by Pigeon Patrol | Apr 13, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
A FEW Ellenbrook residents in a flap over their neighbour’s homing pigeons have no relief in sight.
City of Swan council has not supported developing new local laws in response to complaints about the impact of pigeons in residential areas.
In August, the City opted to investigate its pigeon keeping laws because Ellenbrook residents neighbouring a pigeon breeder had raised concerns.
The Advocate spoke to one resident who complained about his neighbour’s homing pigeons defecating on his roof, solar panels and vehicle each day.
He said he had grown tired of his solar panels losing power due to bird droppings and had even had his car re-sprayed.
Most complaints to the City of Swan about pigeon keeping related to one property in Ellenbrook.
Pigeon Racing Federation of WA advises that with good practice it is possible to keep up to 150 pigeons without significant impact on neighbours.
The federation estimates there are approximately 16 keepers in the Swan area, 15 of which are in built-up residential areas.
Other metropolitan local governments — including Subiaco, Wanneroo and Joondalup — have developed local pigeon laws.
A report from City of Swan staff recommended council accepted pigeon keeping has an occasional impact on neighbours and was part of the broad range of cultural activities enjoyed by residents.
Council declined to develop pigeon laws on the basis that the aggregate impact was small.
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 | Apr 12, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News
Gary Samuelson knows Kansas University Parking has a lot of larger issues these days, but he’s tired of walking through pigeon poop in the Mississippi Street garage.
“There’s a pigeon problem,” Samuelson, who works at Watson Library, said Tuesday during KU Parking’s fall open forum. “If I was a visitor to KU and parked in the garage, and that was your first sight to get to the Union … blech.”
KU is working on a solution — although it’s not as simple as just power washing the garage.
KU Parking is in the process of special-ordering a system that would allow it to power-wash the garage, capture the runoff, filter it, and reuse the water, associate parking director Danny Kaiser said.
The City of Lawrence prohibits putting cleaning runoff into the storm sewer, where the garage drains, Kaiser said.
Besides the pigeon poop, other substances that dirty the garage — such as oil, sand, silt and winter road salt — “are very polluting,” Kaiser said. “We want to capture that.”
The new system is to be operating by the end of the semester, KU hopes.
Kaiser said it would include a power-washer with a clean water tank, equipment to redirect water runoff from the storm sewer into a holding tank, and equipment to filter sediments out of the water for reuse.
He said the system would be portable so KU could use it in other garages as well.
The Mississippi Street garage is not the only one with a pigeon problem, Kaiser said, but poop tends to pile up near doorways there, which makes it more of an obstacle.
KU’s street-sweeping machine is too tall to fit into the garage, Kaiser said.
In an attempt to make the garage less attractive to pigeons in the first place, KU Parking Director Donna Hultine said they have installed devices to prevent them from perching on ledges. They have not been completely dissuaded, however.
“Now I notice pigeons sitting on the cars,” she said.
Until the new cleaning system comes in, Samuelson wondered if someone could tackle the worst spots with a mop and bucket.
“We can make an effort to get something done in there,” Hultine said.
About 20 people attended the annual fall parking open forum, held in the Kansas Union, and voiced various questions and frustrations. Hultine described it as an opportunity for KU Parking to hear those concerns as well as ideas for solutions.
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 | Apr 11, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
A petition to protect homes in Deal from an “infestation” of pigeons has gained more than 200 signatures.
It has been set up by Sean Gabb, of Middle Street, Deal, as he claims the town, and particularly the High Street, has become infested with pigeons and their waste.
He said: “We have done everything possible within the law to deter pigeons. It isn’t working. The financial cost for property owners is huge, as they’re spending money on painting their houses.
Dr Sean Gabb hands the petition to Deal’s deputy mayor Wayne Elliott and town clerk Lorna Crow“It’s polluting the town, as you walk around you can sometimes smell the pigeons or see piles of pigeon dung.”
He claims the number of pigeons in the town has increased in the past five years and their waste is damaging historic buildings and private homes in the area, as well as St George’s Church. Dr Gabb, 50, is now calling on the district council to create a by-law which would make it an offence for people to feed pigeons, as he believes this is encouraging the population.
He would also like the council to urge shopkeepers and cafe owners in the High Street to tell customers not to feed them.
