Has anyone here done bird barrier or bird b gone classes. They are right next to each other in SoCal and offer free one day seminars. Its about 450 miles from me and was wondering if they are worth it. I have zero bird experience

I did the Bird Barrier class years ago. I give it high marks. You will learn things that will work for you in other areas over the years. So my answer is yes it is worth it.
Don LaFountain

yes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

You answered your own question ^^^

I know of course I would learn something, I just don't want to drive 450 for a free sales pitch.

Good point! Sometimes the "seminars" are 90% sales oriented.

Also, bird work is often a major undertaking. Not a lot of WCO's want to get into those type of jobs due to the resources required, both material and physical/labor time. It's good work if you become proficient at solving problems. Two of my three lifts are primarily for bird work, each paid for in a single job.

I know it can be a big deal, I just don't know if my area can support me,just off of mammals. Bats a birds didn't really interest me, but I keep hearing the money is there.

Always advantages to having your own equipment. Repairs on this squirrel job a few days ago were simplified by hauling the scissors lift to the site. Sidewalks allowed access to the main corners. Ground was frozen with a 1/2" of mud on top, making ladder work extremely dangerous. Didn't buy this lift with intentions other than bird netting installation (truck docks, etc), but it has been very beneficial on many types of jobs.

I want a boom lift, but aren't the,over 20K?

I picked mine up (towable, not this one) used for under 10k almost 10 years ago now. However, until you're doing enough work and spending 5 or 6 grand a year on lift rentals, it's better to rent. Price the rental into the bids.

But there is another angle..... you will get more jobs if you have your own lift, due to instant response time. No more haggling with rental companies over available dates or trying to move dates at the last minute due to rain.

If I saw one for und 10k, all I would have to do is mention it to my dad and he would find a way to get it, even being poor as dirt. That man will buy any absurd tool he doesn't need if the price is right

Speaking as a father and a grandfather, buying absurd tools at the right price is what we live for!

Quality bat and bird work can have a decent return, however, quality bat and bird work is not fast work, generally requires special tools and special building materials which is why it costs so much in the first place. There is a big difference between catching and removing a single bat or bird from a building or vent and doing a building/net/ledge exclusion job.

If you can't tell, I don't subscribe to the belief that you can do a bat job in 1 1/2 hours and only use foam, at least not in my service area and charge several thousand dollars for it. The same goes for bird work. I don't believe you can do a quality net job of any decent size in under a couple of hours.

What you'd learn at either of the bird classes is how to quote a bird job, how to select the best product for that job, and how to install the product correctly. The reason they are free is that they want you to know how to do these items so you can use and hopefully purchase their products for these projects.

What you most likely will not learn is how to fill out a US Fish and Wildlife Form 37 (or is it 36, I can never remember), goose control, removal of wood ducks/owls/other birds from a chimney, removal of starlings from bathroom vents, or other common nuisance bird calls.

Everyone who knew about US Fish and Wildlife Form 37 ( or 36, I forget which ) raise your hands. Yeah, me neither. I think form

3-200-36 is for importing and exporting plants and 3-200-37 is for importing and exporting animals.

correct me if im wrong but i was under the impression that a form 37 was a depredaion permit. aka, if you need t use lethal means to remove a federally protected bird, then yes you need a 37. if it isnt federally protected and if you arent killing the bird, you dont need it.

for example, if an owl falls down a chimney, its absurd to think youd have to get a form 37 which will take over a month before you touch the bird.

as for the bird barrier seminars, the one i attended might have been different but t definitely seemed like a product pitch and they didnt even go over hoow to properly install the materials. all they did was tell us what products they offered. all in attendance were wcos. we all knew what they have, which is why we were there. all their products are easy to find on their website. i was dissapointed there was no hands on installation instruction. you get more oout of spending time on the website and watching installation videos

Also, to be fair to bird barrier, their customer service is pretty good. just with an address and pictures, they will give their opinion of what products to use as well as estimate the amount of mterial you will need. they will also explain how to install their materials

Thanks for clearing that up cj. I tried to find out what a Form 37 was on the Feds site. I should have known better; after all, it is

the government.

My understanding (I'm not saying I'm right, just that it is my understanding) is that you need a form 37 if you are going to "take" (which includes capture and release) any bird protected under the MBTA. I know that some modifications have been established (i.e., removal of ducks from enclosed courtyards and immediately released outside) but I don't know if removal of owls from chimneys would be included. I can see someone saying that we aren't qualified to perform that work and only Category II licensed rehabilitaters are qualified to do this but I also see the majority of the time no one getting all upset over it either. I believe depends on the attitude of the individual responsible for enforcing it.

As for the sales pitch, I'd say it was the class you attended and who instructed it. I've attended several Bird Barrier classes over the years and all of them had simple hands-on for installation of netting, shock track, bird slide, and more.