Guide for bird control companies · checked 10 November 2026
Bird control, from the first droppings photo to the 10-year net warranty
A pigeon job on a distribution center canopy is a species check, a lift, a cleanup under respirators, a net sized to the bird, a cable run tensioned tight as a drum, and a warranty that lasts longer than most of the customer's staff. Gulls, swallows and Canada geese bring federal permits and reporting dates. This guide covers which birds you may act on, the product specs that decide whether a job works, food-plant audit evidence, droppings cleanup safety, and how to run hundreds of installs and service visits without losing the paperwork.
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Short answer
Bird control companies use software that treats a job as a site survey, a species and permit check, a measured quote by elevation, an install with lift and fall-protection records, and years of warranty and service visits. The species decides the law: rock pigeons, European starlings and house sparrows are not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but gulls, swallows and Canada geese are, and Canada goose nest and egg work needs registration first and a report by 31 October. Pest platforms such as PestPac, GorillaDesk and FieldRoutes are common where birds are one service line, and installers price jobs with manufacturer tools like Bird Barrier Quick Quote. Fieldproxy is set up around your own surveys, species rules, install records, warranties and audit reports.
2 inch mesh
Bird Barrier spec: 2 inch netting for pigeons, 3/4 inch for sparrows and swallows, 1-1/8 inch for starlings, 4 inch for gulls and crows
31 October
Annual report due for every registered Canada goose nest and egg destruction program (50 CFR 21.162)
March to Sept
USFWS: swallow breeding season; active nests need a permit, empty nests do not
6 ft / 4 ft
OSHA fall protection trigger: 6 feet in construction (1926.501), 4 feet in general industry (1910.28)
source: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1), Construction fall protection at 6 feet
How a job runs
One bird control job, from first call to paid
The order the work really happens in, and what has to be written down at each step so nothing is argued about later.
- 1
Take the call and pin down the bird
Ask what the bird is, where it sits, roosts or nests, and whether there are eggs or chicks. Species is the first legal question: the 16 April 2020 Federal Register list puts rock pigeon outside the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and house sparrows and European starlings belong to families it does not cover. Gulls, barn and cliff swallows and Canada geese are on the protected list at 50 CFR 10.13.
- 2
Survey every elevation
Walk the building by elevation and zone: canopies, ledges, parapets, signs, I-beams, dock doors, solar arrays, rooftop units. Photograph droppings, nests and perching spots, measure each area (square feet for netting, linear feet and ledge width for spikes or track) and note the access: ladder, scissor lift, boom lift, roof anchor. Count pressure (light, medium, heavy) because product choice depends on it.
- 3
Check what you are allowed to do
Scaring and herding need no federal permit except for endangered species and eagles (50 CFR 21.100). Taking a protected bird needs a depredation permit, applied for on Form 3-200-13 with a $100 business fee, USDA Wildlife Services Form 37 and proof non-lethal methods were tried. Swallow nests with eggs or chicks need a permit; empty nests do not. Canada goose nest and egg work needs the landowner and each agent registered online before the first nest is touched (21.162).
- 4
Quote by product and by zone
Price each zone with its product, quantity, access and cleaning. Bird Barrier's own Quick Quote gives a facility manager a non-binding number, and its guidance is that the installer then inspects, measures, makes a materials list and costs labor, cleaning and lift rental. Spikes, netting, electric track and solar mesh each carry their own warranty terms, so the quote should say which zone gets which.
- 5
Clean droppings safely before anything goes up
Netting and solar mesh go onto clean surfaces: the StealthNet spec and Bird-B-Gone's solar guide both require droppings and nest material removed first. NIOSH says wet droppings with a water spray, double-bag or drum the waste, and for very dusty work such as heavy roost buildup choose a powered air-purifying respirator with a full facepiece, plus disposable coveralls and shoe covers.