The petition also calls on the council to use its existing powers to make property owners clean up overgrown gardens, or derelict buildings which have become nesting places for the birds.
The petition was handed to deputy mayor Cllr Wayne
Elliott on Tuesday, who presented it to Dover District Council’s Cllr Trevor Bartlett, portfolio holder for property access and property management.
This comes after Peter Jull, chairman of Deal and Walmer Chamber of Trade, raised the issue with the district council in July.
He said traders had been forced to spend thousands of pounds on spikes to deter pigeons from their businesses and clean up the mess.
Speaking at the time, he said: “The nuisance of these feral animals is costing thousands of pounds for business owners who are continually paying to clean, repair and protect their buildings from damage by pigeons.”
The petition will now be discussed at the district council.
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 | Apr 10, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News
Nearly £10,000 is being spent cleaning up a dingy, pigeon-infested railway bridge in Leicester.
The city council wants to clear the birds out of the bridge over All Saints Road as part of its Waterside regeneration scheme.
Councillors have said the bridge, as it is, make the area feel unsafe, because it is poorly lit.
Councillor Patrick Kitterick said: “The one area that does hold it back is the All Saints Bridge.
“It just doesn’t feel safe when you go down there at the moment.
“The bridge over All Saints Road is like permanent midnight.
“It is also a pigeon sanctuary with the unpleasantness that brings.”
Messy
David Beale, the council’s senior development manager for Waterside, said work was imminent to sort out the grotspot.
He said: “This is a key gateway into the Waterside regeneration area, so we want to ensure it creates a good impression and encourages further private investment in the area.
“Because this bridge used to carry trains, there are more than 20 steel beams spanning it underneath.
“Each of these beams has two ledges, which makes a lot of roosting space for pigeons.
“We’ve appointed a contractor to clear up the pigeon mess and glue spikes along these beams – it will be more than kilometre of spikes in total.
“The contract value is around £9,000 and will also include cleaning the walls under the bridge, which are white glazed brick. This will lighten up the area considerably.
“We’ll also talk to our lighting team to see if we can improve lighting under the bridge.”
One person who works near the bridge said: “It’s totally grim but then again it is a railway bridge and you’ll never make it a thing of beauty.
“I reckon it is home to every pigeon in Leicester. It’s streaked with muck and I try to avoid walking through under there because there’s not much chance of avoiding a showering.”
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 | Apr 9, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
27-10-15_(4) SUS-151028-101003001
The famous statue of ‘Jesus in Jeans’ on the front of St Philip’s Catholic Church, Uckfield is now pigeon-free, thanks to a halo of ‘flames.’
The £355,000 seven-foot statue, by Lewes-based sculptor Marcus Cornish, resulted in controversy and interest from across the globe when it was revealed in 2009. It was unveiled by The Pope’s ambassador to this country, the papal nuncio Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz, and the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton blessed it.
But birds soon found the statue a comfortable place to roost so the area below was soon plastered with bird droppings. The droppings are acidic and can damage painted, stone or wooden surfaces as well as making public areas slippery and unhygenic.
The church’s maintenance committee, helped by priest Father Stephen Hardaker, found a firm which could help. Cleankill Environmental Services from South London, which has expertise in controlling pest birds, was called in to assess the problem and came up with a solution.
Director Jon Whitehead, explained: “The sculpture has a hollow back which created a perfect home for around 20 pigeons. They would nest inside and rest on the halo creating an unsightly and unhygienic mess.”
So the firm used a special product called Bird Free Gel which they fixed to the statue at certain points, including the halo. The gel appears as flames to the birds so they are discouraged from landing.
The church’s maintenance head Alan Duncan said: “We are all so pleased that the problem has been solved. We were at a loss as to what to do next. At one point we put anti-bird spikes on various resting places, painting them gold to match the halo. Unfortunately, the pigeons were ‘most comfortable’ with the additions!
“The service we had from Cleankill was excellent and very professional, including many after-care visits.”
Cornish’s sculpture was funded by money left by Winifred Gregory, 87, a member of the congregation who passed away in 2008. Christ wears jeans and a shirt billowing in the wind while his hair and beard are neatly and fashionably trimmed. Marcus Cornish said: “The sculpture is simple and direct and I hope it sums up the feeling that Christ is always with us and that we are not to be afraid. The clothing is loosely contemporary in order to connect Christ to his people now as much as to his past.”
