Methods for Excluding Cliff Swallows from Nesting on Highway Structures

Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) are colonially breeding migratory birds that frequently nest on highway structures. Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, nesting control methods cannot harm swallows or active nests. This causes problems and delays for structures and maintenance divisions of many departments of transportation. Two aversion strategies, bioacoustic deterrents and surface modifications, were evaluated for their effect on cliff swallow nesting behavior. The bioacoustic deterrents (BC) consisted of sonic devices that broadcast 8 unique recordings of alarm and distress calls. Surface modification consisted of plastic sheeting with a low coefficient of friction. In year 1, surface modifications with high density polyethylene (HDPE) sheeting were mounted on the vertical surfaces at typical nesting locations. Twenty-eight bridges in the Sacramento Valley of California were used to test the aversion strategies, using a 22 factorial design with 7 replicates. In year 2, silicone-based paint and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, commonly called Teflon) sheeting were evaluated as surface modifications. Nine bridges were divided into three treatment groups: control (no treatment), silicone paint, and PTFE. In year 3, 15 bridges were divided into three treatment groups: control (no treatment), PTFE, and PTFE+BC. Each year, completed nests were counted on a weekly basis for several months. In year 1, both broadcast calls and HDPE treatments reduced the number of nests built at a site, but neither treatment nor the combination completely stopped nesting. In year 2, swallows were able to complete nests on silicone paint, but did not successfully complete any nests on PTFE. Silicone paint was determined to be an ineffective surface modification. In year 3, nests were completed at all control sites, and several PTFE and PTFE+BC sites. Nests built at sites with PTFE or PTFE+BC were never started on the PTFE sheeting itself, but instead on the bare concrete and next to the sheeting or at a location where sheeting had peeled away from the surface. Altogether, these tests indicated that only PTFE was wholly effective in preventing cliff swallows from building on a treated surface, however nests were still completed at non-covered locations on the bridge surface or at locations of failed sheeting attachment. Broadcast calls (BC) reduced the number of completed nests by delaying the onset of building, but did not stop nest construction altogether.

• Record URL:
  https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/research-innovation-system-information/documents/f0016601-swallow-nesting.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://merritt.cdlib.org/api/presign-file/ark%253A%252F13030%252Fm5c86xwn/2/producer%252FCA05-0926.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/502280279
• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Davis

  Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
  One Shields Avenue
  Davis, CA  United States  95616

  California Department of Transportation

  Division of Research and Innovation
  1227 O Street, MS-83
  Sacramento, CA  United States  94273-0001
• Authors:
  • Delwiche, Michael J
  • Salmon, Terrell P
  • Coates, Robert W
  • Gorenzel, W Paul
• Publication Date: 2009-8-24

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 27p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Birds; Materials and structures protection; Wildlife
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01151219
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Report/Paper Numbers: CA05-0926
• Contract Numbers: 65A0220
• Files: CALTRANS, TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 25 2010 10:07AM