Birds will Hear Sonic Deterrents and Fly Away

Have you ever wondered how birds hear? Birds hear similarly to humans. They have ears, though they lack the fleshy outer ears that catch sound waves or serve as a place to hang earrings. Instead, they have small openings on the sides of their head that are hidden beneath specialized auricular feathers. These protective feathers do not hinder their hearing in any way. Notably, ostriches and Old World vultures are among the few species with fully exposed ear openings on the sides of their heads.

Unlike humans, who hear sounds via relative pitch, birds hear absolute pitch. They rely heavily on sound for courtship rituals and as a primary means of staying in contact with their flock. Young birds easily recognize the unique vocalizations of their parents, and flocks use rapid vocalizations to broadcast warnings of impending danger. While a bird's overall hearing range is comparable to that of a human, bird song is exceptionally useful for species identification—and its musical cadence is why human listeners generally find bird calls so pleasant.

Acoustic Communication and Bird Deterrents

Birds begin using their calls very early in life, and acoustic communication is often more vital than sight when it comes to parent-offspring recognition. Because auditory cues play such a dominant role in avian behavior, it is only natural to develop bird deterrents that utilize natural sounds to frighten nuisance birds away.

Both the standard Bird Chase Super Sonic and its solar-powered counterpart are professional-grade acoustic bird deterrents. The unique engineering of these devices exploits birds' sensitive hearing by broadcasting real, recorded distress and predator calls of actual bird species. Pre-programmed with over 24 distinct bird distress and predator audio tracks, the system plays distress calls for two minutes followed by an eight-minute silence interval. Built-in light sensors automatically toggle between day and night operating modes. Rugged, water-resistant, and easily programmed, the unit is an ideal sound bird deterrent for large open areas such as sports fields, parks, loading docks, storage facilities, golf courses, backyards, and courtyards.

The Bird Chase Super Sonic operates effectively across a volume range of 65 to 111 decibels. The base unit features a powerful internal speaker capable of covering up to one full acre. To expand coverage, additional weatherproof speakers can be purchased and connected directly to the device using the included 100 feet of hookup wire. The standard unit operates on a 110V power cord (with solar options available for remote sites). Pigeons, crows, gulls, woodpeckers, starlings, and sparrows will quickly abandon properties when tricked by these authentic bird distress broadcasts.

The Dangers of Accumulated Bird Droppings

The primary motivation for deploying professional bird control is to protect residential and commercial surfaces from the destructive properties of bird droppings. Accumulated bird waste is highly corrosive and will rapidly degrade any surface it contacts. As droppings dry, they break down into compounds containing salt and ammonia; atmospheric moisture then accelerates the oxidation and rusting process. Furthermore, the high uric acid content eats away at exterior paint, asphalt, brick, and concrete, defacing rooftops, walkways, exterior walls, machinery, and fleet vehicles.

Beyond structural damage, accumulated droppings create an ideal breeding ground for harmful diseases, molds, parasites, and biting insects. Pathogens such as histoplasmosis can cause severe flu-like symptoms or, in worst-case scenarios, fatal pulmonary infections—posing the greatest threat to individuals with compromised immune systems. Infection typically occurs when dried fungal spores are disturbed and inhaled into the lungs during cleaning operations.

It is always best to implement a comprehensive bird control strategy before an infestation gets out of hand. If you must clean up existing droppings, always protect yourself by wearing proper respiratory masks, eye protection, and gloves to avoid inhaling airborne spores.

Bird B Gone is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of commercial and residential bird control products, offering humane, professional-grade exclusion systems. For expert product advice, property evaluations, or installation support, contact Bird B Gone at 800-392-6915.