Starlings in the feed passage, crows on the silage clamps, pigeons on the ridge beam: each bird calls for a different approach. This category contains products that keep birds at a distance without injuring them. Think of bird-of-prey kites from Birdshield and Knock Pest, scare balloons in four colours, the Ketrop LaserOp 3.0 laser lamp, the Knock Pest Wild Solar animal repeller and a tensioned wire system with fixing wire, adhesive feet, hooks and crimping pliers. If you specifically want to deter pigeons, there is a targeted selection under deterring pigeons and bird control in the yard.
Two tracks: scaring or making landing impossible
Bird control falls into two types. Scare devices act on behaviour: a kite shaped like a bird of prey, a balloon with large eyes or a moving laser dot makes birds feel a spot is unsafe. That suits open spaces, such as a sown field, a yard or a manure pad. Physical deterrents remove the landing spot itself: spikes, tensioned wire or netting on ledges, beams and roof edges. Spikes, brushes and ventilation strips are in the separate category proofing and screening; tensioned wire is here.
Which product for which situation
| Situation | Suitable product | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Large field or pasture | Kite on a fibreglass mast with ground plate (Birdshield) or the 7 m Knock Pest kite set | Works in wind; in still air the kite hangs limp |
| Yard, vegetable garden, orchard | Scare balloons, possibly in several colours | Move them regularly |
| Large shed or barn | Laser lamp | Never point at people, traffic or houses |
| Ledge, beam or gutter | Tensioned wire with adhesive feet and hooks | Tension the wire tightly and crimp it with the crimping pliers |
Habituation is the biggest enemy
Birds quickly learn that a balloon always hanging in the same place is no danger. So move scare devices every few days, combine a kite with a balloon or laser, and deploy them before the busy period, for example just after sowing. Also remove what attracts birds: spilled feed, open feed silos and water in gutters. In the Netherlands wild birds are protected, as they are in many other countries; check the rules where you live. Deterring is meant to make them land elsewhere; leave occupied nests alone, and preferably put up physical deterrents outside the breeding season.
More in pest control
Back to the overview of all pest control. If birds also attract mice through spilled grain, see rats and mice. Troubled by tunnels in the grassland rather than birds above it? That approach is in moles and martens.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bird-scaring kite work without wind?
Hardly. A kite on a mast needs wind to move and look like a bird of prey. On windless days, supplement it with a scare balloon or laser.
Can I use a laser lamp outdoors?
Only point a bird control laser at roofs, crops or the inside of a shed. Never point it at people, roads, houses or the sky, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
How often should I move scare balloons?
There is no fixed rule, but the longer a balloon hangs in one place, the faster birds get used to it. Rehang them regularly and alternate with other methods.
Are bird deterrents harmful to birds?
The products in this category scare birds off or take away a landing spot, without injuring the bird. Do not put tensioned wire or deterrents over an occupied nest.