Warning over serious disease threat thanks to birds at street parties

As we approach the King’s Coronation, communities across the country are preparing for street parties to celebrate the occasion and pest birds such as pigeons and gulls may also make an unfortunate appearance – with their fouling not only being unsightly but also associated with a number of potentially harmful diseases.

An individual feral pigeon deposits around 12 kg of excrement each year, this is equivalent to approximately 50 times its body weight.

Unfortunately, with the abundance of food being bought for the Coronation celebrations – which the British public is expected to spend £134.25 million on alone – and street parties and picnics being planned which will act as a magnet for pest birds looking for an easy meal. Excrement from pigeons and gulls not only leaves a nasty mess, but breathing dust or water droplets containing contaminated bird droppings can lead to several diseases, including a flu-like illness called psittacosis or even salmonella, a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps.

Paul Blackhurst, Head of Technical Academy at Rentokil Pest Control, said: “It is extremely important to get one step ahead of the pest birds that will be looking for an easy meal this Bank Holiday weekend but pose a public health threat. Whilst the British public is out and celebrating, pests will see this as a window of opportunity for scavenging whatever is left behind. Feral pigeons and gulls often aren’t afraid of people and have adapted to modern ways of living, so we recommend acting swiftly to ensure that one single bird doesn’t quickly become a flock.”

Here are some top tips for helping to keep your street party free from unwanted avian visitors this weekend:

1. Clear up food waste and leftovers quickly.

2. Encourage your Coronation street party guests not to feed the birds.

3. Make sure bin lids are secure and rubbish bags are not left in the open – gulls have sharp beaks that will make short work of bin bags.

4. Keep food covered, and make use of containers that come with lids.

5. Another option to consider would be the use of fake decoy birds of prey or bird scarer kites – which work by mimicking birds of prey – to deter the presence of pest birds.