Pigeons – (Columbidae – Columba livia domestica)

Pigeons – (Columbidae – Columba livia domestica)

When pigeons live on our buildings and deface it, it is possible to remove the birds by excluding them (netting) from the area, but we don’t need to kill them. You should make it a priority to clean the area’s they have been since pigeons do carry mites and you don’t want the mites going in your building when the pigeons are gone.

Pigeons are frequently called rats with wings. The term “rats with wings” came from a 1980 play, “Stardust Memories” starring Woody Allen.  Allen used the term in the movie and apparently someone with a vested interest in misleading the public decided to use it in a campaign to drum up business for pigeon control. The facts are just the opposite. Yes, there are some diseases that can be transmitted by pigeons, but no more so than any other bird, including such popular pets as parakeets, canaries, etc.

They do have their attributes. During World War I, pigeons carried thousands of messages that saved many hundreds of lives. In World War II pigeons continued to be used. Radios were frequently not working due to damage or when unfavorable terrain rendered them almost useless. Pigeons continued to fly through enemy fire, and amazingly 95% of them completed their missions. One pigeon in particular, named “Cher Ami” was a World War I Carrier Pigeon, one of 600 birds owned and flown by the U.S. Signal Corps. Cher Ami was originally bred by the British Signal Corps. He was transferred to the Americans after the war on Oct. 27, 1918.

Cher Ami delivered 12 important messages within the American sector at Verdun, France. On his last mission, Cher Ami, shot through the breast by enemy fire, managed to return to his loft. A message capsule was found dangling from the ligaments of one of his legs that had also been shattered by enemy fire. The message he carried was from Major Whittlesey’s “Lost Battalion” of the 77th Infantry Division that had been isolated from other American forces. Just a few hours after the message was received, 194 survivors of the battalion were safe behind American lines. Cher Ami was awarded the French “Croix de Guerre” with Palm for his heroic service between the forts of Verdun. He died in 1919 as a result of his battle wounds. Cher Ami was later inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931 and received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of his extraordinary service during World War I.

Pigeons continued their valiant service during World War II and the Korean War. The Dickin Medal for Valor, an award only for animals, was given to 31 pigeons in World War II, more than any other animal. (The next closest animals were dogs, with 8 medals).

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.

Contact us at 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD, (604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca

Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosting / Vancouver Pigeon Control /Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / Pigeon Deterrent?  Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest /Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons/ What to do about pigeons/ sparrows , Damage by Sparrows, How To Keep Raccoons Away,  Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests/ De-fence / Pigeon Nesting/ Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping/ woodpecker control/ Professional Bird Control Company/ Keep The Birds Away/ Birds/rats/ seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/ dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/ pidgeon control/flying rats/ pigeon Problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/ bird guard

 

Pigeons (also known as rock doves)

Pigeons (also known as rock doves)

Pigeons are easily recognizable by their distinct coloring. With their white-gray rump, iridescent facial feathers and black stripes on their tails and wings, these birds are easy to identify. Pigeons reproduce incredibly quickly, and mating occurs year round. Despite their speedy reproduction rates, pigeons are monogamous creatures that lay one or two eggs at a time, which hatch within 18 days. Baby pigeons are fed “pigeon milk,” or regurgitated food, by both their parents until they are old enough to find food on their own.

Pigeon Habits

Pigeons prefer grains, but they are not picky when it comes to their meals. Much of their diet comes from humans who drop or spill their food, or place leftovers in open trash cans that pigeons can scavenge. These birds like to hang out on ledges and other narrow areas high above the ground. They like to roost in covered, high areas, and their nests can frequently be found in places like steeples or under bridges.

 

Pigeon Habitats

Pigeons are true city dwellers who are dependent on humans to provide food, roosting and nesting sites. This is why you often see them gathered around city parks, buildings and bridges. Pigeons are also commonly found around agricultural areas, as well as warehouses, feed mills and grain elevators.

 

Pigeon Threats

Often called the “rats of the sky,” pigeons can be incredibly problematic. These birds can carry dangerous diseases like cryptococcosis, toxoplasmosis, salmonella, food poisoning and more. Their droppings may also harbor the growth of fungus, which causes histoplasmosis, which can accelerate the aging of structures and statues. Even more alarming, these social birds often serve as unwitting hosts to fleas, lice, mites, ticks and other pests, which can create secondary infestations.

 

Signs You Have a Pigeon Infestation

The most obvious sign of a pigeon infestation is the presence of many birds, pigeon nests or their droppings.

 

How To Prevent an Infestation

The best way to prevent pigeons from roosting in or near your house is to make your home undesirable. Remove any and all food they could get access to, place pointy objects on pigeon-friendly surfaces and place nets across open areas.

