Bye, bye birdies
Flares used to shoo birds
Traviss Witt
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
Students walking through campus recently may have been startled by thunderous blasts overhead. And if everything had gone according to plan, that sound would be followed by hundreds of birds frantically evacuating the treetops in search of more congenial roosting haunts.
That's because university work crews over the past week have been firing flares into the treetops in attempts to relocate large flocks of birds that have descended upon campus.
"We're showing really good improvement," said Rich Middleton, director of facility services, adding that the flares have been having the desired effect, scaring away many of the birds and hopefully discouraging them from returning.
Although the process of removing birds from an area can sometimes take as long as five weeks, Middleton said he's been pleased with the progress the crews have made thus far. He said that the blasting could wrap up as soon as next week.
Middleton said the birds-mostly starlings-have been something of a recurring nuisance for the university. The birds could present some health risks, mostly because they tend to blanket areas with their droppings. The birds posed a similar problem several years ago when they descended en masse on campus, requiring similar tactics. But they hadn't returned-at least not in any serious numbers-until this past winter, Middleton said.
He said he's not entirely sure why the birds show up when they do, but he said it's obvious that they favor certain spots on campus: particularly any place where there are large magnolia trees. Those spots, he said, include the Keith Building, the Alumni House and in some locations around the Ravine.
Eastern is not alone in trying to ward off large flocks of starlings. The birds have also been known to pester commuters and other Washington D.C. inhabitants, where magnolia trees are common. In fact, the White House itself has had to periodically fire flares to scare the birds from the estate's grounds.
Middleton said if any students encounter areas where there are large amount of bird droppings they should steer clear and alert facility services to the location.
That's because university work crews over the past week have been firing flares into the treetops in attempts to relocate large flocks of birds that have descended upon campus.
"We're showing really good improvement," said Rich Middleton, director of facility services, adding that the flares have been having the desired effect, scaring away many of the birds and hopefully discouraging them from returning.
Although the process of removing birds from an area can sometimes take as long as five weeks, Middleton said he's been pleased with the progress the crews have made thus far. He said that the blasting could wrap up as soon as next week.
Middleton said the birds-mostly starlings-have been something of a recurring nuisance for the university. The birds could present some health risks, mostly because they tend to blanket areas with their droppings. The birds posed a similar problem several years ago when they descended en masse on campus, requiring similar tactics. But they hadn't returned-at least not in any serious numbers-until this past winter, Middleton said.
He said he's not entirely sure why the birds show up when they do, but he said it's obvious that they favor certain spots on campus: particularly any place where there are large magnolia trees. Those spots, he said, include the Keith Building, the Alumni House and in some locations around the Ravine.
Eastern is not alone in trying to ward off large flocks of starlings. The birds have also been known to pester commuters and other Washington D.C. inhabitants, where magnolia trees are common. In fact, the White House itself has had to periodically fire flares to scare the birds from the estate's grounds.
Middleton said if any students encounter areas where there are large amount of bird droppings they should steer clear and alert facility services to the location.
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