BirdBloc - Bird Deterrent and Repellent for Birds of Prey and Flocking Birds

According to the e-Reliability Tracker Service from the American Public Power Association, birds are among the top five customer-weighted causes of sustained power outages across the United States. Squirrels are #1. Spring is the primary mating season for most bird species in North America. As a result, birds are quite active during this season looking for suitable nesting locations, making their homes, and raising their young.

Since you are reading this – you likely already know the damage birds can do and the cost, down-time, and nuisance it is to deal with the aftermath of an outage or equipment damage. Birds like the privacy and seclusion that certain electric power poles, substations, and rafters/gables of industrial buildings offer. By nesting in these places, birds create a myriad of problems. Whether it’s corrosion caused by droppings, a short circuit, or the fact that bird eggs (and young hatchlings) create a ready source of food for other predators, it’s a good idea to “encourage” the birds to find other habitats.

Critter Guard’s BirdBloc is here to help.

Protecting Power Lines, Transformers, and Substations from Birds

There are dozens of devices offered to protect critical utility equipment from birds. However, many of these take the form of a cover or cage that fits over the conductive device, insulator, bushing, switch, or transformer. This approach can get very complex (and expensive) if you’re dealing with large raptors such as osprey, eagles, owls, or similar with large wingspans. With the dizzying array of sizes, voltages, mounting options, and local installation conditions, a maintenance manager has a lot to keep track of in protecting the equipment.

Critter Guard took a different approach to bird deterrents. All birds have an exceptionally developed sense of smell, and our products capitalize on this unique characteristic. Critter Guard now offers the BD-135 bird management solution, called BirdBloc from Critter Guard. Any bird that smells the product will simply move away. Simply put, they absolutely hate the smell of the BirdBloc.

We’ve developed the repelling smell so it’s long lasting (up to 3-4 months depending on formulation), and it won’t harm the birds or humans. Wherever BirdBloc is deployed, the scent lingers. Birds may initially investigate, but they won’t stay. It makes them uncomfortable and discourages them from wanting to nest or roost. As a result, your critical equipment, substations, warehouses, tools, and other “infested” or “at-risk” areas can be protected from birds congregating, perching, or just “hanging out.”

Additionally, utility maintenance teams are happy that they do not have to take some “cover” off, just to do their normal inspections and testing. Since BirdBloc can simply be hung from supports, rafters, joists, tree limbs, or on most overhead equipment, this is a much simpler and far more cost-effective solution than trying to individually cover every “at-risk” component.

Bird Deterrent Case Studies

Stillwater Electric – Protecting a Power Substation

At Stillwater Electric in Stillwater, Oklahoma, BirdBloc was installed to prevent birds from nesting within the substation, eliminating the “food supply” (in the form of bird eggs) for raccoons and opossums in the area. To learn more about how BirdBloc effectively repelled birds from roosting, nesting, and perching around the substation, view the Stillwater case study.

View Stillwater Case Study

Grand Forks – Deterring Birds at a Country Club

At Grand Forks Country Club in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a test was conducted to examine the effectiveness of BirdBloc in deterring geese from grazing and nesting in the area. To review the results of this BirdBloc test, read through the Grand Forks case study.

View Grand Forks Case Study

Will Critter Guard’s Bird Deterrent, BirdBloc, Work for Your Bird Problem?

Flocking Birds

Flocking birds includes wrens, starlings, swallows, pigeons, and virtually every type of bird that flies in groups or flocks. Individual behavior of these birds is difficult to predict, but they will “roost” and ultimately build nests where they feel comfortable. If this is the gable or high bay ceiling of a distribution warehouse where your maintenance team is dispatched, and their trucks, tools, floor, and surrounding areas are covered with bird droppings, this is a major nuisance, as well as a potential safety and/or health hazard to workers.

Another typical scenario is in a substation, where either transformers, bus-bars, or other high-value equipment are deployed and energized. The bird droppings on or around this critical equipment is more than just a nuisance – it’s risky.

When deployed according to the instructions, birds may linger for a day or two after initial deployment, but then they will simply move on to a new location. For maximum efficacy, we recommend physically removing any established nests, prior to deployment.

Birds of Prey

Birds of prey includes larger predators (so called “raptors”), such as hawks, eagles, owls, etc. These birds tend to perch on high points that overlook potential food sources. Birds of prey have keen eyesight (as well as large nostrils) and will stake out and return to a favorite perch when they are successful at hunting.

BirdBloc will not prevent a raptor from landing on any particular perch. But once there and they begin to smell the scent of BirdBloc, they simply move on. Since they will equate this smell with the presence of the BirdBloc, even when the scent fades, the bird will simply find a more enjoyable perch somewhere else. This is especially important to discourage large birds (such as an Osprey) from nesting. Federal law prohibits disturbing nests such as these once the bird lays eggs.

This is the goal of Critter Guard’s bird management solution - no traps, extermination, or complicated cages. Just encourage the bird to move somewhere else.

What’s YOUR Plan to Repel Birds and Prevent Bird Related Power Outages?

Many utilities and mission-critical facilities have written plans and strategies to guide their organizations to be proactive in managing and preventing bird related outages and damages. For over 20 years, Critter Guard has served the animal mitigation needs of various utilities and businesses across the country. From local municipalities and rural co-ops to large investor-owned utilities and distribution centers, we hear one familiar comment from our customers, “once we started using Critter Guard products, we have not had another animal related power outage at that site.”

At Critter Guard, we focus on prevention, not just protection. Our products train the animals and birds to go somewhere else. Ultimately, they get frustrated and move on.

If your utility has not deployed BirdBloc, it is time to give it a try. BirdBloc is effective in the following areas:

Power Plants
Substations
Distribution Warehouses
Power Poles

Airport Hangars
Maintenance Sheds
Parking Areas/Garages
Ground Application

BirdBloc Formulation Options

BirdBloc comes in three different formulations with unique benefits and applications. Note that when you submit a quote request, our team will recommend the formulation that is most likely to resolve our issue.

Product Form	Minimum Order Quantity	Deployment	Suggested Coverage Area	Estimated Duration
Pouches 2 oz. of granular product in small burlap bag	1 case (total of 50 pouches)	Hanging – Rafters, tree limbs, building structures, etc.	400 – 600 sq. ft.	6-8 weeks
Blocs 2 oz. of pressed product in green mesh bag	1 case (total of 50 blocs)	Hanging – Rafters, tree limbs, building structures, etc.	500 – 1,000 sq. ft.	12-16 weeks
Granular Bulk 25 lb. bag	1 bag (25 lb. bag)	Ground Application – Drop feeder/spreader	2000 sq. ft.	6-8 weeks

Centralized Distribution

We stock our animal and bird mitigation products and fulfill orders from our Distribution Center in Springfield, MO. Since we are near the geographic center of the USA, transit times to any location in the US is no more than 3 days. Since the product has a shelf life, we package the product at the time of order. Lead times vary with order size, so please call ahead. Our default shipping service is UPS, but we also work with FedEx, the US Postal Service, and many LTL and 3rd party freight services when necessary, including freight forwarders, customs brokers, and international transfer agents for our overseas customers.

Pricing and Payments

Please use the following form to request a quote for purchasing and shipping Critter Guard’s BirdBloc products. Since these products have a shelf-life, they are manufactured per order to make sure you get the freshest product possible. Once the form is received, we will follow up with an official estimate for your approval.

Request an Estimate for BirdBloc

Please use the form below to request an estimate for BirdBloc. We will reach back out shortly.

Content Written by John Sims