- 6
Install to the manufacturer's spec, at height
Net mesh matches the smallest target bird. StealthNet perimeter cable is 5/64 inch galvanized or stainless, tensioned with turnbuckles and crimped ferrules, with fasteners every 4 feet for 2 inch and 1-1/8 inch net and every 3 feet for 3/4 inch, and the net installed tight as a drum because loose net can trap birds. Above 6 feet on a construction-type job, or 4 feet in general industry, crews need guardrails, nets or personal fall arrest.
- 7
Commission electric track and lasers
Electric track is sized by charger: Bird Barrier lists a 120 V plug-in charger for up to 2,500 feet of Flex-Track, a 12 V solar unit for up to 1,000 feet, and sells track testers and warning labels for the building. Automated lasers such as the AVIX Autonomic are class 3B and set up by a certified installer with programmed patterns and time slots. Record the test reading and the program at handover.
- 8
Hand over, report and invoice
Give the customer photos before and after each zone, the products and warranty for each, the permit or registration numbers used, and for food plants the bird findings for their pest file. Invoice by zone, start the warranty clock per product, and book the service visits for track testing, net checks and nest removal outside breeding season.
- 9
File the federal reports
Depredation permits run no more than a year, need renewal 30 or more days before expiry, and an annual report on Form 3-202-9. Canada goose nest and egg programs report by 31 October every year. Pull these from the year's job records, not from memory.
What to record
The fields every bird control job should capture
Survey and species
- Species by zone (pigeon, starling, house sparrow, gull species, swallow species, Canada goose) and whether it is MBTA protected
- Activity by zone: perching, roosting, nesting; eggs or chicks present yes or no; pressure light, medium or heavy
- Each zone: elevation, location, area in square feet or length in linear feet, ledge width, substrate (brick, steel, concrete, panel frame)
- Access per zone: ladder, scissor lift, boom lift height, roof anchors, working height for fall-protection planning
- Photos of droppings, nests and perches before work, tagged to the zone
Permits, chemicals and cleanup
- Depredation permit number, species and quantities allowed, expiry date (no longer than 1 year)
- Canada goose registration for the landowner and each agent, nests found, eggs oiled or destroyed per site and date
- Avicide or repellent used: product, EPA registration number, certified applicator, amount (Avitrol is restricted use)
- Droppings cleanup: area, wetting method, bags or drums, respirator type (half-face or PAPR), coveralls, disposal
- Site safety plan and warning signs posted where NIOSH guidance calls for them
Install, warranty and service
- Netting: mesh size, color, area, cable type and length, turnbuckles, fastener spacing, zippers or access panels, photo after
- Spikes: model and width (2.5, 5 or 8 inch for Dura-Spike), linear feet, glued or screwed
- Electric track: linear feet, charger model and rated length, test reading in kV at handover, warning labels fitted
- Warranty per zone and product: start date, term (for example 10 years for black StealthNet, 3 years for stone and white), what it covers
- Service visit results: track test reading, net tears, birds inside the net, new nests, photos
Rules and standards
The rules that shape the work, with their sources
| Rule | What it means on the job |
|---|---|
| Migratory Bird Treaty Act: native birds only | The MBTA prohibits take of protected birds, including killing, capturing and transporting them, without authorization. Since the 2004 Reform Act it covers only species native to the US or its territories. source: USFWS, Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (native species only since the 2004 Reform Act) |
| The non-native list: pigeons, starlings, house sparrows | The 16 April 2020 Federal Register notice lists rock pigeon, mute swan and Eurasian collared-dove as birds the MBTA does not apply to, and says house sparrows and European starlings belong to families that do not qualify. State and local rules can still apply. source: Federal Register 85 FR 21262, 16 Apr 2020: birds the MBTA does not apply to (rock pigeon; starling and house sparrow families) |
| Protected nuisance birds: gulls, swallows, geese | 50 CFR 10.13 lists herring gull, ring-billed gull, barn swallow, cliff swallow, Canada goose and mourning dove as protected migratory birds. A gull roost on a warehouse roof is a permit question, not just a product question. source: 50 CFR 10.13, List of migratory birds (herring and ring-billed gull, barn and cliff swallow, Canada goose) |
