The pigeon is a bird that many have become accustomed to seeing in their everyday lives whether it’s in the city centre of Plymouth or nesting on a rooftop in the suburbs. While for some, they really only exist on the peripheries of our subconscious, for others they can be a real nuisance. Businesses and homeowners that are unfortunate enough to have found these nuisance birds as their uninvited guests will talk of noise, mess and other issues that come with these pests. The trouble is, once they have taken up residence on your premises, they are hard to get rid of so a preventative pigeon deterrent is a much more preferable option. We take a look at the most effective pigeon deterrents, what you can do to make your property inhospitable and how to handle a pigeon problem.
Nesting Pigeons are Protected
Let’s start with why nesting pigeons are such a problem. For those of you that don’t know, pigeons are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. This means that it is illegal to interfere with their nest, remove the nests or destroy the eggs. In fact, it can lead to prosecution. Therefore, preventing them from nesting is far better than the cure in this instance. Prevention is far easier than intervention.
Pigeons Mate for Life
The pigeon will mate for life – they do not go around looking for new partners each mating season, they are largely monogamous. Unlike other birds they don’t just breed in the spring months and can build their nests and lay eggs all year round. A pigeon will happily build its nest on a balcony floor, a flat surface or anywhere away from the threat of predators. They will lay up to 6 times a year and often the clutch contains 3 eggs. That’s 18 new pigeons from one mating pair!
Where Will They Nest?
Abandoned buildings make excellent nesting sites for pigeons and, as they are a flocking bird, you will often find large communities of them all living quite happily together. The problem with this is that they produce lots of noise, lots of mess and can cause damage. Not to mention the fact that new birds will be hatching continually. Gutters, window ledges, air conditioning units, chimney pots and other ledges also make excellent nesting spots.
Effective Pigeon Deterrents
Bird control measures are required before the birds have chance to nest. There are lots of methods that will act as effective pigeon deterrents and a professional and licensed bird control company will be able to advise you on the best course of action for you:
Bird Spikes
In such areas as gutters and ledges, where the area is small and narrow, bird spikes are an excellent preventative measure. They will make the area inhospitable discouraging any bird from taking up residence. A row of spikes, strategically placed is often all it takes to deter pigeons.
Bird Netting
Netting is another popular option when you are trying to protect a larger area. A flat roof space, a large balcony or the like are all excellent candidates for bird netting pigeon deterrents.
Hawking
Hawking is another effective pigeon deterrent and involves flying a hawk over the area where pigeons are nesting. They are not easily swayed though and it is not enough to fly a hawk over a few times. They need to be flown regularly at different times of day to keep the pigeons from getting too comfortable. The hawk is a predator and will eventually encourage the pigeon to move on and build their nests elsewhere.
Call in the Professionals
It is very hard to carry out effective DIY pigeon deterrents. Much better to call in an expert that has the experience and knowledge to deal with these nesting birds. At Falcon, we have worked with many businesses across the South West providing effective pigeon deterrents and protecting homes and businesses from unwanted visitors. Call us today on 01752 929292 and find out how we can help you.
