by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 11, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeons in the News
Almost 20 birds have been found dead at a Perth train station and are suspected of having been intentionally poisoned after a mystery blue bucket was left at the site.
Burswood train station was shut down about 9:15pm on Saturday when 19 pigeons were found dead around the station.
A container holding bird seed, mixed with an unidentified black toxic fluid, was found in a garden at the station, a Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) spokesman said.
He said the birds were attracted by the substance and had been feeding on the contents of the container – believed to be a blue bucket.
Fire crews, chemical experts and police were called to investigate.
The area was closed off while workers in Hazmat suits poured sand on the liquid and secured the contents of the container in a drum.
The station reopened and train services resumed around 10:15pm, after the substance and dead pigeons were removed.
The Public Transport Authority (PTA) said it was unaware who left the bucket containing the “contaminated grain” in the garden.
A spokesman said the PTA would review CCTV footage from Burswood station as part of its investigation.
The DFES spokesman said it would not be known what product was in the container for a few days.
The drum will be sent to the ChemCentre in Bentley for testing when it re-opens on Tuesday.
Pest experts have told the ABC the product found in the bucket was not used for commercial pest control.
Council ‘not responsible’
The Town of Victoria Park said it had nothing to do with the bird deaths.
“The Town is not responsible for the recent deaths of birds on the Public Transport Authority land near Burswood Station,” Mayor of Victoria Park Trevor Vaughan said.
“We are continuing to work closely with authorities to investigate who is responsible and why this incident occurred.
“Any suspicious bird or other animal deaths should be reported to the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
“If you see anyone behaving suspiciously please call the police.”
Police said they were not involved in the investigation into the suspected poisoning.
Crown Perth, located adjacent to the train station, was unavailable for comment.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 10, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
A few years back when Gordon Snell became Mayor of Huntsville, and in his first week on the job, he looked through the paperwork on his desk and saw an estimate from a Toronto area Pest control Company to rid the Town Hall of nesting pigeons.
So the story goes Gord went to see Ted Hares then the Town Clerk to ask what the high price estimate was all about. After hearing the story, and finding out that he could charge up to $100.00 on his own, Gord walked down the street to Stedman’s and spent $12.00 on rubber snakes.
He took them back to the Town Hall and climbed up to the roof, placed the snakes in pigeon nesting areas and went back to work.
The pigeons migrated to another area of Town, and as far as I know, never came back.
Seems they don’t like snakes.
Would this work at the Summit Center?
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 9, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News
A KEEN walker has spoken of her concern after she saw up to 15 dead pigeons in a canal.
Carole Williams saw the dead birds when she was on her daily walk near Westport Lake yesterday morning.
The 53-year-old from Knutton said: “At first I just saw two dead pigeons, which I thought was strange.
“I have been walking along the canal most mornings for the last four years and I have never seen a dead bird.
“Then as I carried on walking I saw more and more until I had counted about 15.”
Carole saw the birds on the stretch between Westport Lake and the Harecastle tunnel on the Trent and Mersey Canal near Kidsgrove and she said that they were still there today.
It is not yet known whether the birds have been shot or died of natural causes.
On discovering the birds, Carole decided to report it but of the five different organisations she contacted, not one of them has been able to help.
She said: “They all just told me to phone someone else, or they just said it wasn’t their area
“It’s a shame because it’s a lovely area this time of year, it’s so peaceful.
“Plus the first birds I saw were really close to the children’s play area, it’s not a nice thing to see.
“I will still go for my walks but I just wish I could find out what’s happened to them to put my mind at rest.
“I know they’re only pigeons but it could have been swans or ducks or geese.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 8, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
Researchers have identified how a specific strain of salmonella is getting into Bermuda’s drinking water system, prompting environmental health officials to reiterate advice on how to avoid getting ill.
The research team, led by doctoral student Shervon De Leon, took faecal samples from 273 creatures on the Island and discovered that feral chickens and pigeons were the main carriers of salmonella mississippi.
They concluded that although chickens cannot access rooftops, they can pass on the disease-causing bacterium to other animals, such as pigeons and lizards, at shared feeding grounds, which can lead to the contamination of water tanks and the spread of salmonella mississippi to humans.
Elaine Watkinson, a senior public health analyst, told The Royal Gazette that householders should treat untreated or “raw” water like raw meat, adding: “You have to do something to your food, such as cooking raw meat or washing vegetables and fruit. Don’t assume the water is safe.”
Susan Hill Davidson, acting chief environmental health officer, added: “We have more detail. It’s an opportunity for us to again get the message across and maybe some people like to listen to the science and that might be the thing that might spur them [to treat their water].”
David Kendell, director of the Department of Health, said adult Bermudians who had lived here all their lives might have developed some immunity to bacteria in tank water but others were at risk, especially bottle-fed infants whose formula was made using untreated water, and those with compromised immune systems.
“People need to really look at it in terms of protecting the health of their children,” he said.
The joint study into the source of salmonella mississippi — which is the predominant strain of salmonella in Bermuda and on the Australian island of Tasmania, but in very few other countries — was prompted by an earlier Caribbean-led burden of illness report.
That report found from the testing of human stool samples that salmonella poisoning accounted for almost half of the gastroenteritis cases in Bermuda, with some 70 per cent of those salmonella cases involving salmonella mississippi.
Gastroenteritis is a public health concern on the Island, with an annual incidence of one episode per person per year.
Mr De Leon, a student at the University of the West Indies, said his team suspected birds would play a major part in the transmission of salmonella mississippi and the study bore that out.
“We looked at feral chickens, birds, frogs, rats, and we found a high prevalence in feral chickens and in pigeons and in some of the other birds,” he said.
“[In the case of chickens], they pass it on to other birds that share feeding grounds because they all poop where they eat. The other birds that can fly will get on to rooftops and then rainfall washes that poop into your water tank and then people drink that water. If it’s not treated, you have people getting sick from that water.”
