Sparrow Infestation in Factories – Embalatges Serdá Shares Their Experience

A sparrow infestation can become a serious problem when birds gather in a factory, warehouse or outdoor goods storage area. Although sparrows are small birds, their droppings can soil pallets, packaging, machinery, structures and working areas, generating additional cleaning and maintenance costs.

In this article, we review the real case of Embalatges Serdá, a company dedicated to the manufacture and recovery of wooden pallets. The company had a problem with sparrows dirtying the pallets stored in its facilities and decided to install a bird laser repeller to reduce the presence of birds in the most critical area.

Sparrow infestation at Embalatges Serdá

Key Case Data

  • Company: Embalatges Serdá.
  • Activity: manufacture and recovery of wooden pallets.
  • Location: Castellbell i el Vilar, Barcelona.
  • Facilities: approximately 30,000 m² dedicated to pallet manufacturing, storage and logistics.
  • Critical area: a roofed warehouse of about 900 m², open on all four sides to keep the wood ventilated.
  • Problem: a sparrow infestation dirtying the pallets with droppings.
  • Consequence: pallets had to be cleaned manually before being delivered to customers, increasing delivery times and production costs.
  • Solution installed: a bird laser repeller in the pallet storage area.
  • Result: according to the customer’s testimony, the laser scared the sparrows when it swept through the area and helped protect most of the pallets.

About Embalatges Serdá

Embalatges Serdá is a family business founded in 1910. The company specializes in the manufacture and recovery of wooden pallets. It is based in Castellbell i el Vilar, in the province of Barcelona, where it has facilities of approximately 30,000 m² dedicated to pallet manufacturing, storage and logistics.

The company manufactures around 3,000 pallets per day and maintains approximately 1,800 pallets daily. A standard pallet measures around 1.20 metres long by 0.80 metres wide. In many cases, the pallets are made from green wood, which needs to be properly ventilated to avoid dampness and fungi.

Due to the size of the pallets and the ventilation requirements of the wood, Embalatges Serdá stores a large part of the pallets outdoors or in open areas of its facilities until they are transported to customers.

The Problem: a Sparrow Infestation Dirtying the Pallets

The company is located in a rural area, not far from the Montserrat mountain, where the presence of sparrows can be high. Although they are small birds, a sparrow infestation in a storage area can create a significant problem of dirt caused by droppings.

In the case of Embalatges Serdá, sparrows perched on the stacks of pallets and soiled them with their droppings. This forced the company to manually clean the pallets before delivering them to customers, especially when dealing with clients with higher hygiene requirements.

Sparrow droppings on wooden pallets
Sparrows dirtying stored pallets

The dirt caused by sparrow droppings did not only create a visual problem. It also affected order preparation times, increased cleaning costs and could compromise the quality and hygiene requirements demanded by certain customers.

Why the Pallets Were a Particularly Sensitive Area

To protect pallets intended for customers with high hygiene requirements, such as companies in the food or pharmaceutical sectors, Embalatges Serdá has a storage warehouse of about 900 m². This warehouse is roofed but open on all four sides to keep the wood ventilated and reduce the risk of dampness and fungi.

This configuration protected the pallets from rain and weather, but it also had a clear limitation: because the sides were open, sparrows could enter, perch on the stacks of pallets and soil them with droppings.

This detail is important because it shows a common situation in industrial bird problems: it is not always possible to completely close a facility. In some cases, as with wood, ventilation is necessary to preserve the stored material properly.

Solution Installed: Bird Laser Repeller for Sparrows

Xavier Serdá, the company’s administrator, showed and explained the system installed to try to reduce the presence of sparrows and protect the pallets stored in the warehouse.

In this case, Embalatges Serdá installed the Bird Lazzzer model, which was used at the time as a bird laser repeller. Today, the current reference available in our store is the Bird Laser Repeller. You can also consult the laser bird deterrents category to see the laser solutions available.

“As you can see in the video, to protect our pallets from sparrows, in 2020 we installed a bird laser repeller. Specifically, the Bird Lazzzer model from BirdGard Iberia.

We have the bird laser repeller installed at one end of the warehouse. It is located at the highest point of the warehouse, about 6.5 metres from the ground. The device comes preconfigured to emit a green laser beam, which sweeps both horizontally and vertically. It always performs the same sweep. It operates for 20 minutes and then remains stopped for another 20 minutes.

We have it installed with a photocell system, so the laser only operates during the day, when the sparrow infestation perches on the pallets and soils them. At night, the sparrows do not cause problems because they are in their nests. So when the photocell detects that it has become dark, it automatically deactivates the laser.

Despite the warehouse being open on all four sides and daylight entering, the laser has enough power to be clearly visible and scare the sparrow infestation in the areas it passes through.

Xavier Serdá, Administrator of Embalatges Serdá

How the Laser Was Installed in the Warehouse

In the case of Embalatges Serdá, the bird laser repeller was installed at one end of the warehouse, in an elevated position, about 6.5 metres from the ground. From that position, the device projected a green laser sweep over the pallet storage areas.

The installation had three important points:

  • Elevated location: the laser was placed in the upper part of the warehouse to project the beam over the pallet area.
  • Intermittent operation: the device operated for 20 minutes and rested for another 20 minutes.
  • Daytime use: the photocell system allowed the laser to operate when sparrows were active on the pallets.

This type of installation can be interesting in open or semi-open areas, provided that the laser beam has enough visibility over the areas where sparrows perch. Planning the location is key, especially when there are obstacles, stacks of material or hidden areas.

Results Obtained at Embalatges Serdá

According to Xavier Serdá’s experience, the laser helped scare sparrows away in the areas where the beam passed. The customer highlighted that the sparrows took flight and left the area when the laser swept across the pallet area.

