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Pigeons
From a pigeon's point of view, city living can't
be beat. Food and water are readily available.
Predators are few and far between. Plus, there's
plenty of free
housing: Window ledges, rooftops, bridges, and
warehouses offer space for whole flocks to rest
and take shelter in close proximity.
At first glance, it appears to be an ideal
arrangement. We provide room and board; in
return, the birds add a little warmth and color
to our cold concrete canyons. So what's the
problem?
In a word: droppings.
Not only is pigeon poop unsightly, it can damage
buildings, monuments, and automobiles. If
allowed to accumulate, human health problems may
arise.
Luckily, a little patience and understanding go
a long way toward resolving conflicts between
people and pigeons. Removing the birds in
question may seem like an obvious answer. The
truth is, the results are short-lived simply
because it creates a vacancy that other animals
quickly fill. Humane conflict prevention and
resolution is less expensive and more effective
over the long-term.
Exclusion
Deter pigeons from roosting on railing and pipes
by installing a single strand wire barrier 1½ to
2 inches above the center of the surface so that
birds will be off balance when they attempt to
perch. Other devices that work include wire
coils, spikes (usually described as "porcupine
wire") and electrified wires. Pigeons can be
discouraged from roosting on flat surfaces such
as ledges and light fixtures by using boards or
sheet metal to create a 45° or greater slope.
Netting can be used to exclude birds from
virtually any type of structure, from a house to
an office building. To evict birds from window
ledges, the netting is anchored to
the roof, draped across the front of the
structure and then tightly secured to the base
and sides of the building. Netting can be used
under bridges or inside buildings where pigeons
perch on beams, girders, struts, and supports.
Door curtains can also be used to prevent bird
access into buildings, such as warehouses, that
must be somewhat open to daily traffic. The
netting is installed in overlapping strips so as
to form a protective curtain that parts to allow
the passage of personnel and vehicles, then
falls back into place to seal out pigeons.
Large-scale applications of netting almost
always require the expertise of professionals. A
growing number of companies provide excellent
long-term solutions to urban bird problems.
Repellents
Sticky substances (polybutenes) are sold to
discourage pigeons and other birds from landing
on treated surfaces, but we do not
recommend these because they can adhere to and
foul the feathers of any bird that comes into
contact with them, and may be harmful to smaller
species.
Sound has been used effectively to scare away
some types of birds, but pigeons, more than
others, seem to learn to ignore loud noises
quickly. Municipal noise ordinances must also be
considered when using firearms or pyrotechnics.
Pigeon Quick Facts
Height/Weight
12”-15”/10oz-16oz
Life Span
3-4 years in the wild up to 16 captivity
Flight Speed
28 to 82 mph
Range
All fifty states Urban/ Suburban areas
Food
Widely varied, grains, seeds, corn human food
scraps
Habitat
Protected ledges and roof-tops
Effective Control Products
2” StealthNet, Birdwire, Bird-Flite, BirdCoil,
Bird-Shock, Trapping
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