Of the 63 feral chickens that were tested, salmonella was detected in 35 and samples from 14 tested positive for salmonella mississippi.
The researchers also tested tap and tank water samples from 102 randomly chosen households, most of which were untreated.
The samples were not tested for specific pathogens but for general “coliform bacteria” that would indicate the possible presence of harmful, disease-causing organisms in the water. Nearly all tap and tank samples — 88 and 89 per cent, respectively — contained coliforms.
A questionnaire on use and treatment of rooftop-collected water from those households discovered that 65.7 per cent did nothing to treat their water.
Almost 100 per cent used the water for cooking, 89 per cent used it for drinking and 100 per cent used it for cleaning dishes.
The researchers, who presented their findings at the third international One Health Congress in Amsterdam last year, concluded: “Most Bermudian residential water is contaminated by bacterial faecal indicator species.
“Depending on the indicator, between 67 per cent and 90 per cent of tap samples surpassed government safe drinking water standards and few households treat their water. Drinking water is likely a source of gastroenteritis.”
The team said its findings suggested “no improvement” to household water supplies since the last study ten years ago.
Ms Hill Davidson said householders could take simple steps to protect themselves and their families, including chlorinating tank water regularly, boiling water for a minimum of three to five minutes, or installing a UV treatment system. Brita and similar filters do not remove bacteria.
She said the aim was not to scare anyone as drinking water was a healthy lifestyle choice, but to make people aware that untreated tank water could cause illness.
“Our budget constraints mean that we can’t do as much as we might like from the public education point of view,” she said. “[But] repeating the message is something we have done annually and certainly over and over again.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 7, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeons in the News
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A man was caught on video allegedly trapping pigeons and stealing them off the streets of New York City.
A Manhattan woman posted the video on her Facebook page earlier this week. The woman who posted the video told CBS2 that the man used a net to trap the birds and scooped them up.
The man is caught on video carrying something to his van in the East Village, but it was not immediately clear what he was carrying.
Trapping birds is illegal in New York City without a permit, but it was not immediately clear if the man on video had one.
The NYPD said they are aware of the video, but have not investigated the incident because no formal complaint has been filed.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 6, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
THE risk of being hit by pigeon droppings as you walk under a city centre bridge is set to vanish as plans get under way to bird-proof the entire structure.
Business owners in Fisherton Street and residents living close to the railway bridge called for action in November, saying the birds had become a health hazard and people walking under the bridge need umbrellas to protect themselves.
Salisbury city councillor Matt Dean said it was the “number one issue” that residents complain to him about and has now led the way in obtaining funding from the city council to solve the problem.
He said: “It’s been an ongoing problem for 15 years or so, and now, with the opening of the University Technical College at the former police station, even more people are walking under the bridge from the rail station.
“The bulk of the money for cleaning and bird-proofing the bridge is going to be spent by the city council and we’re going to ask Network Rail for a financial contribution.
“We hope Wiltshire Council is going to assist by paying for the Traffic Regulation Order for the one or two-night road closure – but we have yet to get their agreement. We’ve gone out for tender for the work and hope it will be complete in June.”
The bridge clean and bird-proofing measures are expected to cost between £3,500 and £6,000.
Cllr Dean said: “There are a number of possible different treatments which include spikes or a special paint which is invisible to the human eye but makes buildings or statues seem like they’re on fire, if you’re a bird. The latter was successfully used about a year ago on the Poultry Cross where it was terrible but it’s now completely sorted.
“This is part of a wider programme to protect our buildings from damage by pigeons. In our historical, medieval city, we have to look after our shops and visitors.
“If you sit down and eat in the market square, you get pecked by birds. We need to work with the Business Improvement District to get rid of birds from the city centre.”
Last year, nesting peregrine falcons in the cathedral spire helped make a difference to the number of pigeons in the city but it also led to some very public executions and the council is reluctant to hire birds of prey to keep birds away.
Paul Dauwalder, who runs three businesses in the Fisherton Street, said it was fantastic news, adding: “It’s one of the weak spots in the street. People have had to walk under that awful bridge for too long and run the gauntlet from these feral pigeons.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 5, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
Dead pigeons trapped under a New Malden railway bridge pose “a serious health issue” to residents, and particularly to drivers in convertible cars, a councillor has said.
Pigeons often become trapped in the netting beneath the bridge
Live birds can be seen sitting on piles of their own excrement under the railway line in Kingston Road, and dead ones are stuck in netting intended to have pigeon-proofed the bridge.
Beverley Ward councillor Raju Pandya said: “This is something that is a serious health issue and we are pleading with Network Rail to get this sorted.
“God help you if you’re in a convertible, they get crap on their heads.”
The birds can be seen sitting on their own excrement
Bird droppings and decaying dead birds have been a long-standing issue under the bridge, with residents and councillors first raising concerns with Network Rail in 2014.
A Network Rail spokeswoman said: “We understand the concerns of people in the area about the ongoing pigeon problem at this bridge, and are working closely with Kingston Council to resolve this.”
A dead pigeon lies on the ground having fallen from the bridge
Kingston and Surbiton MP James Berry brought representatives of Kingston Council and Network Rail to the bridge last week.
He said: “It’s absolutely disgusting, the pigeons get stuck in the netting. I was getting incredibly frustrated with the council and Network Rail.
“I just got them to come down and see it for themselves.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 4, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
China’s air pollution can be so dense that grey plumes are visible from space.
But while smog can cause heart disease, lung cancer and high blood pressure in humans, it seems to make homing pigeons fly faster in one of China’s most hazy regions.
The researchers think the unexpected phenomenon may be down to a scent the birds can use to find their way home.
