A scarecrow is an effigy of a human being specifically designed for scaring birds away from someone's property. Traditional scarecrows are figures with raggedy clothes stuffed with straw and placed above a farmer's crops for birds to see. Different types of scarecrows exist for scaring various sorts of birds. Scarecrows made of black plastic bags surrounding wooden stakes are effective at deterring waterfowl from rice fields. The Scarey Man is a battery-operated scarecrow that inflates its body every five minutes and releases a high-pitched wail. Scarey Man scarecrows are frequently used in the Mississippi Delta by catfish farmers who want to ward off cormorants.
Loud and alarming noises disturb birds and prevent them from occupying a rooftop or garden. Mobile sound devices, such as speakers, allow people to move the source of the sound to different locations if necessary. Some birds, such as magpies, are easier to scare if they hear sounds while flying, says the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Ultrasonic bird repeller devices make high-pitched sounds. The pitches emitted from these devices are so high that humans are not able to hear them. Most ultrasonic bird repeller devices are small and easy to maneuver into strategic locations for bird removal.
If sound devices do not permanently drive birds away, homeowners rely on visual tactics to frighten birds. Birds retreat at the sight of predators, such as hawks, owls and cats, and homeowners use this to their advantage. Place a figure of one of the aforementioned predators near possible nesting sites, including rooftops and fences. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the success of visual scare tactics varies depending on the amount of birds and the species. If a visual scare tactic does not work after seven days, homeowners must try another tactic.
According to Iowa State University's Extension program, positioning balloons on your property is a possible method for scaring birds. However, regular balloons do not scare birds. Balloons with the image of a predator's eyes, also known as scare-eye balloons, have a more devastating effect on a bird's psyche. The birds are also intimidated by the balloon's bright colors. Adding streamers makes the balloon appear to have tail feathers.