War with the birds to be waged with firecrackers, noise-cannons

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Its significant number of magnolia trees attracts as many as 500,000 starlings and blackbirds to nest on campus. Health issues raised by their droppings have motivated officials to drive them from their nests, beginning Jan. 11.

They're back. Those pesky little starlings and blackbirds are causingproblems -- mainly bird droppings and possible health hazards -- at Vanderbilt University. As a result, the war is on and the campaign to remove the birds from campus, complete with noise-making devices, will begin Thursday, Jan. 11, and continue until Feb. 9.

"We have to disrupt their roosting patterns for a few weeks," said Jon Gullette, associate vice chancellor for plant operations. "From 5:30 to 7 a.m., the time the birds usually leave their roosts, and from 4 to 5:30 p.m., the time they come back, we will use a variety of noise-making devices in an effort to get them to leave campus."

The loudest noises will come in the late afternoon. That's when propane percussion cannons -- no projectiles -- and firecrackers will be used, said Mark Petty, director of general services. In the morning, a recording of birds in distress will be played to rouse the starlings and blackbirds from their nests.

Almost six years ago Vanderbilt was under siege by more than a half-million birds. That was the first time the noise war against the birds was used. "We don't have as many birds now as we did several years ago, but we want to make sure we stop the problem before it gets out of hand," Gullette said. "We learned a lot from that past lesson."

The first wave of new complaints about the bird droppings came in late December from faculty and staff at Olin Hall and Stevenson Center, Petty said. The operation will concentrate on the north and central campus and also include Kissam Quadrangle, the Law School and Vanderbilt Clinic.

"We should remember bird droppings can become a health hazard, particularly in the Nashville/Ohio Valley area where mold spores are commonly found in soil and dust," said Dr. John Greene, director of student health. The main health culprit is histoplasmosis, an infection caused by inhaling spores of fungus - a fungus found in bird droppings. "When the bird droppings dry and turn to dust, people walking in the area can breathe in the particles creating a health hazard," he said. Symptoms can range from mild, flu-like to severe lung disease.

"We continually clean up areas where there are significant bird droppings to prevent a health hazard," Petty said.

The birds are attracted to Vanderbilt because of the large number of magnolia trees on campus. The trees keep their leaves and berries throughout the winter creating an inviting roosting area for the starlings and blackbirds, Petty said. The birds have a three- to five-year life span so this latest effort is aimed at discouraging the next generation from making Vanderbilt their home.