A commercial business contacted Birdzout after hundreds of white-fronted terns began using the roof of their building as a nightly roost.
Every evening the birds would arrive in large numbers, remaining on the roof overnight before dispersing during the day.
The growing bird population was creating excessive droppings across the roof and surrounding areas.
Due to the nature of the business they had concerns about the implications of bird droppings and potential hygiene risks.
They costed up re-roofing, which would have cost approx. $250,000 due to constant corrosion and contamination from droppings, so a more cost effective alternative was researched.
The client needed a solution that would:
- Humanely discourage the birds from roosting.
- Avoid harming the birds, preserving their welfare
- Provide reliable, long-term protection.
- Operate automatically with minimal maintenance.
Do lasers work on terns?
Our challenge was to determine whether a laser bird deterrent would be effective on terns.
While automated bird lasers are widely proven against many pest bird species, there was limited real-world data available on their effectiveness with large numbers of roosting terns.
Trialing a handheld laser first
Before recommending a permanent solution, Birdzout supplied a BirdEraser MK2 Handheld Laser for the customer to trial on-site during peak roosting times.
The response was immediate.
The moving green laser disrupted the birds, causing them to leave the roof almost instantly. After several days of testing, the customer confirmed the laser was consistently effective and decided to proceed with a permanent installation.
A Birdzout Auto Laser Ultimate MK2 was then installed and programmed to automatically scan the roof during peak evening and overnight roosting periods.
The automated system continually projects a moving green laser across the rooftop, creating the perception of a physical threat. This encourages birds to relocate without causing injury or distress, making it one of the most effective humane bird deterrent technologies available for large open areas.
Immediate Results
The results were immediate and have continued long after installation.
The large numbers of white-fronted terns stopped returning to the building, dramatically reducing bird activity, bird droppings and the ongoing maintenance issues that had been affecting the site.
"It seems to be working well, birds seem to be long gone."
Hopefully this has encouraged the White Fronted Terns to return to a more natural roosting area.
The client gained:
- Successful deterrence of hundreds of white-fronted terns
- A significant reduction in bird droppings and associated hygiene risks
- Reduced cleaning and maintenance costs
- A fully automated, low-maintenance bird deterrent system
- A humane, non-lethal solution suitable for a protected native bird species
Looking for a Humane Bird Control Solution?
If birds are roosting on your commercial building, warehouse, industrial site or coastal facility, Birdzout can assess your site and recommend the most effective humane bird deterrent solution.
Whether you're managing terns, gulls, pigeons, starlings or other problem bird species, our experienced team can design a tailored solution that protects your property while putting bird welfare first.
