Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
April 1987
Abstract
Multi-thousand bird roosts of Purple Martins (Progne subis) occasionally form in the South during the early summer (June-July). Nightly depositions of fecal material create considerable nuisance and potential health problems. Since they are federally protected migratory birds and have legions of bird-lovers trying to increase their populations, lethal controls are unlikely to be popular or even permitted. Control techniques including plastic netting (partial or complete exclusion), active scaring and modification of building schedules are discussed and evaluated. Plastic netting was observed to be the most successful long-term solution.