Brainy Birds Get the Point
By Terra Anders
Being called a “bird brain” is not necessarily an insult. The proper response might be, “Which bird?” Scientists have studied this very topic; the size of birds’ brains in relation to the intelligent behavior that they exhibit. Those who are waging a battle to get rid of birds on their roofs or rafters should take heed. They may not be dealing with idiots.
While admittedly the definition of intelligence itself is still controversial among the scientific experts, the study of how birds display intelligent behavior is based almost entirely on observational conclusions. Still, observing is one of the fundamental scientific tools for any scientist, so it does seem to hold at least some weight. Anyone considering bird prevention on property and structures must take into account the kind of bird that is causing the problem.
In his efforts to further define exactly what intelligence is, behavioral scientist, Louis Lefebvre, spent some time on researching birds and their ability to innovate. In this case, he defined innovation as the ability to adapt to changing or different challenges. Most of the studies revealed that birds seem to be most innovative when it comes to where to live and how to get their next meal. Bird lovers around the globe have reported amazing bird behavior, and Lefebvre studied these reports to determine if we could learn anything new about human intelligence from these so-called “bird brain” activities. The information from this study also helps us understand how to more effectively adapt our own bird removal techniques.
After years of study, Lefebrve was able to organize the amazingly innovative activities of a wide range of bird species to reveal some pretty amazing stuff. He began to measure the number of innovative behaviors the birds exhibited and found that among the birds in his study; those in the cordivae family were the most active. No, the cordivae family is not linked to any criminal organization, but they do tend to hang out in gangs, so you may still want to rid birds like these from your property. This family actually includes birds like crows, magpies, ravens, jaws and nutcrackers.
The large-brained crow, for example, ranked highest on Lefebvre’s list of intelligent birds, measuring 117 innovative actions during the study in comparison to a mere 13 reports for the smaller brained dove. It’s not clear if this really helps in determining which bird deterrent to use, but it does suggest that if we are dealing with birds who are innovative, we’ll need to be innovative in our approach to controlling them. Either the birds, like crows, are so smart that one may need to change and adjust the deterrent methods often to keep up with them. On the other hand, the birds, like doves, may be so dumb that they simply don’t understand that you just don’t want them around. The best one can do to stop bird lodging is to create an unfriendly environment that coaxes the crows or other birds not to lay claim to that ledge they have their eye on.
Crows are not loners. They are always found in flocks of fellow fliers and they love to be where the action is. Crow search parties are always working to find the perfect location for their community to settle in. They look for high places to perch, and a location that proves to be a plentiful feeding ground as well. To prevent fences, window ledges, gutters, roofs or rafters from being their next housing development, bird spike strips can be laid down. These spikes come in plastic or stainless steel, and are manufactured in manageable two-foot lengths. Widths vary from 3, 5, 7, or 8 feet depending on the product you choose. They can be easily installed with glue, screws or even securely tied in place, depending on the area being protected. No specialized experts are required for installation, but some bird deterrent companies like Absolute Bird Control and Bird·B·Gone, do offer installation services if requested. The plastic bird spikes are durable and comes in six different colors to help blend into the structure. The stainless steel version of this bird deterrent is designed similarly and the metal barbs, while not available in colors, are virtually invisible when installed.
Even the most intelligent bird in flight knows they are not welcome when they are met with a prickly barb upon landing. Best of all, one can use these bird spikes comfortably, knowing that the crows have flown the coop and that no harm was inflicted on the birds in the process.
