If you ride your bike across the I-5 bridge between Portland and Vancouver you now have more than just a narrow and sketchy pathway to deal with.
The Columbian reported Friday that ODOT is using cannon fire to scare off flocks of birds that congregate on the bridge.
Here’s a snip from the article:
“Starting Monday, four propane-powered air cannons will fire off at random times over a two-hour period late afternoons and evenings to scare the critters off. The cannons won’t be used every day; they will be fired on a random schedule so the birds don’t get too comfortable with the routine. The process will continue until Feb. 29.
Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians in particular will hear the blasts, which could come as often as every 15 seconds.”
ODOT has reportedly placed signs near the path to warn people about the noise.
Read more on Columbian.com.
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Yeah, it went off right above my head Monday evening. It\’s not too bad – about as loud as a gunshot, which isn\’t all that much louder than the big rigs flying by four feet away on the other side of the steel girders.
Didn\’t they do this before. Maybe last year this same time?
At the time I murmured, \”guy needs a new muffler\”. But after a few times I realized it must be man-made. First few times it is jarring.
At least this time, they have had signs posted for a few weeks as a warning.
The birds are all over that bridge. Surprised I haven\’t been pooped on more often. Not to mention how slippery the concrete is when wet from rain and bird droppings.
Seen this tried before at a previous employers\’ private pond that was being overwhelmed by Canadian Geese pooping all over the place and charging employees. Geese loved it because the pond didn\’t freeze over in the winter. (this was when I lived in Chicago)
The cannon fire failed.
It wasn\’t until they brought in a 3 swans (1 female and 2 male) that the geese left.
Rick…Yes when I cross the bridge this time of year…with the bird poop…being mixed with rainfall dirt and kicked up into the air by truck mudflap blasts…if this could be a public health vector…a bird flu atomizer. I try not to inhale too deep.
Where are the county health department agents? Any chance of an inspection here or the other bird fouled bridge areas?
Slightly off-topic, but the goose problem is increasing as more and more Canadian geese have given up migrating South, and rely on people feeding them corn. since they feel most comfortable on clean, manicured banks, like where the grass is cut right to the edge of the water, one strategy is to encourage natural banks with tall reeds around urban waterways where geese are a problem.
Yes, geese are wild animals, too, but like pigeons, rats, and gray squirrels, their numbers are much greater as a direct result of human behavior, to the detriment of many other species.
2 questions:
Will a potato fit into one of these cannons? And if so where can I get one?
Gram #5:
\”Will a potato fit into one of these cannons? And if so where can I get one?\”
Potato or cannon?
On a more serious note, the cannons have been there and used from time to time for over a year. It\’s an ongoing effort after other control measures failed. Most of the birds are starlings, an aggressive, non-native, invasive pest that are displacing native birds. Consider them to be kudzu with feathers. If the cannon fire doesn\’t do the job, then authorities should consider controlling population by spraying the birds with detergent at this time of year. It doesn\’t take much, and if a biodegradable detergent is used, causes minimal environmental impact. It works by making the birds get wet during a cold rain causing them to drop & die of hypothermia. Of course animal rights activists will be up in arms over such an approach, but it comes down to who is more important, people or the invading pests.
I\’m sure this suggestion will get a really good non-bike-related discussion going – something to keep us entertained on these cold winter nights.
Regards.