A new year means new opportunities for your business… and the same bird problems as last year.
Meridian’s extensive experience helping businesses like yours has given us insight into bird behavior throughout the months. As a service, we provide this handy guide to seasonal bird activity.
Remember, bird activity will vary by location, so adjust accordingly. As always, if you have questions, drop us a line. We’re here to help.
JANUARY
As the year begins, your building beckons to birds! Like all animals, birds want shelter, food, and water. Your heated building has all three.
FEBRUARY
After the holidays, most retail stores experience slower traffic. That means fewer doors opening and closing, which helps keep birds out. However, most parts of the country are still gripped by winter’s chill, so birds are still hunting for warmth, food, and shelter.
MARCH
The start of nesting season ——— means birds are looking for the best nesting spots. Your overhangs, eaves, and interiors might be the ticket.
March is a critical month for bird removal and prevention. Nests may belong to federally protected species and therefore subject to regulations. It’s best to prevent birds from nesting before removal is necessary.
APRIL
If you missed a nest or two, you may be too late. April is egg-laying month for many birds. Once birds are sitting on their eggs, they become very entrenched. Fortunately, the incubation period for most nuisance birds is short. Starlings sit on eggs for an average of twelve days. For sparrows, it can be anywhere from nine to fourteen days.
MAY
Nests are being incubated and eggs are hatching. The juveniles are needing food and lots of it. May is prime time for transient incursions inside food facilities. Birds are feeding their young constantly and that means they are looking for food constantly; often inside your facility if you carry food they like, want and can access.
May is always our busiest month. You may consider an Annual Plan with Meridian to get priority service and also help plan for bird problems ahead of time.
JUNE
June is for juveniles. We see increased activity as juveniles leave the nest and look for home territory. As weak flyers, juveniles will often stay closer to floors and the ground.
JULY
Juveniles are still trying to make their way. Look for bird activity in unexpected places, such as underneath shelving or fixtures.
AUGUST
Bird activity starts to subside in August. Food and water outside are abundant, temperatures are warm, and juvenile birds have dispersed to new spaces.
SEPTEMBER
September is often our slowest month for bird issues. Birds will enter buildings through accidents or pursuits, but we see a slowdown in birds looking for food or shelter. This is a great time to review the previous year’s plan and perform trainings for store personnel.
OCTOBER
October is the start of steadily increasing bird activity for the next five months. The mercury starts to drop, and food starts becoming scarce.
NOVEMBER
The holiday season means doors opening and closing, customers dropping food around your building, and warmth beckoning from your brightly lit building. All of us are focused on holiday busyness, which allows bird issues to go unchecked. It’s best to assign a leader on your team to manage bird issues. That way, bird problems don’t get out of hand in November.
DECEMBER
Winter is now here. Cold, scarce food, and precipitation drive birds to seek out shelter and a ready food supply. That bird seed display or your bakery section is looking mighty good right now.
This is the time to establish policies such as keeping dock doors closed and cleaning up food waste often. While it seems there’s never enough time for these activities, they will help keep damage and loss from birds down and contribute to a Happier New Year!
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