How do parks keep birds/bats from nesting in rides?

[Boodangy]

So something I've been thinking about when planning indoor/outdoor themed coasters for some dream project ideas (you know, what would I do if I had the funds to start a modest theme park kinda stuff) is how do parks with rides that go in and out of buildings? Fully indoor coasters and dark rides only really have the doors where customers come in and exit from, but rides that go in and out of a building like Kärnan, Arthur, Tron etc. have large holes in the building for the coaster to go in and out at speed.

So how do parks prevent birds or bats from settling into those holes in the building and nesting in the indoor ride area? I mean, maybe they don't stop it, maybe it does happen and I don't know about it. I've seen birds' nests in covered brake runs before, but those are obviously not as much an issue since it's still essentially outdoors, but having bats indoors could be biohazardous for guests and of course hazardous for the bats due to moving parts, ditto for birds.

Any insight?

 

[roomraider]

So something I've been thinking about when planning indoor/outdoor themed coasters for some dream project ideas (you know, what would I do if I had the funds to start a modest theme park kinda stuff) is how do parks with rides that go in and out of buildings? Fully indoor coasters and dark rides only really have the doors where customers come in and exit from, but rides that go in and out of a building like Kärnan, Arthur, Tron etc. have large holes in the building for the coaster to go in and out at speed.

So how do parks prevent birds or bats from settling into those holes in the building and nesting in the indoor ride area? I mean, maybe they don't stop it, maybe it does happen and I don't know about it. I've seen birds' nests in covered brake runs before, but those are obviously not as much an issue since it's still essentially outdoors, but having bats indoors could be biohazardous for guests and of course hazardous for the bats due to moving parts, ditto for birds.

Any insight?

This is only a partial answer but Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando uses an owl. There is a model owl just to the left at the top of the lift hill used to scare away birds.

 

[roomraider]

In a similar vein Lightning Rod has little house structure above the top of the lift which is there to stop wasps nesting in the lift hill



This is because paper wasps will often build nests at the highest point of a structure, and these eaves in theory prevent them building them in the track itself (and keeps them further away from guests)

Which prevents fun signs like this


(Although this sign is from Wild Eagle)

Explanation in this video

Lightning Rod - Dollywood - Behind the Scenes Tour

Take a Behind the Scenes tour of the world's fastest and first and only launched wooden roller coaster - Lightning Rod at Dollywood - led by Dollywood's Pete...

youtu.be

 

[Hyde]

Spike deployment is what I often see, both helping prevent nesting and bird poop ruining the paint job. Cedar Point has also used large weather vanes that spin with mild wind, helping mitigate seagull nesting on large flat roofs like picnic areas.

Good old fashioned nest removal is also at play; ride ops and maintenance are giving daily visual inspection to rides, and hopefully able to intercept nests before eggs are laid.