Pigeons are lovely-looking small birds, and many people love to feed pigeons and enjoy the attention of these rather large and sometimes entertaining birds. After all, other birds are so bold that they will practically sit on your lap to get food.
In a 2018 article written for Mari Claire magazine, author Cady Drell recounts any number of reasons why pigeons are or have been useful for humans.
Ms. Drell notes that nesting pigeons have a lovely, coloring sound, have been used extensively for carrying essential messages during wartime, are perfect examples of an ideal relationship as they mate for life, lovingly take care of their young, and are so smart that they remember people who are nice to you and avoid people who are mean to them.
That said, essentially, pigeons, which are sometimes called “rats with wings.” are essentially feral pigeons, or pest birds, that produce a huge problem, and that problem is pigeon guano.
According to OvoControl.com, a single flock of just 100 pigeons can produce up to 4,8000 pounds of pigeon guano per year.
But if a lot of pigeon feces just produces a messy situation, the problem with pigeons would not be so bad. Unfortunately, all that pigeon waste produces a number of problems for humans. And as these birds fly pigeon poop hit many areas.
For example, BirdBegone, a company that specializes in providing Pigeon and other pigeon deterrents products, Pigeon guano waste may contain up to 60 different diseases transmittable to humans and other animals. The most serious being histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis.
For food sellers, the presence of pigeons can be a huge red flag in health inspections, and a restaurant with a pigeon problem may well be shut down entirely until they are able to come to grips with the problem.
However, pigeons are not exactly easy to control. A business owner’s first inclination may be to buy a high-powered BB gun to hunt them down. Either that or poison.
In the United States, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act does allow the killing, trapping or poisoning of pigeons without any limits, however, local and state laws vary, and essentially, the pigeons must be dispatched in a humane manner.
Unfortunately, one municipality’s definition of humane is another municipality’s definition of cruelty, and even if it is technically legal to hunt, drown, or poison pigeons, the environmentally-conscious public has a totally different opinion.
A restaurant with outdoor dining or window sills, for example, may be perfectly within its right to kill or poison pigeons, or have them trapped for removal, but let word get you to the public that your restaurant is a pigeon killer, and then picture how quickly your restaurant survives.
Pigeons can be a real problem in some areas. They tend to congregate in large numbers and can make a mess of sidewalks, cars, and other property.
In addition, their droppings can spread disease and contaminate food sources. As a result, it’s essential to take steps to control the pigeon population in problem areas.
One way to do this is to remove potential nesting sites, such as ledges and eaves.
You can also try to discourage pigeons from congregating by using ultrasound devices or scarecrows.
Finally, traps can capture and remove pigeons from an area.
It’s not only commercial establishments that have pigeon problems, but also the local homeowners.
Pigeon guana not only contains waste that is harmful to humans and animals, but pigeon doo-doo is extremely acidic and corrosive.
Paint, metal, plastic, wood, and even stone and concrete can be very corrosive if not cleaned up promptly, but what homeowner has the time to be on full-time pigeon control?
And pigeon droppings are not the only problem. Pigeons tend to peck at eaves, walls, and windowsills, leaving unsightly holes.
Finally, there are the unsightly nests.
Pigeons collect all manner of twigs and debris and make nests using their dung to solidify the entire thing. These nests are very unsightly, and in addition, in most cases, it may be illegal to disturb pigeon nests.
Be proactive, and as much as possible, get ahead of a small pigeon problem before it turns into a nearly uncontrollable nest.
Here are some pigeon removal tactics that you may want to consider. Some of the best way to get rid of pigeons and keep them away for good.
Culling is a process of reducing the size of a population by killing individuals. When done correctly, culling can be an effective way to get rid of pigeons. Several methods can be used to cull pigeons, including trapping and shooting. However, it is essential to consult with a professional before taking action, as improper culling can cause more harm than good.
Pigeons typically mate for life, so if one bird is given birth control, it will likely stop reproducing altogether. It is salient to know that this is a temporary solution, as these birds of prey, are like cockroaches; they will always come back. You can place these bird control pills in bird feeders (avoid mixing in pet food).
Some of the most effective ways to get rid of pigeons may consider using pigeon spikes, stainless steel wires, or slides. These devices can be placed on ledges, window sills, or other flat surfaces where pigeons like to perch.
The sharp points make it uncomfortable for the birds to land, and they will eventually move on to a more hospitable location. While spikes and wires are relatively inexpensive, they can be unsightly and may require periodic maintenance to keep them effective.
On the other hand, slides are a more permanent solution that uses a slippery surface to deter pigeons. Once installed, slides require no further upkeep and are virtually invisible. Whichever option you choose, not keeping pigeons, get rid of pigeons and enjoy your pigeon-free home.
Deterrents work by making the area less attractive to pigeons and their birds nest, either by causing them discomfort or preventing them from accessing food.
