Tar on pigeons

[rshaud]

I feed a flock on a pier in Brooklyn, NY. A number of birds perch beneath a nearby overpass and become covered in what appears to be tar or grease. We call them the "chimney sweeps" due to their dirty, blackened appearance. I have had good luck catching the birds to remove string and fishing line so if I knew what to use to clean them up, I could do it. The weather is becoming quite cold and I fear that without their natural insulation, they may die. I thought molting would eventually solve the problem but some have been like this since early spring.
In addition, the overpass is covered in chicken wire to keep the birds out. Periodically, they manage to create an opening (I've no idea how they do it) and they return to perching there. The city invariably sends a crew out to patch the hole and some of the birds become trapped and die. If I knew when the city planned the repair, I'm sure most of the birds could be lured out to safety with food. Unfortunately, I doubt the city would be interested in such a plan. Any suggestions?

[Maggie-NC]

Hi rshaud

I started to put up some links for you but there are so many threads over the years dealing with this that you may want to read all of them so try doing a search of "removing grease" and see if any of those will help.

[tuxedobaby]

i would say a mild solution of "fairy"(washing up detergent,for dishes etc),this has been used by folks who help oiled birds and wildlife,its quite mild and sensitive

[Charis]

Originally Posted by tuxedobaby

i would say a mild solution of "fairy"(washing up detergent,for dishes etc),this has been used by folks who help oiled birds and wildlife,its quite mild and sensitive

In the States, it would be Dawn dish soap. The one that's safe for wildlife is identified on the front label.

[Grimaldy]

Be careful about using any detergents, most if not all contain Sodium lauryl sulphate, a wetting agent which allows the detergent to penetrate the waterproofing of the feathers. The USDA uses it to kill birds by simply setting up a fine water spray where birds roost in old weather that contains Lauryl sulphate. What that means is that the birds need some time to replace their natural oils for waterproofing after being washed in detergent, otherwise once they get wet in cold weather. So don't wash, dry and release, keep them inside for a couple of weeks or so.

The netting problem has an obvious solution and some kind souls employ it. The chicken wire doesn't break by itself.

[pdpbison]

I have used 'Dawn' however many times, and the best thing one say for it, is that it works better than nothing.


The Horse version of 'Main and Tail' Shampoo, works very well.


Wet the Bird, apply some Shampoo directly to the Feathers, and massage and work it in, then, rinse and repeat.


'Tar' as such, is not going to wash out with any Soaps or Shampoos...but, will dissolve with Paint Thinner...where, one would do a small area at a time, using a small folded Cloth, having applied the Paint Thinner ( aka 'Mineral Spirits' ) and wiping both sides of each Feather by squeezing it between the Cloth and wiping away from the root, with firmness. Being careful not to saturate the Feathers close to their roots, and or careful to keep it off of the Bird's skin...also, doing this in a way where the Bird is not breating the mild fumes...so, do outdoors, in a breeze, with the Bird's Head upwind.


This is followed by a couple rounds of Shampoos and rinses.





Usually what one finds for dark oily stuff on Pigeons, is fast food oils dripping out of dumpsters or reclaimation containers, where the Birds get this on them by walking under these things...enough of this, and they are saturated,and no longer able to fly.


'Main and Tail' should work well for these...or, for when they have old Crankcase Oils on them also.




Phil
l v

[tuxedobaby]

Originally Posted by Charis

In the States, it would be Dawn dish soap. The one that's safe for wildlife is identified on the front label.

fairy/dawn is used for lots of stuff,its good stuff,also another brand(in uk,there is prob same in usa)is ECOVER,it is totally environmentaly friendly,they do range of all household detergents and soaps,washing stuff for clothes,dishes etc.it is made from natural products and kind to skin(or feathers)etc,i use these products round the house(i have dermititis from time to time)

[Hambone]

I agree with Phil , shampoos and soaps arent going to do much with petroleum based oils and tars . Paint thinners ( mineral spirits ....NOT acetone or laquer thinners ! ) wont hurt a bird if gently daubed on with a cloth and then rinsed in soapy water .

I personally havnt tried this ... but I wouldnt be afraid to if need be , hand cleaner such as Go-Jo or any of the stuff from a parts store . Just get the plain creamy type NOT with the pumice . I 've used it for years cleaning my hands of grease , oil , paint etc and still alive and healthy . Rinses off easily , most have lanoline in the mixture also which would be good for the birds feet which is probably where the tar will be found .

Hambone Bob

[Crazy Pete]

20 mule teem Borax may not get the tar, but it will clean the oil wont hurt the bird, and will kill the feather mytes. At least it doesn't hurt my birds.

[pdpbison]

Originally Posted by Hambone

I agree with Phil , shampoos and soaps arent going to do much with petroleum based oils and tars . Paint thinners ( mineral spirits ....NOT acetone or laquer thinners ! ) wont hurt a bird if gently daubed on with a cloth and then rinsed in soapy water .