While smog can cause heart disease, lung cancer and high blood pressure in humans, it seems to make homing pigeons fly faster in one of China’s most hazy regions. A stock image of smog in Shanghai is pictured
Researchers from Nanjing University in China and the University of California, Los Angeles, analysed the performance of racing or ‘homing’ pigeons taking part in races on the North China Plain.
The birds are known for their ability to find their way back home at speeds of around 37mph (60km/h) and were famously used in both World Wars because of their reliability.
The researchers used publicly available data gathered from pigeon racing agencies as well as environmental organisations in the autumns of 2013 and 14 to analyse the speed of the birds in the region, where smog is usually thicker than in other parts of the vast country.
When looking for correlations between the birds’ times and pollution levels, they expected to see a drop in performance.
The researchers used publicly available data from pigeon racing agencies as well as environmental organisations to analyse the speed of the birds. Contrary to their expectations, pigeons homed significantly faster in polluted conditions. These charts show the varying correlations depending on other conditions
WHY DO THE PIGEONS FLY FASTER?
Navigational advantage:
The smell of smog, which is composed of organic particles in China, may help the birds navigate.
‘While air pollution cannot enhance vision, it might enhance olfactory navigation efficiency by providing supplemental olfactory cues to home,’ the study says.
Motivation:
Alternatively, the researchers think the birds dislike the smog and are simply upping their speed to fly out of it as soon as possible.
‘Decreased homing time under air pollution could be explained by an enhanced motivation to home; a possibility proposed several years ago that remains untested,’ they write.
‘Air pollution might be an indication of poor environmental quality, which might trigger rapid escape.’
The birds many want to get out of the smog to avoid predators surprising them in poor visibility too.
‘By homing faster when flying through haze pollution, pigeons reduce the relative amount of time they are exposed to harmful or dangerous situations while away from the safety of their home roosts,’ the study said.
‘We might expect pollution would negatively interfere with pigeon navigation and pigeons would both fly more slowly and be less successful at returning to their home roosts when flying through more polluted air,’ the researchers wrote in the study, published in Nature’s Scientific Reports.
They considered variables including race distance, wind direction, speed, weather conditions and air quality.
Temperature was found to have no ‘significant’ effects on homing time, whereas the others either slowed the birds down or helped them get to their destination more swiftly.
The researchers added: ‘Contrary to our expectations, pigeons homed significantly faster when flying through more polluted conditions.’
Using a model, they estimated that pigeons increase their homing speed from 35 mph (55.6km/h) when flying in unpolluted conditions, to 42 mph (68.2km/h) when the pollution index hit a high score of 500.
While they are not exactly sure why smog is responsible for the performance boost, they have a couple of ideas to do with navigation and motivation.
It is generally accepted that pigeons use the sun and geomagnetic field as a compass, and visual and olfactory cues to create a map.
‘Could air pollution enhance pigeon visual and/or olfactory abilities, and by doing so explain the reduced homing time?’ the experts asked in their paper.
Because smog usually reduces visibility, particularly in North China where smoggy particles are the main pollutants, the study suggests that visual cues aren’t as important to the birds’ navigational techniques as expected, so poor visibility didn’t affect their speed.
While the experts are not exactly sure why smog is responsible for the performance boost, they suggest that the birds may fly faster than usual – and not just as efficiently – because of the smell of smog. A stock image of racing pigeons being released is shown
‘This finding is consistent with previous studies that have shown that pigeons are able to home perfectly well from unknown sites where landmarks are unfamiliar, even when flying with frosted lenses that impede vision,’ they write.
To explain why the birds may fly faster than usual – and not just as efficiently – they suggested the racing pigeons may be stimulated by the smell of smog.
‘Olfactory cues have been shown to play an important role in avian navigation, and in pigeons it is probably a fundamental homing mechanism,’ they write.
They think the organic particles that make up the smog – from burning coal and waste – may help the birds navigate by providing stronger markers for the birds to use when finding their way home.
Racing pigeons are known for their ability to find their way back home at speeds of around 37mph (60km/h) and were famously used in both World Wars because of their reliability (pictured)
‘While air pollution cannot enhance vision, it might enhance olfactory navigation efficiency by providing supplemental olfactory cues to home,’ the study continued.
Alternatively, they suggested the birds might dislike the smog and are simply upping their speed to fly out of it and get back home as soon as possible.
‘Decreased homing time under air pollution could be explained by an enhanced motivation to home; a possibility proposed several years ago that remains untested,’ they write.
‘Air pollution might be an indication of poor environmental quality, which might trigger rapid escape.’
The birds many want to get out of the smog to avoid predators surprising them in poor visibility too.
‘By homing faster when flying through haze pollution, pigeons reduce the relative amount of time they are exposed to harmful or dangerous situations while away from the safety of their home roosts,’ the study said.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 3, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
A pigeon.
The SPCA is investigating possible pigeon poisoning in Auckland.
The bizarre scene, observed outside Vector Arena in central Auckland on Thursday morning, was attributed by residents to the birds eating a packet of chilli instant noodles.
The ordeal began after the birds began acting strangely in the early morning.
One of the drugged pigeons
Daniel Edwards, who lived nearby, found the sickly birds near a packet of opened instant noodles and spicy seasoning.
“It’s pretty sad. A lot of people hate pigeons, but they don’t annoy me,” he said.
Edwards and his friend chased away two large gulls away that had begun clawing at the incapacitated pigeons.
Daniel Edwards found a dozen sick and dying pigeons in Auckland on Thursday morning.
One pigeon was left with a wound in his side while another bird died.
A passer-by poured water on the distressed birds to help revive them from their sluggish state.
Local resident Cynthia Dickey said this was the third time in three months pigeons had been found in a similar state in the park.
In a previous incident, she said three pigeons died and the SPCA took the remaining 12 away for treatment.
