Managing problems caused by wild Birds - alternatives to lethal control
Some species of wild birds in Wales can cause damage to agricultural crops and livestock or fisheries. Others can present risks to public health or safety or have harmful effects on other species of wildlife.
These species include corvids (the crow family), geese, gulls, pigeons, starling, cormorant, and goosander.
Managing the problems these species can cause must be carried out in ways which:
- are lawful
- do not have unacceptable impacts on animal welfare
- preserve public safety
- care for the environment
- do not jeopardise the conservation of the species concerned
Wild birds and the law
All wild birds are protected by law, including their breeding sites and resting places.
Certain species of gamebirds and wildfowl may be killed during an open season (from September to the following January or February, depending on the species).
Any other lethal action against wild birds, including the:
- killing, injuring, or taking of adult birds or chicks
- taking or destruction of eggs or nests
may only be carried out if authorised under a licence granted by Natural Resources Wales.
Taking unlicensed lethal action against wild birds, eggs or nests is an offence which may result in a fine or a custodial sentence or both.
Some types of lethal action against wild birds are authorised by general licences.
If you need to carry out lethal action which is not covered by one of the general licences, you will need to apply to us for a specific licence.
Anyone applying for a specific licence needs to show what type of problem or harm the birds are causing and that they have made reasonable efforts to address that problem using non-lethal means.
Deterring wild birds
There are various ways of deterring wild birds for which you do not need a licence.
The main ways to deter wild birds without harming them are:
- scaring techniques
- excluding birds from a site
- making a site less attractive to birds
- encouraging birds away from sensitive sites towards areas where they will not cause the problem
The effectiveness of different methods will vary according to:
- the species of wild bird concerned
- the size and characteristics of the site
- the scale and frequency of the problem that the birds may be causing
- where and how often the deterrent method is applied
The time of the year is also important because it affects the behaviour of the birds, which may be foraging, nesting, roosting or on migration. What works in one situation may not work elsewhere.
A combination of different methods is likely to be more effective than using a single method. Birds can quickly become habituated to some deterrent measures, especially scaring techniques. Changing the methods used over time and using different methods in combination is likely to increase the effectiveness of non-lethal deterrents.
Some deterrent methods are likely to be more effective if suitable alternative habitats are available to the birds where they will not cause further problems.
It is also necessary to consider if different deterrent measures are appropriate to use in the area concerned. For example:
- nearby houses, schools or hospitals
- local infrastructure
- the sensitivity of other wildlife at the site to noise
- visual disturbance
- the potential impacts on the local community
could make some methods unsuitable or even dangerous or unlawful.
Landowners and managers need to decide which types of measures are appropriate and lawful at any location. Landowners are also responsible for judging the extent to which non-lethal measures are tried before deciding that lethal control is needed, which must either be under a general licence or by applying for a specific licence.
Deterrent methods
The different methods available for deterring wild birds can be grouped into the following categories:
- visual deterrents
- auditory deterrents
- exclusion
- habitat modification
- chemical application
- diversionary feeding
Visual deterrents
Visual deterrents work by causing the birds to see something that scares them away. These range from simple and inexpensive tools to more costly and labour-intensive methods. A wide range of things can act as visual deterrents, such as:
- visual presence of humans and/or dogs
- mannequins or scarecrows - which can be static or moving, including mechanical or inflatable models
- models or effigies of the birds’ main predator species
- corpses of the target bird species, or models that look like corpses
- kites or helium balloons
- radio-controlled model aircraft or drones
- dazzling devices such mirrors, reflectors, or reflective tape
- flags, rags, streamers, or windmills
- flashing lights or lasers
- high-pressure water jets - which might also act as a physical deterrent
- dyes, colourants, and turbidity (to deter birds from bodies of water)
- falconry - where a trained bird of prey is used to scare other birds away
Most types of visual deterrents are subject to habituation by the target birds. They usually only work for a short period of time and need to be changed at frequent intervals or used in combination with other methods.
Fixed visual deterrents are generally thought to have an effective range of up to about 200 metres, depending on the species. They might be of limited use over large rural or urban areas. Deterrents that mimic possible dangers to life that the birds naturally encounter, are usually more effective than more artificial devices.
