[TowerTalk] Bird and pest repellents

[Patrick Greenlee]

Fairly recently there was an interest shown here in keeping deer and other 
pests away from where they are not wanted. Also birds on antennas and towers 
was an issue of interest.

Well, I just received a "FarmTek" catalog (1-800-327-6835) which lists some 
control/repellent devices for pests.

The catalog lists several alternatives among which are audible repellents, 
ultrasound repellents, bird spikes in plastic or stainless steel to keep 
birds from roosting, and tubes (like for a caulking gun) of a sticky 
non-toxic gel which is applied where you don't want birds to roost.  This 
sounds reminiscent of "Tangle Foot"  a substance to put where you don't want 
birds to perch.  It is sticky as the name implies and it annoys birds so 
much they won't perch on it.

The following from Garden.com
Product Summary:

Tanglefoot Bird Repellent
Deters By Making Roost Areas Undesirable
The vast majority of birds are beneficial and a pleasure to observe. 
However, there are three nuisance birds which have been known to damage 
property and are carriers of disease. These birds are pigeons, starlings, 
and English Sparrows.  Tanglefoot has devised a method for discouraging 
these nuisance birds from roosting on roof lines, window sills, and gutters.

Tanglefoot Bird Repellent adheres to all surfaces while retaining its soft, 
sticky elasticity. It simply deters nuisance birds from their resting places 
by making roosting areas undesirable.  Easily replaced or re-coated as the 
sticky material collects feathers, dust and other debris.

Apply to window sills, roof lines, gutters or ledges.
Registered with the U.S. EPA
Clear & Odorless non-drying compound
Adheres to all surfaces
Deters Pigeons, Starlings, & English Sparrows
Works for 3 months in all weather conditions
Applied 1/16" thick, 1oz will cover 1 linear foot
Ships Quickly!

There are various brands of similar material.  FarmTek has a 10 oz tube for 
$7.95 Garden.com has the same thing for $12.56 per tube.  An internet search 
should find cheaper sources, especially for 10 or more tubes.

This stuff works well but I personally prefer ultrasonics as there is no 
periodic retreating of perching places and although there is up front costs, 
use is just a little electricity and no tower climbing or cranking or 
tilting.  The audible repellents work well too but annoy any neighbors and 
reduce the pleasure of your patio if it is within earshot of the repellent 
machine.

Bottom line... ultrasonics works and you and the neighbors don't hear it. 
Aimed up it will annoy the birds and not the neighbors pets.  Some of the 
ultrsonic repellers are adjustable freq output and have settings to annoy 
birds but not dogs and cats.

FarmTek is only one of many sources for this kind of gear.

73,
Patrick AF5CK