 

How to Get Rid of Pigeons

The steps for pigeon removal and prevention are the same: make their living space uninhabitable. Killing pigeons is not effective and it will not root out the source of the problem. Instead, eliminate all food sources and remove their nests and replace them with objects that prevent them from returning.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.

Contact us at 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD, (604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca

Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosting / Vancouver Pigeon Control /Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / Pigeon Deterrent?  Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest /Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons/ What to do about pigeons/ sparrows , Damage by Sparrows, How To Keep Raccoons Away,  Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests/ De-fence / Pigeon Nesting/ Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping/ woodpecker control/ Professional Bird Control Company/ Keep The Birds Away/ Birds/rats/ seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/ dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/ pidgeon control/flying rats/ pigeon Problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/ bird guard

 

Why you need to deal with pigeons on your home’s roof

Why you need to deal with pigeons on your home’s roof

Pigeons are bad news. While most homeowners don’t think twice about a few birds sitting on top of their home’s roof, they should when it comes to these “flying rats.” Pigeons can be a destructive pest, and their nests and droppings can damage your roof.

When you have pigeons on your roof, call KY-KO Pest Prevention to schedule your free pest inspection here in the Valley. We’re experts in humane pigeon control and removal, and we’ll get rid of the birds without any mess or fuss.

Dealing with pigeons on your roof

Unless you’re a business or commercial space, most homeowners don’t see pigeons as that big of a problem, or a threat like scorpions or rodents are. However, even if they’re not inside your home, pigeons can do serious damage.

1. Pigeon droppings are bad for your roof

Pigeon droppings naturally have high acidity, which actually is the case with most bird droppings. In fact, the acid content in them is so strong that it can cause damage to most roofing materials, particularly the underlayment of your roof.

If these droppings are left on the roof to accumulate, they’ll add to the wear-and-tear experienced by your roof. Here in Phoenix, your roof is already under assault from the elements, including the summer sun and the monsoon rains. Let KY-KO help you with pigeon problems, so that your home has one less thing to worry about.

2. Pigeon nests block water from moving off your roof

In addition to the problems caused by pigeon droppings, these birds also build their nests in roof drains, corners, and rain gutters. When the rain comes, these nests act as dams, blocking water from moving off of your roof and leading to the accumulation of water, wastage, and debris.

Severe cases of this issue can lead to roof collapses, as the continuous accumulation of water and dirt on the roof adds to the weight. The presence of pooled water is also not good for your roof’s structural integrity.

3. Pigeons will make a mess of your home and yard

For anyone who has parked their car in a public place and come back hours later to a mess, you know what this means. Left unchecked, pigeons will not only make a mess of your roof, but also your yard, your landscaping, your cars in the driveway—you get the idea.

Don’t have your home be the one on the block with obvious pigeon problems. Call KY-KO, and we’ll work on implementing a safe and humane way to keep pigeons away from your home.

For humane pigeon control and removal

Never take a pigeon infestation lightly. Given enough time, these birds can cause serious damage to your roof if you do not deal with them at the right time.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.

Contact us at 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD, (604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca

Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosting / Vancouver Pigeon Control /Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / Pigeon Deterrent?  Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest /Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons/ What to do about pigeons/ sparrows , Damage by Sparrows, How To Keep Raccoons Away,  Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests/ De-fence / Pigeon Nesting/ Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping/ woodpecker control/ Professional Bird Control Company/ Keep The Birds Away/ Birds/rats/ seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/ dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/ pidgeon control/flying rats/ pigeon Problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/ bird guard

Bird Damage To Lawns – Why Are Birds Digging Up My Lawn

Bird Damage To Lawns – Why Are Birds Digging Up My Lawn

Most of us love having backyard birds to watch and to feed. The music of songbirds is a sure sign of spring. On the other hand, bird damage to lawns can be extensive. If you’re finding small holes in your grass and you see a lot of birds around, the damage is probably caused by birds foraging for food. There are some ways you can keep birds from digging up lawn and grass. Read on to learn more.

Why are Birds Digging up my Lawn?

It’s not hard to identify bird damage to lawns. If you see a lot of birds in your yard and you find small, about one-inch (2.5-cm.) holes in the turf, it’s most likely bird-related damage. What are birds digging for in your lawn? The phenomenon of birds digging holes in lawns has an easy explanation: food. They’re looking for tasty snacks, so if you’re seeing a lot of bird damage, it means you have an insect problem. Basically, your lawn is the best restaurant around because it has so many bugs. Birds are simply foraging for grubs, worms, and insects. The good news about this is that the grubs and insects will actually do more damage to your lawn than the birds will, and the birds are helping you control the population.

