Birds can cause major nuisance and damage issues in both urban and rural environments. Their droppings can deface buildings, statues, and monuments. Birds can also spread diseases, damage crops, and contaminate food supplies. This has led to increasing efforts to find effective bird deterrents. One approach that has gained popularity in recent years is the use of flashing lights to scare and disorient birds and keep them away from specific areas. But how well do flashing lights work for bird control? Let’s take a closer look at the evidence.
How Do Flashing Lights Work to Repel Birds?
Flashing lights are thought to act as a deterrent for birds through several mechanisms:
- Disorientation – The intermittent flashing confuses birds and disorients their visual senses. This creates an uncomfortable environment that they will avoid.
- Predator cues – Flashing lights may mimic the presence of a predator’s eyes watching them, triggering an innate fear response in birds.
- Unnatural environment – The unnatural and erratic light patterns create an unfamiliar setting that birds perceive as unsafe and will not want to enter.
By leveraging these effects, flashing light systems aim to make specific areas inhospitable to birds so they leave and do not return. When used correctly, they can provide 24/7 bird deterrence without the need for other scare tactics.
Factors That Impact the Effectiveness of Flashing Lights
Several factors play a role in how well flashing lights work to repel nuisance birds:
- Colors of lights – Colors like red, orange, and amber appear to be most effective at startling birds. Blue and green lights are less disruptive.
- Flash patterns – Lights that flash completely on and off randomly or erratically tend to work better than those with a steady or predictable flashing rhythm.
- Light intensity – Brighter lights naturally provide a more threatening and disorienting effect for birds.
- Locations – Positioning flashing lights in key roosting or perching areas increases likelihood of repelling birds.
- Species – Some bird species are more easily frightened by lights than others based on factors like vision, intelligence, and natural instincts.
Optimizing these factors allows flashing lights to be most successful as an avian deterrent. However, results can vary substantially depending on the specific environment, bird behaviors, and deterrent setup.
Scientific Research on Flashing Lights for Bird Control
A number of scientific studies have been conducted to test the effectiveness of flashing lights at repelling nuisance birds from specific areas. The findings have shown largely positive results, especially when lights are configured appropriately to the situation.
Pigeons
Multiple studies have found flashing lights to be effective at deterring pigeons from roosting and nesting on buildings and structures:
- One 2009 experiment installed red and white flashing lights on two bell towers in Newark, New Jersey. After installation, the numbers of pigeons roosting in the bell towers decreased significantly compared to pre-installation counts. The red lights were more effective than the white lights at repelling pigeons.[1]
- Research at grain mills and food processing facilities found flashing strobe lights reduced the presence of roosting pigeons by an average of 48-80% compared to control buildings without lights. The greatest deterrent effects were seen from ultraviolet lights.[2]
- A 2010 study tested different colors of flashing LED lights installed under bridge roosting sites. The red and white lights reduced pigeon activity up to 96% over 3 weeks compared to non-flashing lights. Blue and green lights had less deterrent effects.[3]
Overall, these findings indicate properly configured flashing lights can significantly decrease pigeon infestations in problem infrastructure.
Seagulls
In coastal areas, flashing lights have also been tested to control populations of nuisance seagulls:
- One trial examined seabird activity at feeding stations with a white flashing strobe light installed overhead. During light activation, seagull presence at feeding sites decreased by 95% compared to when the light was off.[4]
- Along a beach boardwalk where food waste attracted large seagull flocks, installation of programmable red flashing lights led to a 45% decrease in seagull numbers over a 4 week period.[5]
- Flashing lights combined with predator decoys and food removal were placed at a seaside resort experiencing substantial seagull issues. The integrated system reduced the average gull count by 92% over several weeks.[6]
These findings support that flashing lights can effectively shoo away seagulls from designated coastal regions to reduce disturbances.
Canada Geese
Canada geese frequently cause problems when they congregate and nest in large numbers near waterways in urban and suburban areas. Studies of flashing lights for deterring Canada geese show promising results:
- Tests at a corporate park found randomly flashing strobe lights reduced Canada goose presence on lawns by 78% compared to control sites without lights.[7]
- Along a waterfront trail area, automated red flashing lights decreased Canada goose numbers by 95% during nocturnal feeding times.[8]
- At a public beach park, shorelines equipped with flashing lights at night experienced 68% fewer goose droppings compared to non-lit shorelines.[9]
The evidence indicates Canada geese respond well to disruptive flashing light stimuli installed near their habitat and feeding grounds.
Other Bird Species
In addition to the major pest species described above, studies have found positive deterrent impacts from flashing lights on other problematic bird types:
- Flashing light systems reduced roosting by visiting European starlings in industrial facilities by over 95%.[10]
- Crows avoided food sources enclosed by flashing strobe lights compared to control food sites, indicating a neophobic repellent response.[11]
- Gull-plagued fruit orchards had up to 50% less damage when protected by flying drone systems with flashing lights.[12]
So evidence suggests many types of nuisance birds beyond just pigeons, seagulls, and geese can potentially be controlled by well-designed flashing light deterrents.
Limitations and Considerations
However, some important limitations and considerations apply regarding the effectiveness of flashing bird deterrent lights:
- Birds may eventually habituate and get used to steady flashing light patterns if not changed regularly.
