Owning a static caravan is a dream come true for many – a home away from home that offers freedom and flexibility for holidaying in some of the most scenic locations in the UK. However peaceful and relaxing this may be, there is one issue that many static caravan owners find difficult to manage – and this, as strange as it may sound, is the occurrence of birds landing on the roof. This is something that may not be viewed as a major problem until it actually happens.
Birds can be beautiful and captivating to observe in the sky or whilst perched on trees but are a nuisance when they decide to perch on the roof on a regular basis. Birds on the roof can cause a whole range of different problems from nuisance noise which interrupts sleep, damage to the roof itself during nesting with the sticks and debris carried to the nest site, the mess left behind and of course the droppings.
Bird droppings can be dangerous to humans, they are highly toxic and can cause a range of serious illnesses such as histoplasmosis, psittacosis, toxoplasmosis, salmonella, and various pulmonary illnesses. Some people with pre-existing health conditions, pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to these diseases. Bird droppings spread easily, they can dry and blow in the wind or become mixed with rainwater runoff and seep down the sides of the caravan; cleaning up the bird droppings can lead to inhaling dry particles and the subsequent exposure to disease.
Avoidance and prevention are of course much better than regular clean-up operations and enduring the noise and mess. Thankfully there are several preventative measures that can be taken to keep birds off the roof of your static caravan.
There are several types of visual decoys available that are generally simple and inexpensive, they are also animal friendly and do not harm the birds in any way.
Replicas of birds of prey and owls will actively deter birds from landing on the roof as they associate the roof will become associate with danger. There are several different types of replicas – some of which may be better deterrents than others, however, any replica models will need to be moved from time to time; if the predatory bird is always perched in the same place, the other birds will realise it does not pose any threat to them.
A simple yet effective solution that helps to keep birds away from the caravan roof – the hanging strips on the roof will not only blow in the wind and rustle and the reflective surface will shine in the light and deter the birds from landing.
Any type of object that moves is likely to scare birds, there are a number of different options such as scare balloons, windsocks, and kites, all of which will flap in the wind and deter birds from landing on the roof.
A piece of equipment designed to sit on the roof of the static caravan and release a sharp, unpleasant ultrasonic sound as soon as motion is detected, providing an excellent deterrent. There are solar panel powered versions available by some retailers.
This is a highly effective method of deterring birds as they effectively leave no space for the birds to land on. They can be easily installed onto most types of rooves and surfaces – the spikes are not visually imposing and do not interfere with the aesthetics of the caravan.
Our family-run Powys caravan park is located in the scenic Mid Wales countryside on a vast site that encloses beautiful forest walks. We offer a range of static caravans for sale and our collective years of static caravan experience, allow us to provide comprehensive advice on maintenance and pest control. For more information on our services, get in touch today.
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