Dickey said the birds were being poisoned by the human food being left scattered around the area.
The chilli seasoning would have been dangerously spicy for pigeons, she said.
“Their little mouths can’t cope with it. It would burn your tongue.”
However, SPCA Auckland chief executive Andrea Midgen said they were investigating if the birds were poisoned.
It was the second callout the SPCA had received to the area in a few months.
“In both cases the pigeons appear to be sick from the use of poison.
“The pigeons found today were particularly sick and had wounds from being attacked by seagulls.”
The birds were taken to NZ Bird Rescue where they were being cared for.
It was legal to poison pigeons in New Zealand but you must ensure the birds don’t suffer and not leave any sick birds behind, she said.
“No animal should be left to suffer like this.”
NZ Bird Rescue Trust spokeswoman Hilary Stollery said they had been alerted to more cases of bird poisoning in recent years.
Cafe owners would poison sparrows and pigeons which were seen as a nuisance, she said.
The Trust would like the practice banned.
Human food can also be toxic to birds, including dry noodles and chili, she said.
“It would expand in the poor creature’s stomach and kill them.”
Human food high in salt and chemicals was also bad for birds.
Anyone wishing to feed birds should give them bird seed, she said.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 2, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
Pigeons are a nuisance in downtown North Platte. On Tuesday evening, the local city council approved a plan to get rid of them.
An agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Health Inspection Service was approved on Tuesday at the regular North Platte City Council meeting. The plan is to eradicate the birds through a multi-faceted process that includes using toxicants, trapping and shooting.
Chad Richardson, district supervisor for the service, gave an overview of what needs to be done.
“The situation didn’t develop overnight and it won’t go away overnight,” Richardson said. “The goal is to reduce the population by 50 percent in the first year.”
It is estimated there are around 4,000 pigeons in the city, and Richardson said it will take putting in the man hours to accomplish the goal. Eventually, he believes the service can reduce the population by 90 percent. In Scottsbluff, the service successfully eradicated all but a handful of 2,000 pigeons in that city.
“Toxicant baiting is the key,” Richardson said. “Trapping and shooting is much more labor intensive.”
The toxicant is used after the birds have been baited with corn. Then corn is soaked in the liquid toxicant and the birds eat the tainted feed.
“We have a toxicant that is registered just to the USDA,” Richardson said. “It’s a good toxicant, if there is such a thing. There is no secondary toxicity to these birds. It is different toxicant than what private controllers have used in the past.”
The effect on the birds is that they die in their sleep due to liver failure. There will be dead birds, but the service will remove the birds as they are found. The toxicant does not stay toxic after the bird dies, so people or pets that come in contact with the dead birds are not in any danger.
“Great Plains Health and the Ag Valley Co-op have agreed to share the cost of the service,” City Administrator Jim Hawks said. “The cost will be split three ways with the city.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 1, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
AROUND New Year some Yorkshire farmers and landowners hold the first of what have become traditional shoots at woodpigeon roosts.
The bird is the most common found on UK farmland, and the huge resident population is boosted each autumn by migrants from the Continent. In some areas the shoots are a necessity owing to the woodpigeon’s destructive effect on crops. For example, one large flock – some are as many as 2,000-strong – can take out a field of sprouts or cabbages in a day. They also hammer crops like corn and rape.
A few years back I was invited to describe a shoot on one estate, which must remain nameless for fear of attracting animal rights campaigners. By tradition, the first shoot of the winter took place on the final Saturday of December, and after issuing an invite to friends and neighbours the farmer never knew how many guns to expect. Sometimes as many as 25 to 30 turned up.
It helped if there wasn’t much beechmast left, apparently, because when the birds are still finding plenty to eat in beechwoods there are fewer on farmland.
The woodpigeons started flying back to their evening roost in mature conifers about two in the afternoon, by which time everyone was in place beneath trees the birds were known to use year after year. There was no real need for stealth at that point since the pigeons were still out in the fields.
Every corner of the plantations had to be staked out, because once the first shot is heard the birds quickly try to find sanctuary. The guns positioned themselves in any woodland gaps which the birds would fly over on arrival or departure. Others went 50 yards or so outside the wood and tucked themselves behind a hedge.
That particular day there was a stiff northerly blowing and a bit of sleet, which the farmer said was good. Without wind, the pigeons would fly in very high and eventually drop down to their roost almost vertically. If the guns weren’t directly underneath them, they wouldn’t have much chance of a shot.
To begin with there seemed to be a lull, a calm before the storm, when there was no movement in either sky or trees, then suddenly there came lots of banging, pop-pop-pop-pop in the distance, and the sky was full of wings.
Sometimes, as a shot was fired, the bird disappeared behind branches and the gun stood listening carefully to hear the noise of it clattering down through branches and thumping onto the ground. There was usually some visual evidence of a hit, since woodpigeons have quick-release feathers which are thought to be an anti-predator device.
On that particular day the total birds shot reached three figures. Yet the farmer who had organised the shoot said ruefully: “It’s supposed to be all about pest control, but you would scarcely notice any reduction. The very next day these woods are usually blue with pigeons again.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 31, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
PIGEONS in Poundbury beware.
This falcon is sweeping the skies to keep them clear from marauding birds.
Amateur photographer Sheila Hunn captured this stunning shot of the bird on a visit to Poundbury Garden Centre recently.
Sheila, 63, of Portland, said she was ‘thrilled to bits’ when she saw the photo.
“I was lucky enough to see the falcon with her handler. He told me she is flown regularly to keep the pigeons away and was kind enough to let me take a few photos.
“She is well trained and raised her wings on command from him.”
The bird is a cross between a peregrine falcon and a lanner falcon.
Sheila, a retired midwife, added: “She was a beautiful bird, standing there very proudly. I think she’s there most days. I’ve usually got my camera with me but I was lucky to get such nice shots.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 30, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, UltraSonic Bird Control
Council orders staff to investigate ways to eliminate pigeon roosting at the Canada Summit Centre entrance.
