3 Migratory Birds that can be Pests on Your Property
Property owners are often in conflict with the migratory pest birds. What is a migratory pest bird? Canada Geese, swallows and woodpeckers, oh my! These three species can be the culprits wreaking havoc on your property. It is best if you know the laws pertaining to these species. What makes these three migratory birds? Why can’t they just be eliminated with poison or other lethal methods?
Are you aware that there is a Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918 that is in effect today to protect the migratory birds including the Canada Geese, swallows and woodpeckers? Migratory birds are species of birds that in the course of their annual migration traverse certain parts of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Russia or Japan. This includes both short-distance (temperate) and long-distance (neotropical) migrants and resident species. Migratory birds are at risk of adequate protection during their nesting season and while they are on their way to their breeding ground. The MBTA established federal prohibition to “pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, purchase….transport…for the protection of migratory birds…or any part, nest, or egg of any such bird.” In 1998 they increased the fine of a misdemeanor conviction under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 from $5,000 to $15,000. It is important to know what you can and cannot do when the birds invade your home.
Canada Geese
About thirty species of geese migrate each year. The Canada Geese naturally migrate where the wintering range is mostly in the United States. You will not miss their migratory flying formations. You will hear them above your home making their calls to one another in their V-shape formation. It is quite an amazing site. There are many populations of non-migratory Canada Geese due to the sufficient winter food sources available to them and lack of known predators. If gaggles of geese happen to find your yard a comfortable place to be, this is when you need to worry. Goose deterrent methods will be necessary. Geese eat 2-3 pounds of grass a day. What goes in must come out. They deposit about 21-2 pounds of droppings each day. Times this by a gaggle, and you can understand the need to keep Canada Geese off your property. Goose droppings, like most pest bird droppings are both corrosive and hazardous to the health of those who live in the home. Droppings and nesting materials are breeding ground for diseases and parasites and other bugs that can creep into the home environment.
Swallows
When the migrating swallows are coming, bird deterrents should definitely be in place before they start attaching them mud nests to your home or garage. Their nests are easy to spot, because they are a muddy mess. Their nests are built with mud and twigs. The nests begin with small balls of mud that are stuck on a vertical surface. They will be built high up near the top where the wall meets the soffit at a 90 degree angle. The nests will then be anchored to both surfaces. The swallows will nest and roost there at night. They can build their nests fairly quickly. Some have tried to hose off the nests when they just start being built, but the birds will go right back to the same area and rebuild. Once they have nested and have started their families, it is illegal to take down the nests until the young have left. Then it is imperative that they be taken down, because other pest birds will take over the used nests. Swallow’s nests too can become disease and bug ridden.
Woodpeckers
Oh those woodpeckers. They can capture your attention with their uniqueness. But do not confuse the backyard woodpecker with Woody Woodpecker. They will peck the siding of your home and cause damage as well as annoy everyone inside the home. They excavate nest cavities and feed by drumming. Woodpeckers can drum 20 times per second which is 8,000-12,000 pecks a day. They do not give themselves a headache, but you sure may get one. Woodpecker deterrents are needed when it is their turn to show up and cause a ruckus.
Since the migratory pests are protected, safe and humane bird deterrents are needed to keep them away before they arrive and make themselves at home. There are many different bird control methods to choose from.