It is a beautiful sunny day here in Cornwall, with local businesses preparing for the busy holiday season ahead. Look carefully and you will notice that the local seagull population is also preparing for an important season - their breeding season. Activities such as birds carrying nesting materials should be taken as a warning for those that have not yet invested in seagull deterrents for their business or building. 

Bird control can take the form of bird proofing or the use of falconry - which is an environmentally friendly and natural form of bird control.
There are more options available to you before the birds start breeding, and it is more effective to deter the birds at this point of the year. Please contact kevin@hoodedtalons.co.uk or call 07723442669 for more information.
We will be able to provide advice and a free quote, for businesses, residential buildings, hotels, schools, universities, colleges, hospitals and more. Contact us for professional bird control services in Cornwall.

There is a great call for bird netting in Cornwall and Devon, mainly due to the large seagull population. Bird netting for seagulls is common in many coastal regions, and bird netting for pigeons is found in many urban areas. The netting is fitted to a building, along with bird spikes and bird wire in order to deter the problem birds from landing on and nesting on your building.
The RSPCA has recently issued guidance which highlights the importance of having bird netting correctly fitted and maintained. The RSPCA supports bird netting as an effective method of bird deterence: "Bird-deterrent netting can be used on buildings to prevent birds from roosting
or nesting there and if used correctly it can be an effective and
long-term solution to issues caused by birds and avoid birds being
culled." (read their full article here).
Warning is however given that if the bird netting is incorrectly fitted or not checked and maintained over time, then it may be possible for birds to become trapped inside the netting. If any instance of this is seen, the RSPCA encourages the public to contact them so that they can contact the building owner.
If you would like any advice on bird control in Cornwall or Devon, please contact HT Bird & Pest Control Services. We are happy to provide a free quote on the custom installation of bird netting for your building, or advise on any repairs required for bird netting already in place.

Here at HT Bird and Pest Control Services, peregrines are part of our team and work to control birds such as seagulls, crows and pigeons. Whilst we work hard to implement bird control in Cornwall, two peregrines in Birmingham are causing chaos - as reported here. It is breeding time, and so two competing male peregrines had other things on their minds when they accidentally crashed through an office window.
Fortunately the peregrines were unharmed, and the office workers just left startled.

The latest news on seagulls includes some stunning photos taken in Alaska of thousands of seagulls, and of the continuing fight to control seagulls in Devon,

In Alaska, a photographer has taken photos of thousands of seagulls from a helicopter. There are more than 50 species of seagulls worldwide. Of the three main kinds found in Alaska (glaucous-winged gull, glaucous gull and herring gull) here in the UK we would be familiar with the herring gull.

Back in the UK, and particularly in Cornwall and Devon, there is a little less space to share with the seagulls and so there is more conflict.

The East Devon District Council held a "Seagull Summit" to look at ways of tackling the seagull problems in Devon, and are now implementing two initiatives: the use of birds of prey to control seagulls, and the use of stickers to remind people not to feed the gulls. Building owners are also being encouraged to bird proof their roofs in order to deter gulls from nesting.

HT Bird and Pest Control Services can assist with detering seagulls from your business or residential premises in Cornwall or Devon. Please contact us for a free survey and quote. We will be able to advise on your bird proofing requirements, and to recommend a tailored programme using a bird of prey to deter the seagulls. Please contact Kevin McMillan at kevin@hoodedtalons.co.uk for further details or to arrange a visit.

This interview by the BBC provides some indication of the disturbance that seagulls can cause. There will always be seagulls in Cornwall and other seaside areas, but the problems can be made worse by feeding seagulls or providing them with easy food sources.
Here at HT Bird and Pest Control Services we believe that each animal has its place and role in nature. Rubbish and scraps are not the natural diet for birds, and gulls should not be encouraged to scavenge in residential areas - especially if the population is large enough to cause this level of distress to residents.

If you require assistance with controlling seagulls in Cornwall, please contact kevin@hoodedtalons.co.uk for a free quote.

Researchers in America have studied the flight and attack strategies of falcons. The study was undertaken with the help of small cameras that were mounted on the falcons during flight. Detailed in the Live Science article, the study finds that falcons fly strategically to keep their chosen prey in the center of their visual field instead of wasting energy in a close tail chase.

Hooded Talons Bird and Pest Control Services uses falcons in order to control pest birds, such as seagulls, crows, pigeons and starlings. The aim with bird control is not to hunt with the falcons, but to chase away and deter the problem birds. As falcons are the natural predators of the sky, other birds will not want to nest or feed in an area frequently visited by a bird of prey.

If you are having problems with seagulls, crows, pigeons or starlings and require bird control in Cornwall, please contact Kevin McMillan to discuss the options available to you.

Tough economic times have meant that bird control methods have been reduced in Rome. Unfortunately the city hosts millions of migrating starlings each year, and this has had devastating consequences for some local residents as their cars and the pavements are drenched in droppings.
Read more on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-24939386

Ornithologists in Germany have conducted a study to explore the role that sense of smell plays in pigeons and their homing abilities. It is theorised that pigeons need to both have a map of where their home is and the ability to tell direction, and that sense of smell might be the missing piece of the puzzle in explaining their remarkable navigation abilities. Read more here: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-11/06/pigeons-sniff-the-wind
Homing pigeons are amazing birds, but if you are having a problem with feral pigeons you should take action as soon as possible to prevent the birds setting up home on your building. Please feel free to contact HT Bird and Pest Control for advice on any bird control problems.

This is an interesting article and video about the use of falcons to protect crops in the USA. Birds are causing millions of dollars worth of damage to high-value crops. With the expense of netting being prohibitive for the larger farms, and the birds quickly habituating to other bird control methods, the falcons have proved to be the ideal solution.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bird-control-20130915,0,2197126.story

The bad publicity for the dive-bombing seagulls of Cornwall continues with an article in the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2395158/Beware-birds-Number-gull-attacks-treble-heat-animals-protect-chicks-extended-breeding-season.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
The intelligence of gulls is highlighted in this report, where they work together to snatch food off unsuspecting tourists. Whilst the use of water pistols by one restaurant owner sounds like a fun idea - there are much more effective forms of seagull bird control available. If seagulls have been causing problems for your business in Cornwall or Devon, please get in touch for professional advice. Management programmes are best implemented