Hi Roy -
At 23:15 19/07/1999 +1000, you wrote:
>Does anyone know of any method of keeping them out of places where they
are not so welcome swallows? Is bird proofing or the like the only answer
or do raptor calls or owl cut-outs have any effect?
We get frequent enquiries about how to get rid of swallows (or pigeons) in
large enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces such as warehouses. It is not
always easy. I think that raptor calls and cut-outs are almost completely
useless.
Bird proofing can work but is not always feasible or cost effective; even
when you effectively bird-proof a warehouse, birds can usually fly in and
out when the doors are opened. However, where swallows roost or nest on
beams or ledges it may be possible to string strands of fishing line just a
few centimetres above them so that they are not suitable for perching or
nesting on.
I wonder sometimes whether it might not be better to encourage swallows to
use alternate sites (such as ledges placed under the eaves of a building)
where they are not a problem, while making it difficult for them where they
are.
Incidentally, I remember one would-be entrepreneur asking for guidelines
about harvesting the 'thousands' of nests of 'edible-nest swiftlets' he
said were in the city of Wollongong, NSW, to export to Asia for the
birds-nest-soup market. It was actually quite difficult to convince him
that the nests of Welcome Swallows might not be suitable (cue for more puns
on 'welcome' or 'swallow').
Cheers,
Hugo
Hugo Phillipps,
Birds Australia,
415 Riversdale Road,
Hawthorn East, VIC 3123, Australia.
Tel: (03) 9882 2622. Fax: (03) 9882 2677.
O/s: +61 3 9882 2622. Fax: +61 3 9882 2677.
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