Bird Free Rafters in Outdoor Shelters

Birds are serviceable and hardworking creatures that eat mosquitoes and insects that are harmful to plants and other bothersome pests such as slugs and snails. They are also fun to watch and can add some delightful cheer in an outdoor setting. However, as much gratitude is due them, it can be difficult to feel as generous towards these feathered friends if they design to build a home on the rafters of your timber outdoor living shelter.

If they are social birds that invite their feathered friends and relatives to stay, it can become even more problematic. To add insult to injury, if a structure is erected on a lifeless surface such as concrete; there is not enough microorganisms to break down the aerial bombings of birds. One of these simple preventative measures can help you to avoid having to clean up a "natural disaster".

1. Place a rubber or wooden toy snake on the top of the arbor, pergola, gazebo, cabana or gazebo rafter. If possible, select a snake that is similar to predators that are native the area. This will temporarily ward off birds. Some birds can get used to it not moving and it may need to be moved periodically.
2. A hawk or owl decoy mounted on a rafter can also frighten birds away.
3. Add some reflective elements. Hang old CDs, strips of Mylar or reflective lights. The reflections give the birds a sense of a predator with eyes and the blowing in the wind, the movement of a predator.
4. Reflective flash tape cut into strips at different lengths will make sounds that birds don’t like.
5. If you like chimes, the sounds will detour some birds.
6. Attach Mylar, eye balloons or shiny reflective objects.
7. There are weatherproof sound systems available that are designed to deter birds.
8. Another alternative is to install motion sensor flashing LED lights.

Experience the outdoors in comfort.