A comparison of scavenging bird deterrence techniques at UK landfill sites*

Abstract

Birds that forage at waste management facilities have the potential to cause significant problems to flight safety, agriculture and the local environment. A variety of bird management techniques are available for deterring such birds. This paper examines the use of pyrotechnic bird-scaring rockets, helium-filled bird-scaring kites, hawks, falcons, automated distress calls, hand-held distress calls, automated sound generators, blank firing pistols and live rounds to deter gulls (Laridae) and corvids (Corvidae) from six UK landfill facilities. Forty separate trials were undertaken over a 2-year period. Each trial continued for 12 weeks or until birds stopped responding to deterrence. Scavenging gull and corvid numbers were counted during a 4-week pre-deterrence period and were compared to numbers counted after deterrence was implemented. Individual systems were deployed during weekday site operational hours only, or all week between dawn and dusk. The impact on scavenging gull and corvid numbers was recorded. Birds could not be eliminated but numbers were reduced to different extents by different techniques. The success of techniques also varied significantly in terms of habituation. It is hypothesised that deploying combinations of different techniques would improve results.

Keywords:

• Landfill
• bird
• gull
• corvid
• scaring
• flight safety

Acknowledgements

Funding for these studies was provided by Viridor, Biffa and Caird Bardon waste management operators in conjunction with the Entrust landfill tax credit scheme administered by the North West Environment Trust. The deployment and implementation of all equipment and techniques was undertaken by NBC pest control operators. Particular thanks go to the various landfill site staff and individual pest control operators without whom this work could not have been completed.

Notes

*The relevant wildlife licenses (WLM) under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act and amendments were obtained for the use of live rounds against gulls or corvids, or their capture by falcons or hawks in accordance with the regulations of the UK government.