| 50 CFR 21.100: depredation permits | Taking migratory birds for depredation control needs a permit. Scaring or herding does not, except for threatened or endangered species and eagles. Birds may not be killed unless the permit says so, and permits last no longer than one year. source: 50 CFR 21.100, Depredation permits (scaring needs no permit; permit up to 1 year) |
| Form 3-200-13: what the application needs | $100 for businesses, HOAs and commercial property ($50 for an individual at their home), a USDA Wildlife Services Form 37, proof non-lethal measures were tried, renewal 30 or more days before expiry and an annual report. source: USFWS, Form 3-200-13 Migratory bird depredation permit ($100 business fee, Form 37, annual report) |
| 50 CFR 21.162: Canada goose nests and eggs | Landowners, HOAs, local governments and their agents in the lower 48 states and DC may destroy resident Canada goose nests and eggs at any time of year, after registering the registrant and every agent online. An annual report is due by 31 October. source: 50 CFR 21.162, Depredation order for resident Canada goose nests and eggs (register first, report by 31 Oct) |
| 50 CFR 21.95: falconry abatement | The special purpose abatement permit (Form 3-200-79, $100) covers flying captive-bred, banded raptors to move depredating birds. It does not authorize killing or injuring any migratory bird, and the applicant needs a current state Master Falconer permit. source: USFWS, Form 3-200-79 Special purpose abatement permit (Master Falconer, no killing, $100) |
| 50 CFR 21.14: birds inside buildings | From 31 December 2024 birds, nests, eggs and nestlings inside a building's interior may be removed promptly without a permit. It does not cover in-use nests on the outside, such as under eaves or on bridges. source: USFWS FAQ, Regulatory authorizations rule (birds in buildings moved to 50 CFR 21.14, effective 31 Dec 2024) |
| Swallows: nest timing | USFWS says swallow breeding runs March to September; active nests with eggs or chicks need a permit, inactive nests do not, and old nests and mud should come down before the birds return. It also says it does not issue permits for nuisance alone. source: USFWS fact sheet, Swallows: nuisance nesting (season March to September, empty nests need no permit) |
| Avitrol: restricted use pesticide | The Avitrol Double Strength Whole Corn label (EPA Reg. 11649-8, 4-aminopyridine 1.0%) is restricted use: sale to and use by certified applicators or people under their direct supervision. Some states have their own bird category, such as Connecticut 7E Bird Pest Control. source: EPA label, Avitrol Double Strength Whole Corn, Reg. 11649-8 (restricted use, certified applicators) |
| OvoControl P: pigeon contraception | EPA Reg. 80224-1 (nicarbazin 0.5%) is labelled to reduce egg hatchability in pigeons, plus starlings, several blackbirds, grackles, cowbirds and common myna. It is a long-term feeding program, so it needs a visit schedule and bait log. source: EPA label, OvoControl P, Reg. 80224-1 (nicarbazin 0.5%, reduces pigeon egg hatchability) |
| Food plants: 21 CFR 117.35(c) and SQF | FDA's preventive controls rule says pests must not be allowed in any area of a food plant and effective measures must exclude them. SQF Tip Sheet 21 (elements 11.2.7 and 11.2.12) defines pests to include birds. Bird findings at dock doors and inside warehouses belong in the plant's pest file. source: 21 CFR 117.35(c), Pest control in food plants (pests not allowed; exclude them) |
| Histoplasmosis: droppings cleanup | NIOSH says excluding birds from buildings is the best prevention. Where droppings must be removed: a site safety plan, water spray to keep dust down, warning signs, training, a NIOSH-approved respirator, eye protection, gloves and hooded disposable coveralls. source: NIOSH 2022-103, What Employers Need to Know about Histoplasmosis |
| England: GL41 general licence (2026) | Natural England's GL41, valid 1 January to 31 December 2026, lets users kill or take feral pigeons and Canada geese to protect public health or safety, and jackdaws and monk parakeets for nesting safety. Herring and lesser black-backed gulls are not target species. Records for 3 years are recommended, not required. source: Natural England, GL41 general licence 2026: kill or take wild birds for public health or safety |
Rules vary by state, council and contract. Checked 10 November 2026; confirm against the source for your area before relying on it.
