Most people don’t think about birds as pest animals, but when found in and around airports they can create serious problems. Keeping buildings free of birds can be challenging and is especially important on active runways.


Most people don’t think about birds as pest animals, but when found in and around airports they can create serious problems. Keeping buildings free of birds can be challenging and is especially important on active runways.

Birds carry more than 60 diseases that can infect humans, including histoplasmosis and other serious infections. Bird waste is not only ugly and unsanitary, but it can also be caustic to machinery and paint. Bird nests can clog air ducts, block ventilation systems and disrupt machinery.

Birds themselves can become territorial during nesting season and can even attack humans. Canada geese and other large birds enjoy the wide open spaces airports offer.

Bird strikes are an even greater concern, as birds entering the flight paths of aeroplanes can cause catastrophic results, from aircraft damage to far more tragic outcomes. Passengers are often aware of this risk and will become unsettled if birds are visible from airport terminals.

Wide open spaces may be treated with large electronic repellers, notably the Mega Blaster Pro, while ledges, signs, and lights are best kept clear with bird spikes and other physical barriers. In grassy areas, sensory deterrents may be applied.Keeping airport building exteriors clean and free of birds is also important for aesthetics; filthy conditions are highly damaging to public perception. By keeping birds away from airports to begin with, labour expenses are reduced and a professional appearance is more efficiently maintained.

Bird-X manufactures a complete line of airport bird-control solutions that are currently in use at airports around the world, including in the US, Europe, and Asia. Researching and developing its products since 1964, the US-based company has the most advanced solutions currently available on the market.