Making a scarecrow as real as possible is likely to have greater effect, such as by giving it high-visibility clothing and moving it regularly.
The visual presence of humans, especially if accompanied by dogs, is generally regarded as one of the most effective visual deterrents.
Auditory deterrents
Auditory deterrents work by creating sounds that the birds find frightening or unpleasant. Visual deterrents vary in their level of sophistication and cost.
Auditory deterrents methods include:
- gas cannons
- fireworks, which may also provide a degree of visual disturbance
- shooting to scare using firearms with blank ammunition
- bioacoustics, which include mimicking the sounds made by predators or mimicking the distress/alarm call of the target species of bird
- other simple sound-producing objects such as windmills or tapes which ‘hum’ in the wind
These methods can be effective in the short term but are generally subject to rapid habituation by birds and may only have a short-term benefit. Moving the sound-producing devices can extend their period of effectiveness. As with all methods, using them in combination with other measures can help.
Auditory deterrents are not suitable where artificially creating significant extra noise risks disturbance to other wildlife or a nuisance to people, for example gas cannons, pyrotechnics and shooting of firearms should not generally be used as deterrents near residential areas.
Auditory deterrents should also not be used in or near any Site of Special Scientific Interest where increased artificial noise levels could cause significant disturbance to sensitive species.
Exclusion techniques
Exclusion techniques work by preventing birds from accessing the site concerned. They keep birds away from potential food sources or sites they may wish to use for nesting, resting, or roosting. Exclusion methods include installing netting or suspended ropes, tapes, or wires.
Exclusion techniques can be among the most effective deterrents, especially if complete enclosure of a site is possible. However, the installation of nets, ropes or wires can be expensive and difficult. They may be impractical over large sites, such as agricultural fields or large waterbodies.
They can also be problematic if excluding the target species of wild birds makes it harder for people to gain access to the site. There are also potential animal welfare concerns with the risk of animals or birds becoming entangled. Correct installation, using the correct gauge of netting and regular inspection and maintenance are required.
One exclusion method which can be used for bird conservation purposes is the use of nest enclosures or cages. These are placed over a nest containing eggs or chicks of a vulnerable species, in particular ground nesting species. The process of finding nests is time consuming and requires specialist skills. You will need a specific licence to disturb the birds at or near the nest of any species listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.Careful consideration also needs to be given to the risk of nest desertion or change in breeding behaviour of the species.
Habitat modification
It may be possible to change the habitat available to birds in or around the site where they are causing the problem, to make it less attractive to them. Any form of habitat modification is likely to be more effective if alternative habitats elsewhere are available to the birds.
Removing potential food sources for wild birds
In urban areas this can include removing or reducing the amount of food waste, food packaging and other litter that is left in the open. The feeding of birds by the public can also be discouraged.
In rural settings there are steps that livestock farmers may be able to take such as lambing, calving or farrowing indoors to reduce the risk of attacks by corvids on new-born or young livestock.
Reducing the availability of perching, breeding or roosting sites on buildings
This can be done by installing wire coils, spikes, or other obstructions on otherwise attractive rooves and ledges. If spikes are used, they should be blunt, so they don’t cause injury to birds. Causing injury to birds may be an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. A longer-term approach could be to incorporate bird deterrent features into the design of buildings.
Coppicing or pruning of trees to make them less attractive to roosting birds
To deter starlings in urban settings trees can be pruned to make them less attractive to roosting birds. It may also be possible to remove perches used by corvids or birds of prey close to sensitive bird nesting sites.
This method depends on the species concerned and the nature and scale of the problem. It may not be appropriate if the trees have environmental value, or it may be ineffective if there are other roost sites close by.
Chemical application
Chemical taste repellents are used for deterring birds in agriculture and forestry, as well as from perching on buildings. They generally have limited effectiveness as the chemicals do not last long on treated surfaces and can be washed away by rain.
Using chemical repellents can be costly, especially if used over large areas and because of the need for regular reapplication.
It is unlawful in the UK to use fertility control chemicals to manage wild birds.
Diversionary feeding
Diversionary feeding is designed to distract or divert the birds from foraging at the site where they are causing the problem, for example a nearby area of a sacrificial or decoy crop, such as kale, can encourage the target birds away from valuable agricultural crops.
