Effigy and Compound to Affect Bird Behavior

Abstract

An exemplary device is an effigy of a bird predator treated with a compound that irritates birds via the avian trigeminal pathway. Another exemplary device is an effigy of a bird predator that includes a supply of a compound that irritates birds via the avian trigeminal pathway. An exemplary method of abating birds from a structure includes treating an effigy of a bird predator with a compound that irritates bird via the avian trigeminal pathway and positioning the treated effigy in the structure. Other exemplary devices, system and methods are also disclosed.

1 . A method for modifying behavior of an animal, the method comprising:
 simultaneously providing an effigy of a predator for the animal and a repellent that comprises a trigeminal nerve irritant for the animal,   wherein sight of the effigy causes a fright response and exposure to the repellent causes an aversion response,   wherein the animal forms an association between the fright response and the aversion response, and   wherein the association reinforces the fright response of the animal to sight of the effigy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animal is a bird. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the repellent comprises methyl anthranilate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the effigy comprises an owl. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the effigy comprises an effigy treated with the repellent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the effigy comprises a reservoir for the repellent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animal comprises a mammal and the repellent comprises capsaicin. 
     
     
         8 . A method for abating birds from produce crops that allows for organic certification and/or product labeling, the method comprising:
 providing an effigy of a bird predator wherein the effigy comprises a compound that irritates birds via the avian trigeminal pathway; and   positioning the effigy in a field of the produce crops to abate birds.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the effigy comprises a reservoir for the compound. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the effigy comprises an effigy treated with the compound. 
     
     
         11 . An effigy of a bird predator, the effigy treated with a compound that irritates birds via the avian trigeminal pathway. 
     
     
         12 . The effigy of  claim 11  wherein the compound comprises methyl anthranilate. 
     
     
         13 . The effigy of  claim 11  wherein the effigy comprises an owl effigy. 
     
     
         14 . The effigy of  claim 11  wherein the effigy comprises a hawk effigy. 
     
     
         15 . The effigy of  claim 11  wherein the effigy comprises one or more attachment mechanisms to hoist the effigy. 
     
     
         16 . The effigy of  claim 11  wherein the effigy comprises a re-treated effigy. 
     
     
         17 . An effigy of a bird predator comprising a supply of a compound that irritates birds via the avian trigeminal pathway. 
     
     
         18 . The effigy of  claim 17  wherein the compound comprises methyl anthranilate. 
     
     
         19 . The effigy of  claim 17  wherein the effigy comprises an owl effigy. 
     
     
         20 . The effigy of  claim 17  wherein the effigy comprises a hawk effigy. 
     
     
         21 . The effigy of  claim 17  wherein the effigy further comprises electronic circuitry. 
     
     
         22 . The effigy of  claim 21  wherein the electronic circuitry monitors the supply of the compound. 
     
     
         23 . The effigy of  claim 22  wherein the electronic circuitry issues a signal related to the supply of the compound. 
     
     
         24 . The effigy of  claim 23  wherein the signal comprises an auditory or a visual signal. 
     
     
         25 . The effigy of  claim 17  wherein the supply comprises a supply contained in a container. 
     
     
         26 . The effigy of  claim 17  wherein the supply comprises a supply contained in a porous substrate. 
     
     
         27 . The effigy of  claim 26  wherein the porous substrate comprises foam. 
     
     
         28 . A method of abating birds from a structure, the method comprising:
 treating an effigy of a bird predator with a compound that irritates bird via the avian trigeminal pathway; and   positioning the treated effigy in the structure.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising repeating the treating. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the abated birds comprise pigeons.