Have you seen them, small black silhouettes against the bright sky, so numerous that they nearly block out the sun, their large dotted clouds undulating, twisting and shifting into bulbous shapes in rapid succession? They're called murmurations. These magical displays are created by a pest bird called the European starling. While this flocking behavior may be magnificent to behold, it is a harbinger that every business owner in Kentucky should consider. They are a warning sign of the pest bird problems that are approaching.

Have you seen them, small black silhouettes against the bright sky, so numerous that they nearly block out the sun, their large dotted clouds undulating, twisting and shifting into bulbous shapes in rapid succession? They're called murmurations. These magical displays are created by a pest bird called the European starling. While this flocking behavior may be magnificent to behold, it is a harbinger that every business owner in Kentucky should consider. They are a warning sign of the pest bird problems that are approaching.

It is becoming more common for birds to seek refuge in Kentucky during the winters. Some believe this migratory change is linked to climate warming. All we know for sure is that it is happening, and it has a negative impact on businesses. When starlings, ducks, geese, and other pest birds move south, here are some of the problems they bring with them:

• The biggest problem is that birds leave their droppings everywhere. Not only are these droppings unsightly, but they can contain harmful bacteria that can lead to human illness, they contain corrosive uric acid that can eat away at building materials, and they can create a slipping hazard for customers and employees. Not to mention, it is no fun to have droppings land on you. Bird droppings can also put an economic burden on businesses as it costs money to clean up the mess.
• When birds roost on or inside a man-made structure, they can create issues. Their nesting areas can be a source of localized, and sometimes airborne, illness. Starlings can be a particular issue as they sometimes build nests in machinery, electrical boxes, and other dangerous places.
• Birds can carry ticks and other ectoparasites onto a property. Geese commonly bring chiggers in with them.
• The droppings and parasites left by birds attract flies, cockroaches, and other dirty pests.
• Geese trample turfgrass, ornamentals, flowers, gardens, and crops with their overgrazing.
• Ducks and geese damage wetland habitats by destroying vegetation and eroding moist soil impoundments.

When birds fly south for the winter and end up in Kentucky, make sure your business is ready for them. With exclusion installations and other bird deterrents, you can make those birds feel unwelcome on your property and prevent all of the many issues they bring with them. Reach out to the bird control specialists at Action Pest Control. Our team has the experience to customize a plan specifically for the needs of your business no matter how small or how big.