HUNTSVILLE – Pigeons have been steadfastly opposing the municipality.
Pigeon control program in…
Despite the concerted effort of staff, pigeons have been roosting in large numbers at the entrance to Huntsville’s Canada Summit Centre. At the Dec. 21 council meeting, a motion was passed to escalate the town’s efforts in deterring the fowl.
Kari Lambe, executive director of community services and economic development, explained to council that there have been numerous attempts made to keep the birds from the Summit Centre and they have all been thwarted.
“We have tried a number of things in the past. We’ve tried the fake owls. We currently have the spikes. We even have the spikes serviced on a regular basis because the pigeons actually try to bump the spikes off and try to build nests on top of the spikes,” said Lambe.
“Pigeons actually try to bump the spikes off.”
– Kari Lambe
The pigeon issue has had serious consequences for the municipality. According to Lambe, staff members are routinely at the Summit Centre entrance dealing with it, which takes away from time they could be spending else where.
Scott Aitchison, mayor of Huntsville, said the whole problem has been exasperated by people within the municipality.
“I believe there are a number of well-meaning citizens feeding the pigeons at the Summit Centre. That’s probably not helping the situation,” said Aitchison.
Council voted to direct staff to investigate further options for keeping the pigeons away from the entrance.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 29, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
Pigeons that congregate outside Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh mosque have been getting an extra ingredient in their breakfast.
Every day, pigeons that flock to the area are served a corn-based feed containing a drug called nicarbazin, which stops the female birds from producing eggs or causes them to lay eggs that do not hatch.
This new “birth control” method to limit pigeon numbers is being tested by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) at a field outside the mosque in Palmer Road, near Shenton Way.
The trial, which started on Oct 13 and will last a year, comes on the back of soaring complaints about the nuisance caused by pigeons.
The AVA has already received about 3,400 pigeon-related feedback from January to October this year, more than the 2,500 received for the whole of last year and the 2,100 in 2013.
It has also seen a growth in feedback about all kinds of birds, including pigeons, from some 4,400 messages in 2013 to 6,100 in the first 10 months of this year alone.
Mr Mohamed Idris, secretary of the management board of Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh, said pigeons have always been around, but the problem has worsened over the last 10 years.
The field outside the mosque has an estimated 400 pigeons, twice as many as two years ago.
The birds would fly into the mosque compounds, making them a nuisance to the staff and those who go to the mosque to pray.
“They leave their droppings on the floor and you walk on it… They congregate at the food areas as well,” said Mr Mohamed.
This has led the AVA to choose the mosque as the first area to try out the new method.
During a demonstration yesterday, Ms Janet Chia, executive manager of the Operations (Wild Animals) section at AVA, said it will take about a year to see a drop in the pigeon population there.
Around five mosque volunteers will be in charge of feeding the laced feed to the pigeons. The method could be rolled out to other areas in Singapore if the trial succeeds.
When tested in Italy, the method was found to reduce the pigeon population in the test area by 30 per cent to 40 per cent over four years.
The drug does not harm the birds and is not toxic to animals or humans if taken in small amounts. It would take 40kg of the feed to see toxic effects in dogs and cats, and 60kg for a child, said Ms Chia.
She also urged the public not to feed birds, as this “would encourage their population size to grow and encourage them to congregate and cause nuisance”.
Feeding pigeons is illegal and those found to have flouted the rules face a fine of up to $500. The AVA has caught 113 bird feeders so far this year, including 13 who did so outside the mosque.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 28, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting
A concerned gran is crying fowl, claiming flying visitors are making a South Tyneside rail bridge a ‘health hazard’.
Joan Marsh says roosting pigeons are still a problem at the Hill Street bridge, in Jarrow, every day on her route to work despite a major revamp by transport bosses.
Pigeon problem at Hill Street Metro bridge. Joan Marsh
Pigeon problem at Hill Street Metro bridge. Joan Marsh
The 53-year-old, from Pine Street, in Jarrow, says flocks of pigeons congregated under the bridge – with their droppings on the pavement and railings an ongoing issue.
Metro owner Nexus, which manages the bridge along with Network rail, says it has installed netting above all the walkways, but Mrs Marsh says the work didn’t go far enough.
Network Rail says it was unaware of Mrs Marsh’s concerns but is happy to meet with her to discuss the issue.
Mrs Marsh, a mum-of-four and gran-of-one, said; “There are still droppings on the walkway and on the railings. The netting that is attached to the underside of bridges to stop birds from nesting hasn’t been fitted properly.
Pigeon problem at Hill Street Metro bridge. Joan Marsh
Pigeon problem at Hill Street Metro bridge. Joan Marsh
“It has only been fitted on the outside edges of the underside of the bridge. The middle has been missed.
“I counted 38 pigeons sitting on the ledges under the bridge. It will soon be back to a smelly, pigeon roosting health hazard if someone doesn’t step in and finish the work properly.
Nexus and Network rail have completed a major overhaul of the bridge, with new crash barriers installed to prevent the bridges from sustaining structural damage if any are hit by a car or a lorry.
Nexus says it has installed netting on 20% of the bridge that it manages and also put the netting above all the parts of the bridge that are above the walkways as a goodwill gesture.
A Network Rail spokesman said; “We haven’t been made aware of any concerns over netting on the bridge, but if Mrs Marsh contacts us we will send someone out and see what work is needed.
A Nexus spokesman added: “As part of our modernisation programme on the Hill Street bridge, we have installed pigeon netting above all of the walkways. We have also installed pigeon spikes to stop them from landing and have cleaned up both of the footpaths.
“The netting and the spikes have been put in place to prevent pigeons from roosting on the structure.
