A loading dock is the weakest point in a building's defences. The doors are open for most of the working day, there is food waste and packaging around, and the canopy overhead gives birds a sheltered ledge with a clear view of everything coming and going. Deal with the dock and you usually deal with the warehouse behind it.
There are two separate problems here and they need different answers: birds nesting in the dock structure, and birds flying through the doors into the building.
Stopping Birds Coming Through the Doors
This is the job most sites get wrong, because a door that has to stay open cannot simply be closed. Flock Free lists two products for exactly this application.
Flock Free O3 Invisible Netting – Ozone Bird Repellent
$220.00
Recommended by Flock Free above entrances and loading dock doors to discourage birds from entering the building. Treats up to 500 square feet per unit. Draws under 3 watts, so several units run from one outlet. Covered areas only.
Heavy Duty Strip Curtain Kit 8' x 8'
$512.00
8' x 8' kit. Heavy-duty UV-resistant vinyl, cut to length, hardware included.
Heavy Duty Strip Curtain Kit 8' x 10'
$506.00
8' x 10' kit. Heavy-duty UV-resistant vinyl, cut to length, hardware included.
Heavy Duty Strip Curtain Kit 10' x 8'
$506.00
10' x 8' kit. Heavy-duty UV-resistant vinyl, cut to length, hardware included.
Heavy Duty Strip Curtain Kit 10' x 12'
$999.00
10' x 12' kit for the largest openings. Heavy-duty UV-resistant vinyl, hardware included.
Strip curtains are described by Flock Free for man doors, loading docks, racking and conveyor belts. They stay workable for traffic while closing the opening to birds.
Closing the Dock Canopy
The canopy over the bays is usually where the nests are. Netting closes the void; the concrete anchors match how docks are actually built.
Bird Netting High Tensile Black 3/4" Mesh 50' x 50'
$755.00
3/4 inch mesh, 50 ft by 50 ft, black. 12-ply UV-resistant HDPE, 75 lb knotted breaking strength, steam-set knots.
Bird Netting Sidewinder Concrete Pack of 25
$95.78
Pack of 25 concrete anchors for fixing the netting perimeter to concrete structures.
The rest of the perimeter hardware — cable, brackets, clips, rings, turnbuckles and zip panels — is in the full netting range. For sizing a dock canopy, call 732-987-5400.
Taking Away the Perches
Dock steelwork, door tracks and the tops of bumpers and guardrails all give birds somewhere to sit directly over the bay.
Stainless Steel Bird Spikes – 100 ft
$325.00
7.5 inch coverage width, 100 ft boxes of 2 ft sections. Adhesive or screw fixing; the flexible base follows curved surfaces. Flock Free lists loading bay structures among the intended applications.
The Waste Area Behind the Dock
Most dock bird problems are really food problems. The bin store and compactor area is what brings birds to the site in the first place, and treating it is often what finally moves them on. For use around children and pets. Use as directed.
Scent Pucks for Bird Control
$22.99
For small enclosed spaces such as bin stores, storage areas and warehouses. Cannot be shipped to Connecticut or Indiana.
Flock Free Bird Bombs (5 pcs)
$41.99
Five absorbent bombs for enclosed spaces such as bins, dumpsters and storage. Soak in Flock Free Bird Repellent, sold separately.
Flock Free Bird Bomb Bundle
$31.99
Bundle option for the same application. Requires Flock Free Bird Repellent, sold separately.
Flock Free Bird Repellent Concentrate, 1 gallon
$395.00
1 gallon concentrate. Dilute and spray on buildings, pipes and beams — and the fluid the Bird Bombs are soaked in.
Where To Start
If birds are getting inside the building, start at the door — strip curtains on the bays in daily use, or an ozone unit above the opening. If they are nesting overhead, net the canopy and spike the steel. If the bin area is what is attracting them, treat that at the same time or the birds will simply come back.
Prices shown as listed at the time of publication.
Related Bird Control Resources
See also bird control for warehouses and the broader covered areas page. Loading docks are most often a problem with pigeons, starlings, sparrows and seagulls. You can also browse the full Bird Control range.