If you operate a store or warehouse, you know that where you place your product is key. You want to entice customers by merchandising attractive items near doors and entry points. But what attracts people can also attract birds, and that can create problems.
Like humans, birds are guided by their sense of sight. Raptors are celebrated for their keen vision, and even sparrows can pick out insects and other food hidden in tall grasses. As sight feeders, birds are drawn to colorful produce just inside glass doors. They’re also thrilled to see summer displays of fresh fruit on the sidewalk – all the easier for them to swoop in and sample. And this isn’t just an issue for grocers. Many home improvement stores stock bird seed near the topsoil in the open air garden department.
So what do we recommend when it comes to product placement? As we’ve said before, prevention is better (and less costly) than removal. To that end:
- All food items should be placed inside and away from the direct line of sight of doors and entry points.
- Avoid displaying food or seed outside the facility.
- If you do display bird seed outside – say, in a semi-enclosed garden section – keep it in a closed bin.
- Food should never be left outside in the receiving area. Bring it inside immediately (or as soon as possible).
And these guidelines don’t just apply to products. Potential bird food shows up in other ways, such as in trash and employees’ PB&J sandwiches:
- Avoid placing trash cans next to the doors or just inside the doors. If you can, move them further away so birds attracted to them can’t easily fly inside.
- If you have a break area outside, try to move it away from the building. Remember, covered picnic areas attract birds. If these are close to a building, birds may inadvertently fly inside.
Also, while food is a major magnet for birds, other products can also draw them too close to buildings. Outdoor water displays such as fountains, garden ponds, kiddie pools, and (of course) bird baths make for tempting summer merchandising. Unfortunately, they also bring in the birds. Consider displaying them without water.
Finally, if you do find birds have gotten into your product, clean it up and remove or repair the damaged goods immediately. You will avoid contamination and the risk of attracting more birds.
People often ask us if birds will go hungry if they remove bird feeders and other sources of food. When food sources are made less available, birds will adapt and find food in their natural environment.
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