“All the work was carried out following feedback from local councillors and residents.
“We share the ownership of the Hill Street bridge with Network Rail. Nexus looks after about a fifth of the bridge structure, but the netting above the footpaths has been erected all the way along the bridge as part of the upgrades.
“We would encourage Mrs Marsh to get in direct contact with us so we can discuss this issue with her in more detail.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 27, 2016 | Bird Netting, UltraSonic Bird Control
The North Platte City Council may close the coop on North Platte’s pigeon problem.
The council will discuss authorizing an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to “reduce the numbers of pigeons roosting and loafing in the city,” according to a copy of the agreement included in the agenda for the Jan. 5 meeting.
The agreement would create a wildlife damage management program to control the populations of pigeons, European starlings and English house sparrows within the city. The agreement states that use of a pellet rifle is effective in population control for all three bird species, as is trapping and euthanization, use of pesticides and nest removal.
The program would run in partnership with private businesses and entities agreeable to sharing the cost of the agreement. The private entities are not determined at this time.
Cost of the service is estimated at $7,499.
n The council will consider an extension request for Community Development Block Grants used for improvements in three areas of northwest North Platte. A letter from Tom Werblow, city engineer, to Judy Clark, city grants administrator, recommends an extension to Oct. 15. The city contracted with Cement Products on paving projects on 18th Street from Sheridan to Jackson avenues, 13th Street from Carr to Madison avenues and 15th Street from Custer to Sheridan avenues.
“We recommend caution in allowing Cement Products to bid on the next Block Grant project,” Werblow wrote in the letter.
His warning was because of Cement Products’ performance with the CDBG and NDOR projects, according to the letter.
n A vendor for Verizon Wireless, Unite Private Networks, has requested the city authorize them to use city utility poles. The company wants to attach “small cells” to the poles, which are intended to enhance cell phone networks and reduce the need for traditional cell phone towers.
An overview of the service from the company explains that small cells are used in an area already covered by a cell tower to assist in high bandwidth areas such as schools, shopping centers, airports and special events.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 26, 2016 | Bird Netting, UltraSonic Bird Control
It’s 10 minutes before noon and Ustad Anil Sood is ready. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and trousers, he puts on a black sleeveless jacket, a golden bracelet and watch, and rushes all the way up a spiral, dingy flight of stairs in his five-storey building. He is headed to the roof — his playground, like that of over a thousand other “kabootarbaaz” in this part of Old Delhi.
He has been on this roof, flanked by the historic Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Jama Masjid, “jab se maine hosh sambhala hai (since I gained consciousness)”, says the 45-year-old. The family has a construction business, which takes care of their “khaana-peena”, but kabootarbaazi is what gives them their “josh (zeal)”, Sood says.
In Agra last week, a six-day contest of kabootarbaazi was stopped following objections from the Animal Welfare Board of India, on grounds of cruelty to pigeons.
Over here in Old Delhi, in the midst of the peak December-March season, Sood is unflappable as he prepares his pigeons for their contests of the day. Kabootarbaazi was popularised in India by the Mughals, and Sood’s family, as per his estimation, has been participating in it “for over hundred years”. “It’s a passion,” he repeats, “a part of purani Delhi tradition.”
There are eight enclosures in all on the roof, holding about 100-150 pigeons each, from Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patiala and Delhi. Sood walks up to the enclosures and, for the next few minutes, talks to his pigeons — some “baat-cheet”, he says, to prep them.
A ‘shagird’ stands at the gate of the enclosure holding the Hyderabadi pigeons. Around 12.30 pm, Sood raises his left arm, the shagird flings open the gate, and the batch of 150 Hyderabadi pigeons — ivory-coloured with a few specks of grey, each with a name, and with tiny, special ghungroo (anklets) on their feet — are off, in a not-so-pretty rush.
At the same moment, from the roof of another building, two lanes away, an ustad releases his batch of “Lakhnawi” pigeons. The first kabootarbaazi game of the day is on.
This is a race, with the ustad whose pigeons fly the farthest from his roof to be declared the victor.
Sood isn’t worried. “In Kinari Bazaar, there are 12 ustads. My pigeons win most contests,” he smiles.
There is no money involved in these daily competitions, he clarifies. “But many ustads organise professional contests from time to time where the winner gets anything between Rs 1,000-50,000.”
One is crowned an ustad at an elaborate ceremony, involving the tying of a pagdi (turban). Sood’s brother, 42-year-old Arjun, is still a khalifa, a rank between a shagird and an ustad. Shagirds train under an ustad, and Sood has six with him today.
Sood points out the single black pigeon in his flock, now already some distance away. “That is my trademark. By it, people know these are my birds.”
All eyes now on the two rival flocks, Sood picks up his tool — a “chapka (wooden stick with a net)” — while the shagirds and khalifas get their sticks with red cloth tied to them. Then they begin the shouting. “The idea is to ensure that the pigeons don’t return to the roof and fly further away. Also, they must fly opposite to the wind, otherwise they are disqualified,” says Sood, making loud, throaty cries.
There are broad smiles as Sood takes another look at the sky and tells you which part of the city his pigeons are in — Sadar Bazaar. That is 2 km away.
On the other roof there is growing anger, as the Lakhnawi pigeons have started returning. The aggression palpable now, Sood and his team start shouting expletives to keep the pigeons away. “They (the pigeons) are like children, they need to be trained. It’s like accelerating a vehicle,” says a 14-year-old shagird.
Around 1.30 pm, Sood’s father Ram Kishan (75) comes to the roof. As he takes out his more robust tools — a big steel plank and an iron rod — one of Sood’s pigeons suddenly appears on the railing of the roof.
Kishan begins thumping the plank. Alarmed, the pigeon zooms off. Kishan says that was Chandna. “Usko badhazmi ho gai hai, thodi sust bhi hai (Her stomach’s upset, she is lazy too), but this is a strict sport.”
