Urban Shield Ltd
Pest Control Specialists for London & SE

BIRDS

• All wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. This means that wild birds may not be harmed or interfered with in anyway.
• However, Schedule 2 Part II of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 sets out which Bird species may be killed or taken in the UK under a General License issued by the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR). The list includes Crow, Great Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Feral pigeons, Collared Doves, Jay, Rooks, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, House Sparrow and Starlings.
• A General License allows ‘authorized persons’ to kill and destroy nests and eggs of only those species of birds listed by the DETR, and only if doing so will protect public health or public or air safety; prevent the spread of disease or protect livestock, crops, fisheries or timber.
• A pest controller will be an ‘authorized person’ under a General License when asked onto a property by the owner to control a bird problem.
• Birds can cause structural problems to a building, both via their activity and their faeces, which could be interpreted as causing a public health hazard.
• Birds faeces can also act as medium for a wide range of insects (such as parasites and cockroaches) and microorganisms (such as Salmonella and Listeria).
• The above are usually cited as reasons for control, particularly of Feral pigeons.
• The type of treatments available to control Birds are:
• Exclusion: Where possible the use of a proofing system can stop Bird entry or perching/roosting, but the materials must be correctly applied. Systems such as post and wire, nets, gels and spike systems are available according to the species of Bird to be controlled.
• Repellants: Chemicals such as diesels and creosote are not approved as repellants. Scaring techniques have little long-term effect on established populations.
• Shooting: A .22 air gun with hollow pellets is recommended, but rifles and shotguns are also permitted. This is not a very effective control method, particularly on established populations, due to the high rate of re-infestation by the Birds.
• Trapping (Cage): Live cage traps can be used. This is not a very effective control method, particularly on established populations, due to the high rate of re-infestation by the Birds.
• Stupefying Baits: The use of alphachloralose as a stupefying bait is permitted under license from MAFF. This method is not commonly used.