Parks & Recreation

Goose droppings

Goose droppings make parks unsightly and unhealthy.

Parks and recreational facilities are often a prime habitat for birds. Parks’ green spaces and ponds attract a diverse group of nuisance birds, who like to feed on landscaped grass, nest in manicured trees, and roost in park buildings.

Canada geese, in particular, flock to parks’ ponds and lawns– and leave a number of problems in their wake. When humans misguidedly feed birds, those issues intensify. They include:

  • Messes of droppings and feathers
  • Risks to recreationalists exposed to aggressive behavior and pathogens in droppings
  • Increased clean up and maintenance costs for park staff
  • Increased algae blooms and shoreline erosion in ponds
  • Damaged soil for turf grass

Damages to Parks & Recreational Facilities

Park buildings – including gazebos, pavilions and other shelters – frequently attract swallows, house sparrows and starlings. Nesting birds stuff flammable material into every crevice they can find, which can cause structural damage and create a fire hazard.

A cliff swallow building a nest under a park overhang.

Beyond threatening the structural integrity and safety of buildings, aggressive nesting birds pose a risk to staff and park-goers who come too close to their nests. Pest birds also leave droppings on seats and picnic tables, which creates unsanitary messes and an unwelcoming atmosphere.

Solutions

Luckily, a variety of solutions can help keep parks and recreational facilities pest bird-free. Some problems can be solved simply, by enforcing property ordinances related to hand feeding and litter clean up.

Other problems may require a property assessment and more targeted approach. These include canine patrols and Flight Control Plus repellent to encourage geese to vacate an area, and egg depredation to manage aggressive nesting birds.

Birds perching in a hospital garage

Birds perching on a hospital garage ledge

Border collie patrols help keep fine turf free from geese.

Structural exclusions like netting and custom metal exclusion systems effectively prevent starlings, swallows and house sparrows from nesting in nooks and crannies and the overhangs of park pavilions.

Whatever your park’s nuisance bird issue, Wild Goose Chase Indy has a solution.

Netting in pavilions keeps birds from perching and nesting.
Netting in pavilions keeps birds from perching and nesting.