Numbers
Product specs and dates that drive the job
From the manufacturers' published spec sheets and the federal rules. Always check the current spec for the product you install.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net mesh: sparrows and swallows | 3/4 inch | Bird Barrier StealthNet spec |
| Net mesh: starlings | 1-1/8 inch | Bird Barrier StealthNet spec |
| Net mesh: pigeons | 2 inch | Bird Barrier StealthNet spec |
| Net mesh: gulls and crows | 4 inch | Bird Barrier StealthNet spec |
| Net breaking strength | 44 lb standard, 50 lb HD per strand | Bird Barrier StealthNet spec |
| Net fastener spacing | Every 4 ft (2 in and 1-1/8 in), every 3 ft (3/4 in) | Bird Barrier StealthNet spec |
| Net warranty | 10 years black; 3 years stone and white | Bird Barrier StealthNet spec |
| Spike widths (Dura-Spike) | 2.5, 5 and 8 inch; pigeon and larger | Bird Barrier |
| Electric track per charger | Up to 2,500 ft (120 V plug-in); 1,000 ft (12 V solar); 300 ft (4 V solar) | Bird Barrier Flex-Track |
| Depredation permit term | No longer than 1 year; renew 30+ days before expiry | 50 CFR 21.100; USFWS |
| Canada goose nest and egg report | By 31 October each year | 50 CFR 21.162 |
| Fall protection trigger | 6 ft construction; 4 ft general industry | OSHA 1926.501; 1910.28 |
source: Bird Barrier, StealthNet architectural specification (mesh by species, fastener spacing, 10-year warranty)source: Bird Barrier, Dura-Spike (2.5, 5 and 8 inch widths; pigeon and larger; not where birds nest)source: Bird Barrier, Bird-Shock Flex-Track (chargers by track length, testers, warning labels)source: Bird-B-Gone, Bird Jolt Flat Tracksource: Bird Barrier, Solar panel protection (non-penetrating clips)source: Bird-B-Gone, Birds under solar panels (clean nests and droppings before install)source: Bird Control Group FAQ (laser class 3B, green laser)source: 50 CFR 21.100, Depredation permits (scaring needs no permit; permit up to 1 year)source: USFWS, Form 3-200-13 Migratory bird depredation permit ($100 business fee, Form 37, annual report)source: USFWS, Migratory bird permit types and forms (abatement 3-200-79 under 21.95)source: 50 CFR Part 21 Subpart D, Control of depredating birds (21.100 to 21.183)source: 50 CFR 21.162, Depredation order for resident Canada goose nests and eggs (register first, report by 31 Oct)source: USFWS FAQ, Regulatory authorizations rule (birds in buildings moved to 50 CFR 21.14, effective 31 Dec 2024)source: EPA label, Liquid Fence Goose Repellent, Reg. 72041-2 (methyl anthranilate, turf only, 16 fl oz per gallon)source: Connecticut DEEP, Pesticide certification categories (7E Bird Pest Control)source: NIOSH 2005-109, Histoplasmosis: Protecting Workers at Risk (wet droppings, PAPR for dusty work)source: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1), Construction fall protection at 6 feetsource: 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1), General industry fall protection at 4 feet
Where it breaks
Where spreadsheets and generic software fall over
A gull roost on a warehouse roof is quoted and booked like a pigeon job. Herring and ring-billed gulls are protected, and nobody checked whether a permit or a non-lethal plan was needed.
Species on the survey drives a permit field: picking a protected species marks the job 'Permit check' and it can't be scheduled for anything beyond scaring or exclusion until the permit or the non-lethal plan is attached.
Pigeon netting goes up over a canopy where sparrows also nest. Sparrows go straight through 2 inch mesh and end up trapped inside.