For example, devices that emit ultrasonic sound waves can be used to keep pigeons away from specific areas. Alternatively, bird netting can be placed over ledges and other potential nesting sites, making it difficult for pigeons to roost.
Whatever approach you take, it is essential to achieve the best results consistently. Pigeons are intelligent creatures and will quickly adapt if they find that a particular deterrent is no longer effective.
Repellents make the area less attractive to birds, either by emitting a sound or smell that they find unpleasant or by causing them physical discomfort.
Several types of pigeon repellents are available on the market, so it’s essential to choose one specifically designed to deter pigeons.
Bird repellent can be applied directly to surfaces such as ledges or window sills, or they can be used to create an invisible barrier around the perimeter of your property.
Depending on your chosen product, pigeon repellent can be effective for up to several months.
Most people will call an exterminator like us in Surprise, AZ, to get ahead of the game.
The first may be defined as scare tactics (scare pigeons).
Pigeons are very scared of of this bird species, the red-tailed hawks (scare pigeons) and coyotes, both of which are natural enemies.
No, a pest control company will not bring in actual red-tailed hawks or coyotes to rid your area of pigeons. But decoys are very effective. When pigeons see the decoys, they tend to flee.
And these decoys may not need to be taxidermist quality decoys either. Sometimes even flags with a printed predator eye will do.
Other scare tactics may include:
Mirrors, which are quite effective in deflecting pigeons
Laser beams, which are not only seen as a threat but tend to be a product that pigeons do not get used to
Even simple wind chimes can be effective for a short period of time, which you can get from your hardware store.
There is one more scare tactic that tends to be more effective, and that is a sonic bird mimicker that broadcasts periodic bird calls by hawks or other predator birds.
Pigeons are attracted to bright lights, so one way to keep them away from your property is to install them around the perimeter.
Motion-activated lights are especially effective at deterring pigeons, as they will startle the birds and make them feel unsafe.
While they may seem harmless, pigeons can cause a lot of damage.
Their droppings can stain buildings and sidewalks, and they have been known to carry diseases. In addition, their nesting habits can block gutters and ventilation systems. As a result, getting rid of pigeons can be a challenge.
One way to get rid of pigeons is to use natural predators. Hawks and the fierce falcons, will eat pigeons if given the opportunity.
In addition, snakes and cats will also prey on pigeons. While this method may not be 100% effective, it can help to reduce the number of pigeons in an area.
Scare control is just one method, and the only problem is that pigeons are plenty smart, and sometimes they catch on quickly to the scare game.
There are sticky substances, which come in both discs and tubes, which when stepped on, sticks to the pigeon’s toes.
This is very irritating for the birds, and although the substance does not harm the bird in any way, a sticky substance tends to be a great discouragement for pigeons.
They just don’t like it, and only the most persistent birds will remain.
There is also, a substance that acts like pepper spray for bears and humans, called Methyl Anthranilate
Methyl Anthranilate is made from grape seeds, and it irritates the heck out of a pigeon’s eyes, nose, and throat.
The great thing about Methyl Anthranilate is that for humans, and other animals such as cats, dogs, and farm animals, Methyl Anthranilate doesn’t affect them at all. As a result, combining the use of a sticky substance together with Methyl Anthranilate may be the ideal solution to keep pigeons at bay.
Pigeons like to roost in small flocks, and controlling and making the areas where they are likely to roost uninviting, tends to keep them at bay.
The first step, and probably the cheapest solution is plastic or aluminum bird spikes.
Placed on surfaces where you do not want the birds to roost, bird spikes make it very difficult for pigeons to land on the surface comfortably, and even if they do, they can’t all congeal in one happy little bundle of pigeons.
The second method of pigeon control is using a mild, electronic shock generator.
Don’t worry, these electronic shock tracks will not harm the pigeons, but they will certainly educate them that this surface is not a place to roost.
Electric shock tracks are more expensive, but they are extremely efficient in clearing an area of pigeons.
The third method is known as exclusion in the form of bird netting.
Using bird slopes to make it very difficult for pigeons to call an area home, and by using bird netting, a homeowner or business can absolutely keep pesky pigeons at bay.
As alluded to earlier, most homeowners and businesses call in a professional like ourselves.
A professional exterminator with experience in pigeon control (note that most exterminators do not deal with these pesky birds) has the experience and the tools to make your pigeon problem a thing of the past, and they can do it without harming the birds or causing alarm from the public as to what a mean homeowner or business you are.
When necessary, have a professional control your visiting pigeons before they get to be a serious problem. But once pigeons have reached epic proportions, then it’s time to pull out all the stops to eradicate the problem once and for all.
There are many ways of doing this, and a professional will offer you many different options for deterring the birds once and for all humanely.
Leave the pigeons for the city parks who have a cleaning crew at the ready a couple of times a week to remove unpleasant pigeon droppings.
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