“Sparrow infestations are very difficult to eliminate, but our experience with the laser to repel sparrows from the warehouse has been positive. The laser scares them, and the sparrows take flight and leave the area as soon as the laser passes over them.

In this way, we have managed to protect most of the pallets from sparrows and their droppings. This has helped us save on maintenance costs, improve delivery times and ensure the quality and hygiene requirements our customers need.

We have been using the laser for almost two years and, to date, the sparrows have not become accustomed to it. The laser continues to scare them when it passes through the area”.

Xavier Serdá, Administrator of Embalatges Serdá

This result corresponds to the specific case of Embalatges Serdá and to the specific characteristics of its warehouse. In other cases, effectiveness may depend on the species, bird pressure, laser visibility, existing obstacles, operating schedule, installation and combination with other preventive measures.

What Limitations the Customer Detected

One of the most interesting points of this case is that the customer himself explained a practical limitation of the installation: the warehouse covered around 900 m² and had several stacks of pallets stored inside. Some stacks blocked others, which meant the laser did not reach all areas with the same effectiveness.

“The warehouse covers about 900 square metres, and we have several stacks of pallets stored, so some stacks block others. That is why we are planning to install a second laser at the other end of the warehouse. This way, we will increase protection and scare the sparrow infestation in the areas where the laser currently does not reach”.

Xavier Serdá, Administrator of Embalatges Serdá

This observation is important: a laser can be a very interesting solution in open or semi-open areas, but its effect depends on the beam being visible in the areas where the birds perch. If there are obstacles, shelving, stacks of goods or hidden areas, it may be necessary to study the installation of more than one device or combine the laser with other measures.

What This Case Teaches Us About Sparrow Infestations in Factories

The Embalatges Serdá case shows that sparrow infestations in factories, warehouses or industrial areas should be analysed according to the type of activity, the goods affected and the physical characteristics of the facility.

  • Sparrows can generate significant costs. Although they are small birds, their droppings can force companies to clean goods before delivery.
  • Stored goods can become a critical area. In this case, the pallets needed to remain ventilated, which prevented the warehouse from being completely closed.
  • Laser visibility is key. The laser acts in the areas where the beam passes; if there are obstacles, some areas may be less protected.
  • The location of the device influences coverage. In large warehouses or areas with many stacks of material, more than one emission point may need to be evaluated.
  • Case follow-up provides valuable information. Embalatges Serdá’s experience shows both the positive result and the practical limitations detected during use.
  • The result of a real case should not be interpreted as a universal guarantee. Each facility must be analysed according to the bird species, perching points, structure, available light, obstacles and infestation pressure.

Which Solution to Choose if You Have a Sparrow Infestation in a Factory or Warehouse

The right solution will depend on where the sparrows are, what type of goods they are soiling and what the facility is like.

  • If sparrows perch on goods, pallets or open areas: it may be appropriate to evaluate a bird laser repeller, provided that the beam can reach the perching areas.
  • If sparrows are inside a closed or semi-open warehouse: it may be necessary to study specific sonic solutions, lasers, physical barriers or a combination of several methods.
  • If there are obstacles or hidden areas: it is advisable to check whether one device covers the whole area or whether another emission point is needed.
  • If the presence of sparrows is recurrent: it is also advisable to review available food, entry points, nesting areas, cleaning and bird habits.

If the main problem is sparrows, you can consult our guide on how to repel sparrows or see the available solutions in the sparrow repeller category.

If you are looking for a laser solution, you can consult the Bird Laser Repeller or review the laser bird deterrents category.

If the problem affects a warehouse or storage facility, it may also be useful to review the Inasur case on how to remove birds from a warehouse, the article about birds inside warehouses or the guide on the best bird repeller for an industrial building.

If you are not sure which solution to apply in your case, you can contact BirdGard Iberia for advice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sparrow Infestations in Factories and Warehouses

Why do sparrows dirty stored pallets?

Sparrows can use stacks of pallets as perching, resting or shelter areas. When they remain above the goods, their droppings fall onto the pallets and force the company to clean the material before delivering it to customers. In sectors with higher hygiene requirements, this problem can generate additional costs and delays.

Can a laser help repel sparrows in an open warehouse?

Yes, it can be an interesting option in open or semi-open warehouses when the laser beam is visible and reaches the areas where sparrows perch. In the case of Embalatges Serdá, the customer explained that the laser scared the sparrows when it passed through the area and helped protect most of the pallets.

What limitations does a bird laser repeller have in a warehouse with pallets?

The main limitation is beam visibility. If there are stacks of pallets, shelving, columns or other obstacles, some areas may be blocked and receive less effect. For this reason, it is important to study the location of the device carefully and evaluate whether more than one emission point is needed or whether the laser should be combined with other measures.

Which product currently replaces Bird Lazzzer?

The model used in this case was Bird Lazzzer. Today, the current reference available in our store is the Bird Laser Repeller. You can also consult the laser bird deterrents category to see the laser solutions available.

Is it advisable to combine the laser with other measures against sparrows?

In many cases, yes. The solution may depend on the level of sparrow presence, entry points, the existence of nests, food availability, perching areas and the structure of the warehouse. In persistent problems, it may be advisable to combine laser, sound, physical barriers, cleaning and review of access points.

What should you do before installing a sparrow deterrent?

It is advisable to identify the species, locate the perching areas, check whether there are nests, review where birds are entering and analyse which areas need to be protected. In the case of laser solutions, it is also important to check whether the beam will be able to reach the critical areas without being blocked by obstacles.

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