AviAway Targeting Program

When Targeting Is Necessary

AviAway, LLC advises our clients to exhaust all other options for removing pest birds from a facility before utilizing the specialized targeting services. Furthermore, we recommend identifying ingress points and mitigating them before employing this method of bird control and advise our clients to try and remove the pest birds via live capture programs or mist nets before utilizing a targeting service. Targeting is a last resort option and should only be used when nuisance bird activities have impacted public health.

Steps to Implementation

As a company that specializes in humane bird control, AviAway has to meet a number of requirements before performing our service. As stated prior, we strongly encourage our clients to exhaust all other options first, including trapping the birds. Though we can only target 3 species legally, there are numerous restrictions such as state and local guidelines for any additional rules or regulations on top of those set in place by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Once we ensure all laws and regulations have been followed successfully, and after inspection and site-specific plans are developed by our experienced team, we enlist law enforcement personnel (active/retired) who will be performing the targeting, and follow up with proper disposal methods.

Follow all Laws & Regulations

Targeting birds is a delicate and detailed process. We must follow many layers of requirements from start to finish, both for the protection of the wildlife and the safety of all impacted by the pest birds. The first and most critical step in considering a bird removal targeting service to remove pest birds from within a facility is proper bird species identification. We have broken down these requirements for you below.

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) is the foundation for bird protection and conservation in the United States. In 1913, congress recognized that several bird species were in decline and deemed it illegal to shoot birds without permission except under certain circumstances outlined by this law.

The MBTA is a strict liability law, meaning intent to break this law is not needed in order to convict someone. Penalties can be steep for those caught breaking this law.

Endangered Species Act

The MBTA protects approximately 83% of migratory bird species found in the United States. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) protects another 9% of birds in the United States on its own, and another 5% are protected by both the MBTA and ESA.

A total of three bird species, the House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, and the Common Starling, are not protected after taking these regulations into account. These birds are not covered under the MBTA or ESA because they were introduced to the United States by humans and are not native to this continent.

State and Local Guidelines

Most states defer to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but it is still important to check them as well as local guidelines for other regulations they may have. Most local guidelines we have had to follow in the past are regulations pertaining to the discharge of a firearm. In most circumstances, these law enforcement agencies will also require that we provide notification that we are performing targeting services and what the effected area will be.

American Veterinary Medical Association

The last step in confirming we are following all correct protocols is to ensure compliance with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. The AVMA’s 2013 edition considers the House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, and the Common Starling “Free-Ranging Wildlife.” Free-Ranging Wildlife may only be humanely euthanized by specifically proscribed methodology.

Evaluate the Problem

After all client options have been exhausted and the pest birds remain within a facility, a site assessment will be conducted. Once the correct bird species has been identified and it is confirmed that the pest bird is either a House Sparrow, Common Starling, or a Feral Pigeon, a targeting plan will be developed.

During the site assessment, the facility will be surveyed, and our team will identify any potential hazards and consult our safety plan ahead of time to make sure that we are prepared for anything. We'll collect a variety of data at each site, including the species in question, bird nesting or roosting sites identified, as well as numbers observed so we can better understand population size on location. In some instances, there are only three or four birds and in others, there may be hundreds. Once the evaluation is completed we take that information and create an action plan, and a written safety plan is drafted.

Conduct Targeting Service

Aviaway exclusively employs experienced law enforcement personnel (active and retired) to perform our bird removal targeting services. Personnel with Aviaway, LLC ensure that the highest standards of safety and marksmanship are employed, with the responsible delivery of service that clients expect of law enforcement professionals. Our specialists are required to be very highly skilled. They typically have advanced sniper/marksman training and experience well above and beyond the mandatory minimum state training requirements for law enforcement certification. High standards ensure that our bird removal services are accurate, highly effective, and humane.

Complete Bird Cleanup

Pest birds are at risk of being carriers of diseases and therefore they must be handled appropriately. When the birds have been targeted, the cleanup process commences immediately. Birds are collected, and immediately picked up and disposed of in an efficient manner. This is an essential step in the targeting process, as it prevents a hazardous environment from developing. The importance of this step being done right cannot be stressed enough, and we ensure every t is crossed and every i dotted to ensure a high level of safety is in place once every step of the targeting service is completed.

The Safety Process

Performing a bird removal targeting service may be the only effective way of getting rid of pest birds from within a commercial building. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a grocery store, a mall, a warehouse, or a parking garage. Birds such as pigeons, sparrows and starlings can pose a variety of problems for commercial building owners and occupants. When you schedule a bird removal targeting, it’s important to understand all of the safety aspects that go along with the performance of the service.

Our targeting programs ensure that all of the pest birds will be removed from a facility with precision, and in the safest manner possible. Indoor targeting presents unique and unusual concerns for bird removal. The presence of windows at various elevations, skylights, lighting fixtures, fire suppression and smoke/fire detection components, mechanical systems, wiring and cabling, etc., as well as the probability that staff will be on site, all dictate that the most prudent targeting decisions are made. At times, the best tactic is to delay targeting a pest bird if the circumstances are not ideal. Our staff have the training, experience and discretion to execute a targeting plan with impeccable judgment and prudence.

Bird Control Done Right

When it comes to bird removal, safety is of the utmost importance. The birds can be a severe threat, and you need to ensure that they are removed from your commercial building in as safe, efficient, and effective a manner as possible. This means hiring professionals who have gone through training for this specific type of work. Not all companies use the same level of safety when performing bird removal targeting. It is in your best interest to make inquiries and ask for references. Doing so will make choosing the best company in your area much more effortless and help you feel secure. At AviAway, we're confident that our team has the experience and expertise necessary to protect you against any potential danger while also ensuring we handle the process professionally and efficiently. Have these tips helped you make a decision? If not, we invite you to call us or send us an email with any questions so we can help!