents is restricted to limited specific areas, and not for use for the general bird control method where birds may invade bigger areas.

Comparison of the Use of Bird Spikes versus other techniques

There are both pros and cons to the use of the various methods of bird control with the most of the discussions resulting in the need for the use of pannus over the others in many areas and situations. 

Effectiveness

The highest bird control efficiency of the bird spike is for large birds like pigeon which is a major threat in Dubai Cities. Contrarily, the use of ultrasonic devices and the chemical repellent has a feeling that if used a lot, the birds will get used to them over some time especially.

Cost

Bird spikes offer an economical approach, especially when used for a longer period of time, however almond and arm and alarm systems have lower initial investments and increased energy factors.

Aesthetic Impact

Considering that bird spikes and netting are more physical barriers, rather bulky netting systems intrusive to a view, the more encroachment, so, of limitations to the use of electronic and ultrasonic appliances are managed. Nevertheless, spikes and netting are the most effective measures and will ensure that birds are physically prevented from sitting on the buildings.

Maintenance

There is absolutely no need for repairs on the spikes, bird netting, and chemical repellents on most occasions need to be replaced after a certain period of time if they are to be In the case of Electronic and ultrasonic systems, power supply and occasional repairs are necessary but otherwise low attention is required after putting them up.

Conclusion

Controls for birds at the property have different types in Dubai to every owner that wishes to apply them. Although they may be considered antique, the use of bird spikes is among the lowest cost effective methods to block larger birds like pigeons. However, the method of settling the birds picked would still be determined by the nature of the building, the birds to be targeted and how it looks.

In order to cater for complete coverage, combining bird spikes with other methods like netting or electrical deterrents could be used to formulate a multi-pronged paradigm which secures the site intensive bird deterrent while ensuring that the aesthetics and usability of the site is not compromised.