Every species recorded on the zone sets the largest mesh that may be quoted, so a zone with sparrows can only take 3/4 inch net.
Swallow nests are knocked down in June because the property manager is angry about the mess on the entrance. They had eggs.
Swallow zones carry the March to September window: nest removal can only be booked when the nest is recorded as inactive, and a reminder books removal of old nests before spring.
The track charger fails two years in, the customer calls about birds back on the ledge, and nobody knows the charger model, the run length or the last test reading.
Each track zone stores the charger model, its rated length, the linear feet installed and every test reading, and service visits are booked to retest.
The crew starts netting a canopy covered in droppings with dust masks and no water. The NIOSH guidance calls for wetting and, for heavy dusty buildup, a full-facepiece PAPR.
Heavy droppings on the survey adds a cleanup step that needs the respirator type, wetting method and disposal recorded before the install step can start.
The goose program's 31 October report and the depredation permit's annual report are rebuilt in a hurry from invoices.
Every nest, egg and bird taken is logged against the registration or permit on the visit, so the report is a filtered export.
Checklist
The bird control operations checklist
Print it, or hand it to whoever runs the office side.
- Species recorded for every zone, with MBTA status checked (pigeons, starlings, house sparrows not covered; gulls, swallows, geese covered)
- Eggs or chicks checked before any nest is touched
- Depredation permit, goose registration or abatement permit attached where the work needs one
- Every zone measured, photographed and tagged with its access method
- Net mesh matched to the smallest bird in the zone
- Droppings wetted and bagged, with respirators and coveralls, before installs start
- Fall protection planned for any work above 6 feet (construction) or 4 feet (general industry)
- Net installed tight, with fasteners at the manufacturer's spacing and access zippers where staff need in
- Electric track tested at handover, reading recorded, warning labels fitted
- Restricted use avicides applied only by or under a certified applicator, with product and amount logged
- Warranty start, term and covered zones given to the customer
- Food-plant bird findings and corrective actions in the plant's pest file
- Service visits booked: track retests, net checks, nest removal outside breeding season
- Goose report filed by 31 October and permit reports on time
Software options
What software bird control companies actually use
Judge each one on whether it fits the way your jobs run, not on the feature list. Bring a real job to every demo.
Bird Barrier Quick Quote and Material Estimator
Installers of Bird Barrier products
Manufacturer tools for a non-binding estimate and a materials list. Useful for pricing; they are not scheduling, permit or warranty software.
PestPac (WorkWave)
Pest control companies with a bird line and commercial accounts
Covers scheduling, routing, billing, chemical tracking and multi-site commercial accounts. Bird-specific records such as zones, mesh and track test readings need setting up.
GorillaDesk
Small and mid-size pest and wildlife companies
Pest control software with scheduling, routes, invoices and a mobile app. Ask how it handles zone-by-zone install records and warranties.
FieldRoutes
Pest and lawn companies adding bird work
Field service platform for pest control with routing, scheduling and billing (part of ServiceTitan). Doesn't lead with bird work, so check species, permit and install records.
Spreadsheets and photo folders
Owner-operator installers
Many installers keep zone measurements in a spreadsheet and photos in a shared drive. Works until a warranty call two years later needs the right photo and the charger model.
Published prices, compared:source: Bird Barrier, Quick Quote for installers (non-binding estimate, then inspect and measure)source: Bird Barrier, Bird control training (6-hour online certification, Master Certification twice a year)source: Bird-B-Gone University (one-day course, Authorized Installer eligibility, CEUs vary by state)source: Avitrol, bird control for pest professionals (pre-bait, live bait, follow up)source: Avian Flyaway, nationwide bird control contractorsource: Bird Control Group, AVIX Autonomic Mark II automated laser
Questions to ask any vendor
- Can one job hold several zones, each with its own species, product, measurement, access method and warranty?
- Can a protected species on the survey block lethal or nest work until a permit or registration is attached?
- Can mesh size be limited by the species recorded in the zone?
- Can electric track zones store the charger, rated length and every test reading, and book retests?