Diversionary feeding is also used for conservation, to reduce the impact of predation by birds of prey on other vulnerable bird species.
These methods need to be used with considerable care and understanding of the feeding behaviour of the target species population and its likely response to the measures taken.
It is important that diversionary feeding does not have the unintended effect of simply increasing the amount of food available to the target species. This could encourage more birds into an area rather deterring them.
Suitable deterrent methods
The suitability of different non-lethal methods depends on the species of wild birds concerned and the reason for needing to deter them.
Here are some suggestions:
Conservation
Conserving wild birds
- Exclusion (nest-cages)
- Habitat modification (preserve and enhance ecological needs for prey species, provision of alternative predator foraging sites)
- Target species - carrion crow, magpie, raven, great black-backed gull
Conserving fauna
- Auditory (pyrotechnics, firearm blanks, distress, or predator calls)
- Visual (appropriate techniques at fisheries sites)
- Habitat modification (provision of alternative foraging sites)
- Target species - cormorant, goosander
Conserving flora
- Auditory (regular repeated audio deterrents, firearm blanks, pyrotechnics, distress or predator calls, scarecrows, human presence)
- Visual (lasers, mirrors, tapes, drones, falconry)
- Diversionary feeding (sacrificial crops)
- Exclusion (netting, covers)
- Habitat modification
- Target species - Canada goose, gull species
Public health and safety
Preventing spread of disease
- Habitat modification (restricting food availability in public places)
- Exclusion (bird-proofing of buildings)
- Reducing risk of slips, trips, and falls (faeces build up) for feral pigeon, Canada goose, starling, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull
- Visual (tapes, mirrors, predator models, lasers)
- Habitat modification (restricting food availability in public places)
- Exclusion (bird-proofing of buildings, particularly ledges and roofs)
- Target species - feral pigeon, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, starling
Preventing hazards caused by nesting (including blockages to drains and guttering, heating/ventilation systems)
- Visual (tapes, mirrors, predator models)
- Habitat modification / exclusion (bird-proofing of buildings and structures, particularly ledges and roofs)
- Target species - feral pigeon, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull
Safety / Other
- Habitat modification (restricting food availability in public places)
- Exclusion (bird-proofing of buildings, particularly ledges and roofs)
- Target species - feral pigeon, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull
Preventing damage
Fisheries
- Auditory (pyrotechnics, use of firearm blanks, distress, or predator calls)
- Visual (human disturbance/dogs, scarecrows, drones, lasers, high-pressure water jets)
- Exclusion (netting enclosures, ropes, and wires)
- Fishery management (timing of stock, frequency, and location of stocking)
- Habitat modification (provision of alternative foraging sites, removal of roosting and resting places)
- Target species - cormorant, goosander
Livestock / Spread of animal disease
- Habitat modification (Proofing of buildings, livestock delivery and food storage, top covered livestock feeding troughs)
- Target species - feral pigeon, starling, jackdaw, carrion crow, magpie
Livestock / Predation / damage
- Habitat modification (Farrowing/lambing/calving indoors, herding/shepherding practices to increase human presence)
- Target species - carrion crow, raven, magpie
Foodstuffs for livestock
- Habitat modification / exclusion (Proofing of buildings and livestock food storage, top covered livestock feeding troughs)
- Target species - feral pigeon, woodpigeon, starling, jackdaw, carrion crow
Crops
- Regular repeated auditory/visual deterrents (firearm blanks), pyrotechnics, distress or predator calls, scarecrows and human presence, lasers, mirrors, tapes, drones, falconry)
- Diversionary feeding (sacrificial crops)
- Exclusion (netting, covers)
- Habitat modification (plant vulnerable crops away from woodland or close to human habitation)
- Target species - woodpigeon, feral pigeon, rook, jackdaw, magpie, Canada goose
Fruit
- Regular repeated auditory/visual deterrents (firearm blanks), distress or predator calls, scarecrows and human presence, lasers, mirrors, tapes, drones, falconry)
- Diversionary feeding (sacrificial crops)
- Exclusion (netting, covers)
- Habitat modification (plant vulnerable crops away from woodland or close to human habitation)
- Target species - woodpigeon, feral pigeon
Other sources of information
A review of the effectiveness of a range of non-lethal methods to deter wild birds