How to Keep Birds from Digging up Lawn

If you want to avoid the bird damage of small holes all over your lawn, you have to get rid of the insect pests. To get rid of your bug problem, invest in a pesticide, preferably something natural. You can either have it applied by a professional lawn company or you can do it yourself. It is important to time the application. If you have grubs, for instance, you need to apply in late spring or early summer. It’s also important to time application to avoid harming the birds. Apply the pesticide in late afternoon so it will be dry by the next morning when the birds reappear to search for breakfast. If you prefer not to have birds at all around your property, there is little you can do but you can try using a few scare tactics that may keep the birds away.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.

Contact us at 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD, (604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca

Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosting / Vancouver Pigeon Control /Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / Pigeon Deterrent?  Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest /Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons/ What to do about pigeons/ sparrows , Damage by Sparrows, How To Keep Raccoons Away,  Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests/ De-fence / Pigeon Nesting/ Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping/ woodpecker control/ Professional Bird Control Company/ Keep The Birds Away/ Birds/rats/ seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/ dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/ pidgeon control/flying rats/ pigeon Problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/ bird guard

Pigeon: Both Pest And Delicacy In Cairo And Beyond

Pigeon: Both Pest And Delicacy In Cairo And Beyond

This is the last bite of the food portion of NPR Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep’s Revolutionary Road trip from Tunisia to Cairo, in which Steve arrives in Cairo and samples stuffed pigeon.

Dear Salt,

Since my first visit to Egypt in 2011, my NPR colleague Kimberly Adams has been insisting that I try stuffed pigeon. It’s a delicacy in Egypt. I finally took her advice the other night at a Cairo restaurant called the Abu Sid. They serve you the whole bird, with a variety of stuffings; I ordered pigeon stuffed with rice.

The birds are small — small enough that a single order consists of two. There’s probably more rice than meat inside, but the rice was moist. I hope it’s not too much of a cliché to say that the meat tasted like the darker parts of a chicken.

As you know, many Americans are a little shocked to hear about stuffed pigeon because in the United States, pigeons are widely regarded as little more than rats with wings. And this leads to my question:

Roughly how much of the world regards pigeon as a delicacy and how much as a disgusting pest?

Dear Steve,

The short answer seems to be that in most parts of the world, including some fancy U.S. restaurants, young pigeons (squab) are highly prized for the moist, dark, gamey flesh you just tasted.

These avian superstars are the very same species as the Rock Pigeons that drive New Yorkers crazy, says Courtney Humphries, author of Superdove: How the Pigeon Took Manhattan And the World. But “the main difference between the pigeons on your windowsill and on your plate is: Lifestyle,” Humphries says.

Those juicy little squabs we eat didn’t scavenge the city for garbage.

If you dine on pigeon in the U.S. – whether in Chinatown, Little Italy or a white tablecloth restaurant — your bird probably came from somewhere like the Palmetto Pigeon Plant in South Carolina. This institution, founded in the 1920s, raises hundreds of thousands of squabs every year, as well as Cornish hens and poussin.

And you can be sure that the pigeons you ate in Cairo were raised for the plate too. “Egyptian pigeons are bred only for consumption,” says Anne-Marie Bissada, a Canadian-Egyptian journalist who writes the cooking blog The Egyptian Kitchen. “All throughout the countryside, you can find these little towers that keep all the pigeons,” she says.

But, there are feral pigeons in Egyptian cities, she tells The Salt, and “the pigeons that we hate in North America are just as hated there, too.”

In fact, it seems that once you get a taste for grilled or stuffed pigeon, a pigeon problem won’t be far behind. Andrew Blechman, who wrote Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World’s Most Revered and Reviled Bird, says “the vast majority of today’s feral pigeons can trace their roots to the proliferation of dovecotes across Eurasia. Ancient Rome was populated with feral pigeons nesting on its monuments and homes.” And Courtney Humphries points out that “the street pigeons we see in North America today are here because pigeons were carried over on ships to feed European colonists.”

But whether you love the bird or hate it, The Salt can’t think of a more fitting topic for your your last culinary post from the Revolutionary Road. Pigeons are not just the world’s oldest domesticated bird — more ancient than Ancient Egypt — but a delicacy prized across North Africa, and a food for the poor as well as the powerful.

But, as Andrew Blechman observes, they are also the long time bearers of good and bad news. “It was a pigeon that delivered the results of the first Olympics in 776 B.C., and a pigeon that first brought news of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo more than 2,500 years later.”

Now, of course, we have NPR.

Thank you, Steve, and safe travels.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.

Contact us at 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD, (604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca

Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosting / Vancouver Pigeon Control /Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / Pigeon Deterrent?  Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest /Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons/ What to do about pigeons/ sparrows , Damage by Sparrows, How To Keep Raccoons Away,  Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests/ De-fence / Pigeon Nesting/ Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping/ woodpecker control/ Professional Bird Control Company/ Keep The Birds Away/ Birds/rats/ seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/ dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/ pidgeon control/flying rats/ pigeon Problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/ bird guard