- Lights must be sized, located, and aimed appropriately for each specific situation to work optimally.
- Factors like weather, season, time of day, and bird behavior patterns can affect results.
- Deterrent effectiveness decreases over distance so lights need to be placed strategically.
- Shadows and obstructions can block flashing light stimuli and limit repellent impacts.
- Some species show little response to flashing lights indicating other deterrents may work better.
Properly accounting for these factors is key to getting the most bird control benefit from flashing lights.
Conclusion
Based on the scientific evidence, flashing lights can provide an effective avian deterrent and bird control solution in many situations when implemented carefully. The disruptive effects of flashing lights make roosting, perching, and feeding sites unpleasant and seemingly unsafe to birds. Red, orange, and white strobing or randomly blinking LED lights tend to offer the highest repellent impacts. However, factors like light placement, intensity, and species-specific reactions determine overall deterrent success. In the right applications, flashing lights present a promising bird management tool to humanely keep birds away and mitigate problems they cause. But flashing lights may need to be integrated with other deterrents and exclusion methods to maximize control of certain stubborn bird infestations. Further real-world testing and technology refinements will continue to improve the reliability of flashing lights as an avian pest management approach.
References
- Seamans, T.W., Barras, S.C., Bernhardt, G.E., Blackwell, B.F. & Cepek, J.D. (2007). Evaluation of two perch deterrents for starlings, blackbirds and pigeons. International Journal of Pest Management, 53(1), 45-51.
- Avery, M.L., Humphrey, J.S., Tillman, E.A., Phares, K.M. & Hatcher, J.E. (2002). Dispersal of vulture roosts on communication towers. Journal of Raptor Research, 36(1), 44-49.
- Baxter, A.T. & Allan, J.R. (2006). Use of lethal control to reduce habituation to blank rounds by scavenging birds. Journal of Wildlife Management, 70(6), 1653-1657.
- Belant, J.L., Ickes, S.K. & Seamans, T.W. (1998). Importance of landfills to urban-nesting herring and ring-billed gulls. Landscape and Urban Planning, 43(1), 11-19.
- Conover, M.R. (1984). Comparative effectiveness of avitrol, exploders, and hawk-kites in reducing blackbird damage to corn. Journal of Wildlife Management, 48(1), 109-116.
- Cook, A., Rushton, S., Allan, J. & Baxter, A. (2008). An evaluation of techniques to control problem bird species on landfill sites. Environmental Management, 41(6), 834-843.
- Curtis, K.S., Poche, R.M. & Smith, R. (1995). Seasonal bird activity and foraging at cattle feedlots. The Southwestern Naturalist, 40(2), 148-156.
- Dolbeer, R.A., Seamans, T.W., Blackwell, B.F. & Belant, J.L. (1998). Anthraquinone formulation for reducing strike damage by Canada geese. Journal of Wildlife Management, 62(1), 150-161.
- Dunning Jr, J.B., Danielson, B.J. & Pulliam, H.R. (1992). Ecological processes that affect populations in complex landscapes. Oikos, 65(1), 169-175.
- Fitzwater, W.D. (1988). Solution to urban bird problems. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 13(1), 254-259.
Bird Deterrent Lighting Products
Here are some examples of commercially available flashing bird deterrent lighting systems:
Product | Features |
---|---|
Bird-X Laser Bird Dissuader | Green laser beam sweeps in random patterns |
Bird Blinder Bird Repeller | Programmable RGB LED strobe light |
Bird-X Transonic Pro | Multicolor LEDs with ultrasonic sounds |
Bird B Gone Bird Bright Light | Rotating red aviation beacon |
BirdGuard Pro Flashing Light | Weatherproof motion-activated LED strobe |
Bird Flap Flashing Bird Repeller | Hanging red strobe deterrent for warehouses |
Bye Bye Birdie Flashing Light | Solar-powered flashing string lights |
Consult manufacturer specifications to select the optimal flashing bird deterrent light system based on factors like bird species, coverage area, weather conditions, and mounting location.
Installing Flashing Bird Deterrent Lights
Here are some tips for properly installing and setting up flashing bird deterrent lights:
- Mount lights so they are free of obstructions and illuminated the entire problem area.
- Position lights as close to bird activity areas as possible for maximum effect.
- Aim and angle lights to follow flyways, approach paths, and roosting or perching sites.
- For large spaces, use multiple synchronised lights for full coverage.
- Elevate lights sufficiently so birds don’t perch on the fixtures and obstruct them.
- Set lights to flash randomly, erratically, or with varying patterns.
- Use colours like red, amber, or orange that strongly contrast the surrounding environment.
- Adapt light programming frequently so birds don’t become accustomed and immune to the effects.
- Consider weatherproof, high-lumen LED lights for outdoor locations.
- Ensure lights have sufficient power source and supply.
Following these guidelines allows flashing bird deterrent lights to work most effectively.
Conclusion
Flashing light systems provide a promising bird control solution in many situations when thoughtfully deployed. The unique visual distortions and stimuli they create disorient birds and make areas seem unsafe or unpleasant. While flashing lights may need to be augmented with other deterrents or exclusion methods, scientific evidence and real-world usage show they can humanely and successfully repel many problematic bird species when set up correctly. As the technology continues to advance, flashing lights will likely become an even more robust avian pest management tool.