Few know pigeons better than Kishan, who makes two trips a year to markets across India to purchase the birds for his “team”. “The jungli (wild) pigeons come for as little as Rs 100, but each of my pigeons cost me nothing less than Rs 1,000.”
Elaborating what they look for, he adds, “The beak must be of one colour, even the body shouldn’t have mixed colours. We like the Hyderabadi and Irani breeds, all white and beautiful.”
The “training” begins when the pigeons are around three years old. “The pigeons are at their fittest and fastest then,” says Sood.
Later, after the game, Kishan holds Chandna’s feet and shakes them, and puts a net on top of her for a few minutes. “This is how we punish them. It’s like pulling a child’s ear,” he explains.
By now, the sky is full of pigeons. “Those near Jama Masjid belong to Muslim kabootarbaaz. We have competitions with them too, there is no religious rivalry,” says Sood.
His contest won, Sood raises his right arm and shrieks “Aaaoooo” — a cue for the pigeons to get back. In a twinkling of ghungroos, the birds fly in, and go straight for the mix of almonds and walnuts, grains and ghee that Arjun has sprinkled on the floor.
“They need a special diet, they are racers. This diet ensures they fly far and fight the winds,” he says watching with pride.
Explaining the anklets, Sood says, “They are just to enhance beauty. They come in many varieties too. The ones from Delhi have pearls, the Hyderabadi ones have metallic beads…”
The pigeons are still eating when, minutes later, Sood signals to one of the khalifas to fling a shoe in their middle. The stunned pigeons fly up again. “This is real training, so that they know I am the master,” says Sood.
His pigeons take on rival flocks two more times in the next one hour, winning each time. Satisfied, Sood finally calls the racers back.
At 3 pm, the tired pigeons get their “energy drink”. Sood grinds raw turmeric, dry ginger and other “jadi bootis (medicinal herbs)” together on a stone platform, and mixes their juice into a pot of lukewarm water for the birds. “Every ustad has a secret recipe,” he says. “We go to a hakim (unani doctor) to get the mix.”
After they have had their fill, the Hyderabadi pigeons are led into their enclosures — and they go in unprotesting.
However, for Sood, the second part of the day is only just beginning. For this, he takes out his “Patialas”— brown and grey pigeons, bigger and tougher, and “not as beautiful” as the Hyderabadis. As the birds are released with special sounds again, the rules are different. This flock’s aim is to take on the one from the neighbouring roof. The mission: to ensure your birds are not scared on to the opponent’s roof.
Arjun believes what happened in Agra stemmed from this. “An ustad lost 400 pigeons in fighting and complained to the police.”
The other side has pitted Hyderabadi pigeons against his Patialas. After a 10-minute bout, Sood shouts out “Ho!”, a signal for the birds to return. Suddenly an eagle appears in the mix, and his team’s fears come alive. One of Sood’s team members shouts “lagiya” — signalling that one of their pigeons was moving towards the other roof. Quickly, the screams get hoarser and Kishan begins beating the steel plank even more frantically. The contingency plan works, the pigeon flies back.
“Izzat ka sawal tha (It was a question of honour),” Sood smiles relieved. There are two more such 10-minute bouts in a game.
Arjun says it’s not the eagles that are the biggest threat. “It is the Chinese manjha (the string used for kite-flying that injures birds). This is the season of patangbaazi (kite-flying) too.”
The rounds of kabutarbaazi continue till pigeons in all their eight enclosures have had their time in the sky.
As they begin to pack up, Kishan dismisses suggestions that the sport may be dying. “My father, grandfather, each one was a kabootarbaaz. In Old Delhi, the excitement around the sport is growing.”
He can also tell you why. “After school, I know where my children will be — on the roof, playing with pigeons. It is better than smoking or drinking.” Sood smiles sheepishly and says his children are at tuitions.
As he looks down below, at the cacophony and rush that mark the narrow lanes of Kinari Bazaar in Chandni Chowk, where time has long stood still and down which his children will soon be returning, Sood tells you what he and his pigeons find on the roof on such sunny winter afternoons: “freedom”.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 25, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
COPEVILLE, Texas — The pigeons returned soon after the tornado swept through and destroyed their home.
Willard Hill of Copeville took us to the back of the property where three pigeons sat in the field.
Sadly, there are fewer pigeons than before. Hill told News 8 that they come and go, but he can tell you a lot more about the man behind them: Jerry Brazeal.
WFAA
Victims of the North Texas tornadoes
“They’re waiting on him to feed them. They think he’s supposed to be here,” said Hill.
Alice McKinnon of Garland is Brazeal’s sister. They were only three years apart.
She learned Jerry died the night the tornado tore through Copeville. She first got calls from another brother and Jerry’s long-time girlfriend about her brother’s passing. She would later get confirmation from a detective at 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
Alice said she talked with the first responders who saw his final moments.
“The last words that he heard was ‘God’ and that makes me kind of have more peace,” she said.
A new disaster center opened in Collin County as Copeville mourns those lost in Saturday’s tornado. Jobin Panicker has the story.
Alice said her brother always moved around, but the longest place he’s stayed was in Copeville. She said he loved to be in the outdoors and loved his chickens and pigeons.
“I grew up with him sitting in a pigeon coop,” said McKinnon.
The cleanup continues in Collin County. Farming cities like Copeville, Farmersville, and Blue Ridge are still reeling. But if compassion could fill a room, it would look like what is happening at the First Baptist Church of Farmersville.
At the Collin County Disaster Resource Center, there are rows and rows of every imaginable clothing in every size.
A new disaster center opened in Collin County
A new disaster center opened in Collin County (Photo: WFAA)
Neighbors in Copeville tell News 8 that Jerry did odd jobs. He liked the country and lived out of a pop-up camper. It’s where his pigeons have returned.