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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 | Apr 8, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeons in the News
Pigeons will be culled at Mawson Lakes in Adelaide after businesses hired a professional shooter to manage the feral population.
Pest controller, professional shooter and experienced cleaner Sean O’Shea said northern suburbs residents were worried because the birds’ droppings were “very corrosive and very toxic”.
“Some people say it’s more deadly than asbestos,” he said.
“It’s not just the health issues … it continues to damage air conditioners, roofs, et cetera.
“It’s also damage to buildings, slip and trip hazards as well.”
Department of Environment and Natural Resources animal welfare manager Deb Kelly denied the State Government was “sitting on its hands”.
She said the Government was not responsible for dealing with pigeons on private property.
“You wouldn’t expect to say, ‘I’ve got a mouse in my kitchen and the State Government has to go do something about it’,” Ms Kelly said.
Everybody has to do a proper cull of them and make sure they’re removed properly … otherwise they’ll just breed up in the next property.
Professional shooter Sean O’Shea
“It really is the landholders’ responsibility.
“But the big thing is, I think, people have to stop feeding them and have to start putting their rubbish in the bin.”
Ms Kelly said residents needed to be proactive about the threat of feral pests in their area before populations grew to unmanageable numbers.
“People think they’re pretty and lovely until the numbers get big and then they think, ‘I’ve got a problem’,” she said.
“If you want to eradicate any feral pest, you really have to get them while the population is low.”
Mr O’Shea said there were a number of techniques used to control pests such as trapping and shooting, but urged residents to work together.
“Some people do something and the next door neighbour won’t,” he said.
“Everybody has to do a proper cull of them and make sure they’re removed properly … otherwise they’ll just breed up in the next property.”
Mr O’Shea said he was fully qualified and licensed to shoot 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 | Apr 7, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
DESPERATE business owners are looking to armed pest controllers to rescue them from feral pigeons that are creating a serious health and safety threat.
After Salisbury Council washed its hands of the problem, restaurants and cafes in Mawson Lakes have turned to professionals cleaners, including one firm which says it can shoot up to 100 birds an hour.
O’Shea’s Carpet and Cleaning Services specialises in permanently removing pigeons by shooting them or installing netting and spikes, and cleaning the droppings. Pigeon droppings are toxic, highly corrosive and can spread disease.
Owner Kirsty O’Shea said Mawson Lakes was notorious for pigeons.
“People should consider prevention to stop the birds from coming in, like netting and spiking, and also to clean the faeces because it is not sanitary to live amongst it,” she said.
“There is also the more controversial removal method of shooting them – we can shoot up to 100 birds an hour, take away the bodies and clean up.”
Ms O’Shea said her businesshad a licence to shoot pigeons, even in suburbia, as long as it informed police before taking action.
Partner Sean O’Shea, who describes himself as a “greenie with a gun”, said he used a precision air rifle to kill the birds as “quickly, safely and humanely as possible”.
Bellezza Gourmet Chicken owner Bob Dahdah said pigeons had invaded the garage of his Mawson Lakes business.
“It is a great issue for us and it always has been because the birds are everywhere, they drop all their rubbish and dropping on the cars below,” Mr Dahdah said.
“Every building in Mawson Lakes has this issue and it’s a big health and safety concern.”
Mr Dahdah asked building management to install netting from the top of the fence in the garage to the roof, but he said it would cost too much.
La Vita Fresh Pasta owner Michael Vannini said pigeon droppings were a concern.
“Droppings around food is definitely a health and safety concern,” Mr Vannini said.
“I also hear it is a problem for one of my customers, specifically, who lives in The Bridges (estate) across from us and has spent a fair few dollars with pest control people to sort out the problem because pigeons have been on their roof with droppings and also dying.”
Salisbury Council says it is not its job to clear pigeons from private properties.
A council spokesman said staff believed the number of pigeon complaints made by members of the public was fewer than 10 each year.
Mayor Gillian Aldridge said complaints about wild or feral pigeons on private property were the responsibility of the landowner, not the council.
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 | Apr 6, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
An underpass beneath the Long Island Expressway in Middle Village has gone to the birds.
Conditions at the pedestrian underpass at 80th Street and 57th Avenue have become increasingly worse over the last several months, according to residents who have complained about the unsightly and unsanitary conditions.