- Can I log Canada goose nests and eggs against a registration and export the 31 October report?
- Can food-plant customers get a bird findings report in the format their auditor wants?
Bring one real bird control job. We show it running in Fieldproxy.
Get DemoHow Fieldproxy is set up for this
Bird control on Fieldproxy: built around how you already work
A Fieldproxy setup for a bird control company is built around the zone, the species and the warranty, not the appointment. The survey captures each elevation's bird, pressure, measurement and access; the species decides what may be quoted and whether a permit must be attached; and every installed net, spike run and track charger carries its spec, photos and warranty into years of service visits. Technicians work offline from lifts and rooftops, and the office files permit and goose reports straight from the year's records.
Module 1
Intake and species triage
A pigeon complaint, a gull roost, swallow nests over an entrance and geese on a corporate lawn need different rules and different people.
- Request types: Pigeon or starling proofing, Sparrow work, Gull roost, Swallow nests, Canada geese, Solar panel proofing, Droppings cleanup, Food plant bird finding, Service or warranty
- Species picklist with MBTA status built in (rock pigeon, European starling, house sparrow not covered; gull species, barn and cliff swallow, Canada goose covered)
- Eggs or chicks present yes or no, asked at intake and again on the survey
- Account and site: building type (warehouse, retail, food plant, hospital, parking structure), site contact, after-hours access, lift restrictions
Module 2
Site survey by zone
Bird work is priced and warrantied by elevation and zone, so the survey has to be built the same way.
- Zone record: elevation, location, activity (perch, roost, nest), pressure, species list, substrate
- Measurements: square feet for netting, linear feet and ledge width for spikes and track, panel count and perimeter for solar mesh
- Access: ladder, scissor or boom lift with height, roof anchors, working height (feeds the fall-protection step)
- Photos tagged per zone: droppings, nests, perches, attachment points
- Rule: a zone can't be quoted until species, measurement and access are filled
Module 3
Permits and registrations
Protected birds and Canada geese bring federal paperwork with expiry and report dates.
- Permit record: type (depredation 3-200-13, abatement 3-200-79), number, species and quantities allowed, issue and expiry date
- Canada goose registration: landowner or HOA, each registered agent, sites covered
- Block: a zone with a protected species can't move past 'Permit check' for nest, egg or lethal work until a valid permit or registration is linked
- Renewal date set 30 days before expiry, and the annual report fields filled from visit logs
Module 4
Quote by zone and product
Each zone gets a different product, and the customer approves zone by zone.
- Product catalogue: netting by mesh and color, spike widths, electric track and chargers, solar mesh kits, lasers, deterrent services
- Rule: mesh options limited by the smallest species in the zone (sparrows mean 3/4 inch)
- Labor, lift rental days, cleanup and disposal priced per zone
- Quote PDF with zone photos, product, warranty term per product, and an approve or decline per zone
Module 5
Cleanup and safety
Droppings come off before anything goes up, and NIOSH and OSHA set how.
- Cleanup step: area, wetting, bags or drums, respirator type (half-face or full-facepiece PAPR), coveralls, disposal
- Fall-protection step for any zone above 6 feet (construction) or 4 feet (general industry): guardrail, net or harness, anchor, lift inspection
- Block: install can't start on a zone with heavy droppings until the cleanup step is complete with photos
Module 6
Install records in the field app
The warranty and every service call depend on what was actually installed, zone by zone.
- Netting: mesh, color, area, cable type and length, turnbuckles, fastener spacing, access zippers, after photo
- Spikes: model, width, linear feet, glued or screwed
- Electric track: linear feet, charger model and rated length, test reading at handover, warning labels fitted
- Avicides and OvoControl: product, EPA number, certified applicator, amount, bait station location
- Works offline on roofs and lifts, syncs when back in signal
Module 7
Warranty and service contracts
A 10-year net warranty outlasts most customer contacts, and track and lasers need regular checks.