I personally havnt tried this ... but I wouldnt be afraid to if need be , hand cleaner such as Go-Jo or any of the stuff from a parts store . Just get the plain creamy type NOT with the pumice . I 've used it for years cleaning my hands of grease , oil , paint etc and still alive and healthy . Rinses off easily , most have lanoline in the mixture also which would be good for the birds feet which is probably where the tar will be found .

Hambone Bob

Hi Bob, all...



Far as I can say, 'Main and Tail' would be good for petroleum based Oils, Grease and the likes...'Dumpster' Oils and so on.

I know for my own Hair, when getting Oil or Car Grease out, the Horse version of 'Main and Tail' Shampoo is vastly better than 'Dawn'.

And...so far, 'M & T' has been far better than 'Dawn' for any Bird cleaning I have needed to do.




'Go-Jo' or any Solvents, we have to make sure none gets on the Bird's skin...


'Main and Tail' you can Shampoo the whole Bird with no problem.


So, Tars, wiping individual Feathers with a small folded cloth lightly saturated with Paint Thinner, is fine, but keep things so no Solvent is dripping or getting on their Skin.


Paints or other, kinds of things, have to decide on a case by case basis...



I had that one recently, which had what seemed like a 'clear silicone' stuff saturated in their Wings and Tail Feathers...and wiping each Feather, between a folded cloth wetted with Paint Thinner, followed with 'M & T' Shampooing and rinses, worked well.



Phil
l v

[penname]

I use mane 'n tail on my hair and it's excellent, rinses out very easily too so that would be good in this case, but it does tend to burn if it gets in the eyes (more than other shampoos I've tried) so I would be careful not to get any on their eyes perhaps.

[karijo]

1% dawn solution is the Bird and Wildlife centers cleanser of choice for oiled birds.

This link on the IBRRC's (International Bird Rescue Research Center in CA) page details how to do it:
http://www.ibrrc.org/oiled_bird_procedures.html

As for specifically tar, I would call the IBRRC at (707) 207-0380 and ask what they suggest as they spend a large percentage of their time removing oil and other sticky messes from birds.

[pdpbison]

Originally Posted by penname

I use mane 'n tail on my hair and it's excellent, rinses out very easily too so that would be good in this case, but it does tend to burn if it gets in the eyes (more than other shampoos I've tried) so I would be careful not to get any on their eyes perhaps.

Oh yeah...Eyes, Nostrils...


If a Bird needed their Head to be cleaned, I'd do it as a seperate sessions or two, and be very very delicate and careful not to have any Shampoo or Water getting into Eyes or Nostrils.


Possibly just using Q-Tips if needing to clean close to these...


I have no idea why 'Dawn' ended up acquiring the universal reputation as being the one to use for Birds, it's not that good, and most any 'good' Shampoo is better, and the Horse version of 'Main and Tail' is definitely THE 'best' Shampoo I've ever tried.


Working on old Cars and Trucks, I'd often gotten old Oils or Greases in my Hair, and have tried many different Shampoos and Dish-Washing-Soaps...'Dawn' inluded.


'M & T' is outstanding and very yet very mild.


Phil
l v

[pdpbison]

Originally Posted by karijo

1% dawn solution is the Bird and Wildlife centers cleanser of choice for oiled birds.

This link on the IBRRC's (International Bird Rescue Research Center in CA) page details how to do it:
http://www.ibrrc.org/oiled_bird_procedures.html

As for specifically tar, I would call the IBRRC at (707) 207-0380 and ask what they suggest as they spend a large percentage of their time removing oil and other sticky messes from birds.

Hi karijo,



Maybe they like to really take for-ever to get something done.

1 percent solution is not going to do anything.

Full Strength is not even going to work very well, has not worked all that well in my experience, or will not work any better than a non-scented Bar Soap like 'Ivory'.


Last one I did, I used 'Main and Tail' straight, 100 percent, applying directly on a wetted Pigeon, on their Feathers, and worked it in with my fingers...massaged it in and rinsed...


The method of the "IBRRC" makes no sense, and can not possibly be effective.


No wonder thay take 'Months' to get a Bird 'clean'..!


Lol...


Heck, if they did it right, they could do it in a day...or over a couple days...and be 'done'...where, one allows the Bird time either way, to renew their own Natural Feather Oils in preening...and this phase does take many weeks or months even. But at least one has saved Months already, by getting them clean a lot sooner.






Phil
l v

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by pdpbison

The method of the "IBRRC" makes no sense, and can not possibly be effective.

No wonder thay take 'Months' to get a Bird 'clean'..!
Phil
l v

Hi Phil,

Actually, the IBRRC protocol is the accepted method of treating oiled birds .. operative word is OILED as opposed to TARRED .. oiled and tarred are a bit different problems to deal with. Just chiming in here! In my experience, Dawn works OK on many things, but it doesn't get everything. I got in an adult male sparrow last night from animal control that is a glue trap bird .. Dawn wouldn't touch this mess .. this was a job for Detachol.

Terry