8 Reasons To Start Planning Your Bird Management Strategies for Spring

Winter only feels like it lasts forever… it’s time to start preparing your spring bird management plan.

At this time of year, the return of green grass and flowering trees can seem far away. But, as we like to remind our clients at this time of year, time flies!

Now is the time to begin preparing for the flocks of migrating birds that will soon be back for the spring months.

While there are many reasons to look forward to winter’s end, spring will bring all of the common, but potentially hazardous, bird related issues we know so well: sparrows nesting in your eaves, geese pooping all over your picnic areas, birds crashing into your windows, and dive-bombing gulls are on their way – along with the blooming flowers, and thawing temperatures.

While the RAC team loves being able to swoop in and save the day, it’s better and more cost-effective for your team if you start the planning process before you’re facing the newest season of Birds Gone Wild.

Here are eight reasons to start the process now, instead of waiting until your bird problems are upon you.

1. If you have had nesting in the past, you are almost guaranteed to have nesting again this year. Many birds exhibit “natal site fidelity,” returning every year to the site where they hatched or to the site of a previous year’s nest.

2. Once birds become established and successful at nesting and surviving on your property, getting them to leave becomes more difficult – and more costly.

3. A full site assessment will allow our biologists and experts to understand how and why birds are utilizing your property so that we can develop and customize an integrated management plan for your situation. This can take time but is the best way to ensure the right solution within your budget. If you wait until the problem is critical, your options get narrower and more expensive.

4. Most nuisance birds are protected and managing them on your property may require permits which can take time to acquire. Some species require permits from multiple organizations and others require specialized solutions not covered by permits.

5. Once eggs are laid, the situation can change rapidly. Sometimes one egg in the nest is all it takes for a bird to become hyper-aggressive. This increases your liability and the risk that someone will be injured. Also, if it’s a species not covered by permits, your control options can shrink significantly. It’s much more efficient to take steps to prevent nesting in the first place.

6. Spring is our peak season and manpower is limited. While we work hard to address our clients’ needs as soon as possible, there are many days where “normal” spring activity requires all hands on deck. Emergency nest removal is far more expensive than having your egg depredation contract in place right away, especially for species that require special permits.

7. Late is sometimes too late. We cannot touch or remove healthy chicks of protected native species, even nuisance species creating a problem. If you have a colony of gulls hatching on your roof with aggressive parents or swallows feeding babies in your loading dock, there is little we will be able to do to help you. We may be able to devise a way to limit the hazard and mess, but that would be an expensive and temporary solution at best.

8. Bird deterrents or other products may need to be ordered and shipped or installed under certain conditions. With ongoing supply-chain disruptions to shipping, the sooner we can prepare for your needs, the better.

The moral of this late winter story is that a plan is better than a reaction when it comes to bird management. You’ll save money, get better results and make our jobs easier too. Contact us today to discuss creating an integrated wildlife management plan customized to your property and situation.