In addition to these traits, there are four other key traits to look for when shopping for the best bird deterrent. Consider deterrence effectiveness, life expectancy, the potential impact on the environment, and ease of installation and use.
Effectiveness
Not all deterrents are created equal, and they won’t work for every bird. Spend a week or two observing the birds in your garden, then investigate which deterrent is best for those specific birds. In general, deterrence against small birds may be effective against almost all small birds, while deterrence against large birds is generally effective against every large bird.
Life Cycle
When shopping for bird repellant, investigate how long the product is supposed to last. As outdoor products, they experience wear and tear even in temperate climates. Weather conditions such as rain, snow, wind, and sun will slowly weaken the deterrent.
If you live in a harsher, colder climate with frequent snowstorms and blizzards, consider investing in a stronger deterrent. Metal bird spikes and rods generally last longer than plastic, but they can be a more significant upfront investment. Bird scare owls are usually made of plastic, and if they have moving parts or lights, they can malfunction and require maintenance or replacement.
Environmental Friendliness
Today’s bird deterrents are often environmentally friendly, but some may not. As mentioned, bird spike deterrents can look intimidating, but they are completely safe and harmless to birds.
Anti Bird Reflective Scare Rods are generally harmless to birds. However, if the manufacturer uses stickers to create their sheen or sparkle, they may flake off over time. Birds or other small animals can find these stickers and eat them. Be aware of these issues and proactively replace or remove parts or entire products when they are no longer safe.
Easy to install and use
Both the spike and rod deterrents are relatively easy to install.
Bird spikes are usually attached to a strip of metal and plastic and must be secured to a surface with nails, screws, or adhesive.
The pole is usually hung from a branch or pole, similar to a bird feeder pole. If you have a tree in your garden or near your property, installing a pole bird guard is usually easy. However, installing this type of deterrent becomes more difficult if there is no tree or the branches on the tree are too high.
Bird scare owls are fairly easy to use and install. The package usually includes two screws with two holes in the base for attaching the owl to a fence post or deck rail. Once the battery or solar panel is in place and the owl is installed, it is fully functional.