“He’s watching over them,” Hill said, looking at the pigeons.
The Resource Center will be staged at the First Baptist Church of Farmersville (124 South Washington Street, Farmersville, TX 75442). Before delivering supplies to the Resource Center please contact the Collin County Emergency Management Department at 972-548-4383.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 24, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
Schlueterville has an unwelcome visitor that roosts in our covered back porch. Its calling card is a horrifying pool of guano splattered under the iron chandelier — a gift we discover each morning as we pass by the window on the way to the coffee pot.
“Haha!” the guano taunts. “Here I am again! You’ll never catch Mystery Marauder!”
Whatever is leaving the mess must be sizable, stealthy, nocturnal and at least partially feathered.
“It’s either goose, pigeon or a freaking gargoyle,” Hunka grumps said before dragging out the hose. “From the size of that mess, it could be a moose with digestive problems.”
Maybe it’s a moose wearing a feather boa. (This is the kind of junk we think about since ditching cable.)
Attempts to catch the culprit have proven futile. All is clear when we head to bed, and the Schlueterville setters promise to keep an eye out for anything amiss. (News flash: Schlueterville setters fib.) The next morning, voila! The patio is festooned with scattered feathers and colossal heaps of goo.
Word, chirp, hoot or honk seems to be spreading throughout the animal kingdom about our cozy, sheltered refuge.
Last summer, we returned from vacation to find a big-eared, pug-nosed bat nestled in the crook of our patio roof. We named him Hector. He pooped a lot, too.
Hector was allowed to hang around as long as he ate mosquitoes and stayed out of my hair.
He wasn’t the Brad Pitt of bats, but we grew rather fond of the little bugger. He did his thing. We did ours. Mosquitoes were terrified. All was well with the world.
We even installed a bona fide bat house, but he wasn’t interested in making a move. Then one day he flew off to find warmer climates and a meatier buffet. So long, Hector.
Squirrels are a different sort of cat. Hunka hates them with a passion, engineering elaborate gizmos to keep them from wrecking backyard bird feeders and gorging on seeds.
Hunka moves the pole this way. Squirrels jump from the fence. He moves it that way, they sail from the roof. He installs baffles on the feeders. They shinny up anyway, like acrobatic circus performers. He sics the setters on them, only to watch the prey charge up a maple and sarcastically shake their tails.
Squirrels back stroke in the dog dish. Squirrels eat fist-sized holes in window screens and the garage door.
Squirrels drive Hunka batty.
In a fit of rage, Hunka yanked up every pole and stored every feeder. Take that, you little (insert salty language here).
The birds are out of luck, which brings me back to our current intruder.
Perhaps Mystery Marauder is protesting the removal of bird feeders from the Schlueterville backyard.
This is the year of the protest, it seems, and piles of dung make a definite statement.
Maybe Hector the bat landed in a Texas barn loft somewhere, and told resident pigeons they should check out a particular bed and breakfast in Hastings, Nebraska.
“It’s comfortable and free of charge,” he’d say. “Plus, the humans and dogs are too busy chasing squirrels to pose a threat.”
Perhaps a featherbrained goose took a wrong turn while migrating, and needed a place to rest.
Heck, maybe there really is a gastro-challenged moose on the loose, taking a tour of the best places to squat in Hastings.
Then there’s the gargoyle theory, which is creepy and costing me sleep.
We are fully aware that this dirty dilemma is a first world problem. There are far more pressing issues at hand.
But we’ll be happy when Mystery Marauder packs up his crap and moves on down the line.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | May 23, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
PIGEONS that congregate outside Masjid Haji Muhammad Salleh mosque have been getting an extra ingredient in their breakfast.
Every day, pigeons that flock to the area are served a corn-based feed containing a drug called nicarbazin, which stops the female birds from developing eggs or causes them to lay eggs that do not hatch.
This is a new “birth control” method to limit pigeon numbers tested by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), at a field outside the mosque at Palmer Road near Shenton Way.
The trial, which started on Oct 13 and will last a year, comes on the back of soaring complaints about the nuisance caused by pigeons.
AVA has already received about 3,400 pieces of pigeon-related feedback from Jan to Oct this year, more than the 2,500 they received in the whole of last year and the 2,100 in 2013.
It has also seen a growth in feedback about all kinds of birds, including pigeons, from some 4,400 messages in 2013 to 6,100 in the first 10 months of this year alone.
Mohamed Idris, secretary of the management board of the mosque at Palmer Road, said pigeons have always been around, but the problem worsened over the last 10 years.
The field outside the mosque has an estimated 400 pigeons, twice as many as two years ago. The birds would fly into the mosque compounds, making them a nuisance to staff and people who go to the mosque to pray.
“They leave their droppings on the floor and you walk on it… They congregate at the food areas as well,” he said.
This has led AVA to choose the mosque as the first area to try out the new method.
During a demonstration yesterday, Janet Chia, executive manager of the Operations (Wild Animals) section at AVA, said it will take about a year to see a drop in the pigeon population there.
Around five mosque volunteers will be in charge of feeding the laced feed to the pigeons. The method could be rolled out to other areas in Singapore if the trial succeeds.
When tested in Italy, the method was found to reduce the pigeon population there by 30 to 40 per cent over four years.
The drug does not harm the birds and is not toxic to animals or humans if taken in small amounts. It would take 40kg of the feed to see toxic effects in dogs and cats, and 60kg for a child, said Ms Chia.
She also urged the public not to feed birds, as this “would encourage their population size to grow and encourage them to congregate and cause nuisance”.
Feeding pigeons is illegal and those found to flout the rules face a fine of up to $500. AVA has caught 113 bird feeders so far this year, including 13 who did so outside the mosque.
About Pigeon Patrol:
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 Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
