Have extra breadcrumbs from Thanksgiving? Well, one thing you don’t want to do is feed the wild birds. As you know, the House Rules strictly prohibit feeding wild birds from your lanai or anywhere on the property. Those caught in the act will be warned or fined. Bird droppings can be a health hazard as well as cause erosion and damage to whatever it lands on.
It’s not uncommon to see pigeons perched on a lanai in Waikiki. They are everywhere and because some people feed them, birds associate humans with receiving a decent meal. Birds may be attracted to your lanai because they were once fed there before, or they spot you eating from a distance. If you have this problem, how do you keep birds from flocking to your lanai? Well, if you’ve seen the Wizard of Oz, using a scarecrow will not work. However, we do have several suggestions that may help.
1. Bird Spikes
These are generally an effective deterrent to birds that land and roost on railings. Birds have excellent vision and can see from a distance that it’s not safe to land and therefore will avoid them. Even though the spikes aren’t terribly sharp and harmful to birds, this may not be the solution for you if you like to comfortably rest your arms on the railing while enjoying the outside view.
2. Flash (Scare) Tape
Flash tape and scare rods create an optical distraction for birds. Birds generally don’t like flashy and moving things. It also emits a light crackling sound in the wind that scares them away. You could also try attaching shiny pinwheels every few feet along your railing with the same effectiveness. However, these may not be a permanent solution since most pigeons are smart and may return after a few weeks once they learn it’s harmless. So, the trick is to change it up and replace it when they get faded.
3. Netting
These cover the entire lanai and prevent birds from nesting. It’s still possible birds may claw the mesh, but they will soon tire and fly off. It’s a good solution to keep birds from entering your lanai without having to keep your shutters closed. However, you must ensure that the net is professionally tethered and secured so it doesn’t fall or get loose. Using netting on your lanai must also be approved by the Board of Directors.
You can buy the above items at Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Amazon, and other local and online retailers.
There are other methods for keeping birds away, but we don’t recommend them. Using an electric bird wire is simply unsafe if not installed professionally. Using an ultrasonic repeller can be irritating to your neighbors. Using repellent gel on the railing and balusters may harm birds and create a sticky mess as everything, including bugs, will stick to it. Using a plastic owl decoy (or scarecrow) may work for a while but it must be properly secured so it doesn’t fall off the lanai. Sooner or later though, the birds will figure out that it’s just another decorative piece to poop on.
The best solution is to eliminate food and water sources, and to be persistent in shooing them away when seen. This will take time and determination, but eventually the birds will not return.
Good research. Mahalo