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Birds and sports not a good mix
31 Jul, 2008 By: Kelly CrostTake me out to the ball game take me out to the birds... Baseball season doesn't just bring fans and food to our ball parks; birds have earned their right in being a main attraction or rather distraction when you hit the stands at most sports arenas.
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Randy Johnson pitcher for the Diamondbacks' is known for his fastball, but the strike he delivered one Saturday ended up killing a dove that was also hoping for a home run.
Catcher Rod Barajas stated "I'm sitting there waiting for it, and I'm expecting to catch the thing, and all you see is an explosion."
Although, these incidents are sometimes unexpected they are definitely not unusual. On August 4, 1983 Yankees outfielder Dave Winfield killed a seagull in Toronto while warming up. The Ontario police charged him with animal cruelty. The charges were later dropped, but it was not forgotten. Baseball hasn't been the only sport afflicted by birds. Recently, Wimbledon, the legendary tennis tournament became a bird's playground as pigeons swooped down on Centre Court distracting players and fans. The visual deterrents in place, which happened to be hawks, had failed to keep the pigeons away from the court and stadium restaurant. Authority members of the tournament decided to take a more abrasive approach and hired skilled marksmen to cull the pigeons causing an outrage from People of the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The tournament organizers defended their reason for shooting the birds, expressing that the pigeon droppings on the restaurant tables were thought to be a health hazard. PETA instantly complained and reported the incident to the Wildlife Crime Unit of the Metropolitan Police. Vice President Bruce Fredrich found the decision to shoot the pigeons was that the birds were an inconvenience rather than a true health hazard.
These are just two incidents where birds have caused players and organizers to be faced with legal complications. However, there are those who have learned their lesson and decided to take a more proactive approach by preventing the birds from invading their stadiums. In 2003, the Great American Ball Park home of the Cincinnati Reds quickly developed a bird problem. Hundreds of pigeons and starlings built nests and roosted in the stadium causing health concerns and property deterioration. The pigeon droppings were overwhelming which resulted in 12 hours of excrement clean-up. Declan Mullin, vice president of the ballpark decided that the park had had enough and decided to turn to a pest control company for help. The park decided to use polypropylene netting, which would block birds from roosting. Mullin expressed that they saw a dramatic change instantly.
Not far from Ohio, Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL, was facing their own bird crisis and were in desperate need of a bird deterrent. Pigeons began to roost on the beams, which supported the upper deck of the stadium and didn't make for a pretty sight for those who sat under them. Although, not an ideal situation for cub fans, the ballpark management's concern is the concession areas, where food is being prepared and served.
Kevin Connelly, the General Manager of Premier Pest Elimination in Chicago stated, "Food service and pigeon excrement don't mix."
Connelly was right. Bird feces can carry over 60 different diseases. Histoplasmosis, one of the more common diseases found in bird droppings can cause high fever, blood abnormalities, pneumonia and even death. Cryptococcosis is another disease that comes specifically from pigeon excrement and can result in lung disease. Wrigley Field decided to invest in bird control that would prevent lawsuits pertaining to unsanitary conditions or slip and fall accidents. The Chicago Cubs Organization installed ultrasonic devices that covered the entire stadium. The devices used projects ultrasonic sound waves that repel birds and other nuisance critters. The machine incorporates the birds' own distress calls to repel unwelcome visitors.
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Whichever sport you prefer, no stadium is free from birds. Baseballs, tennis, football all have faced an issue with birds invading their "playgrounds." Besides the annoyance and inconvenience that these pests can cause, the real issue at stake is how it can affect the stadium and health of the players and fans. Many sporting arenas have taken preventative measures and have invested in some sort of pest control, but for those who think they can do without will be battling with the birds.
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