- Warranty per zone and product: start date, term, covered items, signed terms
- Service plans: track retest, net inspection, OvoControl bait visits, swallow nest removal before spring
- Warranty call opens the original zone's photos and specs on the phone
Module 8
Food-plant and multi-site accounts
Distribution centers, food plants and retail chains want one report per site that their auditor accepts.
- Account with sites; per site: zones, products installed, open findings, warranty status
- Bird findings report: location, species, evidence, corrective action, date closed, for the plant's pest file
- Customer portal with each site's reports and certificates
Module 9
Invoicing and reporting
Bird jobs are billed by zone and the owner needs to see margin by product and crew.
- Invoice by approved zone, with lift rental and cleanup lines, synced to QuickBooks or Xero
- Reports: quotes open by site, installs by product, warranty calls by product and installer, lift days per job
- Permit and goose report exports
The AI agents, set up for bird control companies
| Agent | When | What it does | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vision agent | A technician photographs a zone on the survey | Reads the photo for bird species, nests and droppings level, and fills the zone's species and pressure for the tech to confirm | A zone with species pre-filled, its MBTA status shown, and the allowed mesh sizes limited to match |
| Watcher agent | A depredation permit is 30 days from expiry, a goose program has no report by 1 October, or a swallow nest removal is booked while the nest is marked active | Checks permits, registrations and nest status against the booked work | An alert to the office with the site, the permit and the date, and the swallow job held until the nest is recorded inactive |
| Dispatch agent | An approved install needs a crew and a lift | Matches crews with lift and fall-protection training and the right applicator licence for any avicide work, by distance | A crew assigned with the lift booking on the job, and any zone without a qualified crew flagged |
| Autopilot | A zone quote has sat unapproved for e.g. 10 days, or a track zone is due its retest | Drafts a message to the facility manager with the zone photos and price, or the retest booking with the last reading | A draft email a person approves before it sends |
| Scheduler agent | Every 1 October, and every Monday at 6 am | Totals nests and eggs per registered goose site for the 31 October report; weekly, lists quotes open, installs due, track retests overdue and warranty calls | The goose report figures ready to file, and a weekly briefing to the owner |
Straight answers
Bird control: FAQ
What software do bird control companies use?
Pest control platforms such as PestPac, GorillaDesk and FieldRoutes are common where birds are one service line. Installers often price jobs with manufacturer tools like Bird Barrier Quick Quote and keep zone measurements in spreadsheets. Fieldproxy is set up around your own zones, species rules, install records, warranties and permit reports.
Are pigeons protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act?
No. The 16 April 2020 Federal Register list puts rock pigeons outside the MBTA, and house sparrows and European starlings belong to families it does not cover. State and local laws can still apply. Gulls, swallows and Canada geese are protected.
What mesh size of netting stops pigeons?
Bird Barrier's StealthNet spec uses 2 inch mesh for pigeons, 3/4 inch for sparrows and swallows, 1-1/8 inch for starlings and 4 inch for gulls and crows. Smaller birds go through larger mesh, so size the net to the smallest bird at the site.
Can I remove swallow nests from a building?
Only when they are empty. USFWS says swallows are federally protected, breeding runs March to September, active nests with eggs or chicks need a permit, and inactive nests do not. Remove old nests and mud before the birds return in spring.
Do I need a permit to destroy Canada goose eggs?
Under 50 CFR 21.162, landowners, HOAs, local governments and their agents can destroy resident Canada goose nests and eggs at any time of year after registering online, with every agent registered too. An annual report is due by 31 October.
Is a permit needed to scare gulls?
Scaring or herding migratory birds needs no federal permit except for threatened or endangered species and eagles (50 CFR 21.100). Taking or killing gulls does need a depredation permit. Falconry abatement needs a separate permit under 21.95 and does not allow killing.
How do you clean pigeon droppings safely?
NIOSH says wet the droppings with a water spray, double-bag or drum them, and wear disposable coveralls, gloves and eye protection with a NIOSH-approved respirator. For very dusty work it recommends a powered air-purifying respirator with a full facepiece.
Do bird spikes work on sparrows?
