Outdoor dining has become essential as many businesses seek to maximise the space available in restaurants and pubs – but for some that means seagulls are even more of a problem.
Having a huge outside space to expand the dining capacity of your bar or restaurant is ideal when accommodating social distancing measures made necessary by the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, for some restaurants, especially those in coastal areas, this move outside will also bring a new battle to keep pest birds at bay.
Why are seagulls a problem for outdoor dining?
Seagulls are classic scavengers – where there is food they will find it.
Moving into urban areas away from their traditional life at sea, seagulls prey on the rich pickings offered by outdoor diners, people enjoying a takeaway and waste food.
It’s not just their numbers, or their propensity for wanting to share your scraps that is the main problem – it is quite often their unexpected confidence in sweeping in and stealing food while a customer is enjoying it.
Not always resorting to such overtly brazen measures, seagulls are quite as happy descending on discarded dishes immediately after diners leave – which is never a great look for other customers – or hovering menacingly nearby while a family frantically tries to finish their meal.
Then, of course, there is the mess and the noise. Wherever pest birds are there will also be bird droppings – this is very difficult for a business to manage and deal with.
On top of that the repeated squawking of seagulls does not create the ideal relaxing environment for diners.
How to control seagulls in outside dining areas
While seagulls can be very difficult to manage there are seagull control measures that your business can put in place to help to protect diners.
The most effective way to contain a problem with seagulls is to deny them access or to make the area inhospitable.
Bird control specialists, such as Total Bird Control, will be able to carry out a site survey and suggest the best measures to deter the birds from repeatedly visiting your premises.
Effective seagull control methods include the installation of bird netting and spikes to make a typical nest and landing areas inhospitable to seagulls. This puts the pest birds off returning to the property and roosting there.
Total Bird Control understands that a seagull problem can be complex and can work with your business to find the best solution.
Safely clearing bird mess
As well as offering seagull control solutions, Total Bird Control can clear and decontaminate areas affected by bird mess. It is important that this is done professionally as bird droppings can be hazardous.
Don’t let a seagull problem ruin your plans for catering for outdoor diners – and take away the opportunity to implement social distancing without compromising on availability. Many people still prefer to eat outdoors when the weather permits.
If you have a problem with seagulls at your business – or want to put in place seagull control measures to prevent a future problem – contact Total Bird Control.
Total Bird Control Bristol
Unit 422, 179 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2AG. Phone 01179059383.
