Pipes Killing Birds

The following information was sent in by Rick Krueger of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Many thanks, Rick!  I’m sure that most people are not aware of this problem.

I wanted to make sure you all were aware of the problem of pipes killing lots of birds.  Small birds, mostly cavity-nesters, frequently investigate these pipe-openings, often after first perching on top. Once they enter a pipe, the birds become trapped; the width doesn’t allow for wing-opening, and the sides are far too smooth to allow climbing out.  The pipe becomes a deadly trap.

Of course there's a relatively easy solution, cap it or plug it, but it appears that not many people know how deadly some of these pipes are.

Pipes of all sizes are a problem

We have found dead birds in pipes from 1 1/2” to 10” in diameter. A very high percentage of pipes I’ve looked into contain at least one dead bird.  And pipes don’t have to be in place very long.  Twice I have leaned a 3” steel pipe against a building, expecting to use it within a few days, only to find dead birds inside.  Two House Finches in one and a Rock Wren in another.

In our area 8-10” steel pipe (often old well casing) is used to make gate posts.

This is common on ranches. I’ve also seen this on some BLM and/or USFS gates.  We’ve documented dead American Kestrels, Northern Flickers, Ash-throated Flycatchers.

• "3” steel pipe – used for fence corner posts – house finches & rock wren
• "1 1/2 - 2” plastic pipe – tree swallow
• "2-3” outhouse vent pipe – common yellowthroat

There is more information at: http://focusingonwildlife.com/millions-of-bird-deaths-in-nevada.html

Solutions

• Remove pipes that can be removed
• Plug pipes with sand/gravel or a heavy well fitted rock. Even a few sticks if absolutely nothing else around.
• Pipes that can’t be capped – eg. Plumbing vent pipes (on your rooftop) – cover with1/4” mesh hardware cloth held in place by a stainless steel hose clamp
• Large gate posts – fill with sand, concrete or gravel. Weld on steel caps – some ranches do this, or we have capped with a concrete plug.
• Small steel pipes – used for signs or chain link fence posts – cap with metal cap or crimp top together."