Bird Barrier rates Dura-Spike for pigeons and larger birds and says not to use it where birds are nesting. Sparrows usually need netting with 3/4 inch mesh instead.
How long does bird netting last?
Bird Barrier's spec says correctly installed StealthNet lasts ten years or more, with a 10-year warranty for black net and 3 years for stone and white.
Do food plants have to keep birds out?
Yes. 21 CFR 117.35(c) says pests must not be allowed in any area of a food plant, and SQF Tip Sheet 21 (elements 11.2.7 and 11.2.12) defines pests to include birds. Bird findings and fixes belong in the plant's pest file.
Related guides
All sources on this page (42)
- source: Bird Barrier, StealthNet architectural specification (mesh by species, fastener spacing, 10-year warranty)
- source: 50 CFR 21.162, Depredation order for resident Canada goose nests and eggs (register first, report by 31 Oct)
- source: USFWS fact sheet, Swallows: nuisance nesting (season March to September, empty nests need no permit)
- source: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1), Construction fall protection at 6 feet
- source: USFWS, Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (native species only since the 2004 Reform Act)
- source: Federal Register 85 FR 21262, 16 Apr 2020: birds the MBTA does not apply to (rock pigeon; starling and house sparrow families)
- source: 50 CFR 10.13, List of migratory birds (herring and ring-billed gull, barn and cliff swallow, Canada goose)
- source: 50 CFR 21.100, Depredation permits (scaring needs no permit; permit up to 1 year)
- source: USFWS, Form 3-200-13 Migratory bird depredation permit ($100 business fee, Form 37, annual report)
- source: USFWS, Form 3-200-79 Special purpose abatement permit (Master Falconer, no killing, $100)
- source: USFWS FAQ, Regulatory authorizations rule (birds in buildings moved to 50 CFR 21.14, effective 31 Dec 2024)
- source: EPA label, Avitrol Double Strength Whole Corn, Reg. 11649-8 (restricted use, certified applicators)
- source: EPA label, OvoControl P, Reg. 80224-1 (nicarbazin 0.5%, reduces pigeon egg hatchability)
- source: 21 CFR 117.35(c), Pest control in food plants (pests not allowed; exclude them)
- source: NIOSH 2022-103, What Employers Need to Know about Histoplasmosis
- source: Natural England, GL41 general licence 2026: kill or take wild birds for public health or safety
- source: Bird Barrier, Dura-Spike (2.5, 5 and 8 inch widths; pigeon and larger; not where birds nest)
- source: Bird Barrier, Bird-Shock Flex-Track (chargers by track length, testers, warning labels)
- source: Bird-B-Gone, Bird Jolt Flat Track
- source: Bird Barrier, Solar panel protection (non-penetrating clips)
- source: Bird-B-Gone, Birds under solar panels (clean nests and droppings before install)
- source: Bird Control Group FAQ (laser class 3B, green laser)
- source: USFWS, Migratory bird permit types and forms (abatement 3-200-79 under 21.95)
- source: 50 CFR Part 21 Subpart D, Control of depredating birds (21.100 to 21.183)
- source: EPA label, Liquid Fence Goose Repellent, Reg. 72041-2 (methyl anthranilate, turf only, 16 fl oz per gallon)
- source: Connecticut DEEP, Pesticide certification categories (7E Bird Pest Control)
- source: NIOSH 2005-109, Histoplasmosis: Protecting Workers at Risk (wet droppings, PAPR for dusty work)
- source: 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1), General industry fall protection at 4 feet
- source: Bird Barrier, Quick Quote for installers (non-binding estimate, then inspect and measure)
- source: Bird Barrier, Bird control training (6-hour online certification, Master Certification twice a year)
- source: Bird-B-Gone University (one-day course, Authorized Installer eligibility, CEUs vary by state)
- source: Avitrol, bird control for pest professionals (pre-bait, live bait, follow up)
- source: Avian Flyaway, nationwide bird control contractor
- source: Bird Control Group, AVIX Autonomic Mark II automated laser
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