Campus birds make more than just noise

The birds that roost at night between the Ferguson Social Sciences Building and Sorority Row have been ruffling more than just their own feathers lately.

Fecal matter left behind by Common Starlings and Great-tailed Grackles has been a nuisance to pedestrians on campus for years.

"The birds cause a lot of noise at night and it really smells like bird crap on that side of campus," junior Thomas Dowis said. "It's kind of annoying that I have to walk around a perfectly good sidewalk to get between some of the buildings."

The birds congregate mainly at night.

"The birds accumulate during the evening to roost, or sleep," Professor and Head of Behavioral Ecology Department of Environmental and Biological Services Dr. Jeff Kopachena said. "They like that area because there are probably not as many predators there due to the lights, human activity and steady traffic."

Some students worry that the mounting fecal matter the birds leave behind can cause diseases, but such fears are practically unfounded.

"The health risks associated with the bird droppings are minimal," Kopachena said. "A lot of these diseases are around us everywhere and anywhere. They tend to be more prevalent where organic material accumulates. Most people have at least some resistance to them. Unless you go crawling on your hands and knees in it, you probably will not be at a great risk for these diseases. It's more of an issue for the vegetation and building corrosion. Bird feces has a high content of nutrients, and too many nutrients in the soil can kill grass or even damage the trees."

University maintenance has been dealing with the bird problems for years. With new techniques and technologies they have been remotely successful in the past.

"The bird problem is almost semi-annual," Executive Director of Facilities Management and Support Services David McKenna said, "but it depends of the types of birds and their migration. This year, the bird problem has been pretty bad and we've had to go out there weekly and power wash the sidewalks. We have also been trying to move the birds. We have been using a non-toxic, harm free smoke that they don't like the smell and feel of to get them out of the trees. We can't use anything harmful to the birds, the students or the staff."

Kopachena has been studying a bird population at the Walmart in Sulphur Springs. His studies have indicated that these birds tend to not want to leave.

"If you want to try and implement a control measure for these birds, other than the unpopular lethal actions, it becomes really difficult," Kopachena said.

However, McKenna is optimistic about resolving the problem.

"Right now, we are having a little bit of success," McKenna said, "but the birds will probably come back. I don't know that the problem will ever go away completely; it's a cyclical event. We provide the lighting for safety and the downside of that is the birds gather there, but it's a worthwhile tradeoff. We'll just have to keep doing what we are doing and hopefully they will move on."

Robins, Mississippi Kites, and Western Kingbirds are among the more pleasant birds that Kopachena suggests students keep an eye out for.

"Don't be afraid of the birds, and don't open your mouth when you look up," he said.