The underpass has seen a growing infestation of pigeons in the tunnel, which leave droppings, broken eggs, broken spikes and feathers along the pedestrian walkway. Along with the litter and other debris left by foot traffic, the underpass has become a hazardous and unclean environment for residents who use this bridge on a daily basis.
Recently, state Senator Joseph Addabbo and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley visited the underpass.
Last week, Addabbo met with constituents at the underpass to discuss what could be done to fix the problems.
Addabbo had previously contacted the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT), which is responsible for the maintenance of the underpass, regarding the walkway’s conditions. The DOT had made efforts to clean up the sidewalks, but Addabbo believes that long-term measures are needed to prevent pigeons from gathering in the tunnel.
“The Department of Transportation listened to our concerns the first time around, and my constituents and I need them to hear us again now,” Addabbo said. “While we appreciate their efforts to tidy up this area, more needs to be done to prevent this situation from continuing to occur, worsening each time around. These pigeons and the mess they leave behind are making this walkway unbearable, and the people of Middle Village and the surrounding communities deserve better. Nobody wants to walk down a sidewalk covered in bird droppings and dirty feathers, and nobody should have to.”
Earlier in the week, Crowley joined members of the DOT to clean the underpass marred by nesting pigeons and debris. DOT started installing wooden planks along the underside of the bridge, blocking the areas from birds looking to roost.
“Pedestrians going to and from P.S. 58, Maspeth High School, Elmhurst Park, Grand Avenue and more walk under these elevated platforms every day,” Crowley said. “Keeping this underpass clean from pigeon dropping was a constant battle, but once complete, this project will give our residents the clean sidewalks and healthy space they deserve. This was a quality-of-life issue that needed our attention, and I thank the State DOT for taking action.”
A representative from the DOT confirmed the cleanup efforts at the site.
“We are adding wooden planks to deter pigeons at this location, and we believe this will serve as a permanent solution. We are also replacing any of the bird spikes that have been damaged, and we are adding additional spikes,” said Diane Park, public information office for the NYS DOT. “Additionally, this location is washed on a three-month cycle as part of NYSDOT’s bridgewashing program. It was last washed on Aug. 28, 2015.”
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 | Apr 5, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
A York Township woman is allowed to continue operating a stray cat program that has one of her neighbors booby-trapping her flower bed with plastic forks and knives to fend off felines.
After three hours at a zoning hearing, Karen Stephenson won her appeal against a township-issued cease-and-desist order, allowing her to continue her unofficial trap, neuter and return program to reduce the number of feral cats in her Raylight Drive neighborhood.
Neighbors who opposed Stephenson complained about felines constantly running through the area, an overload of feces and cats settling in on their porches, destroying their flower beds and lounging on and under cars.
Township zoning officer Lisa Frye had cited Stephenson for a violation of “Reasonable Enjoyment of Surrounding Property.”
Forks and knives: Stephenson testified that she now feeds — with the intent of trapping and fixing — about 20 cats twice per day.
Township attorney Steve Hovis asked several residents to testify about the effect the cats are having on the neighborhood.
Some produced photos of cats lounging in numerous positions in neighboring yards and porches.
Resident Pat Landis said she’s unable to leave her garage door up because of the roaming cat population.
Cat feces has completely destroyed her flower boxes, which she must now cover with chicken wire, she said.
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She also has resorted to strategically placing plastic eating utensils — such as knives and forks — in the beds to keep the cats out.
Resident Ann Azeill testified that the cats have destroyed her pool deck and gardens and that the smell of cat urine and feces makes it impossible to enjoy her yard.
She said her dogs get sick from eating the cat feces, although the dogs are kept in her yard.
Azeill said there is always a “parade” of the felines to the Stephenson house around 5 a.m., when she supposed they were being fed.
The parade is on again in the late afternoon, she said.
She added that leaving food out draws potential undesirables, such as skunks and opossums that can carry rabies.
Resident Jane Sentz said she has come out on her front porch to find cats sprawled out on her porch swing and rocking chairs and even lying on her car’s convertible top.
Neighbor George Landis testified that cats constantly running through the streets create danger for drivers trying to avoid them, and also for the cats.
“We’re under siege, and can you please help us out?” he said.
The other side: Resident Amy Nelson testified that she has lived in the neighborhood for about 20 years, and there has always been a problem with stray cats.
“She (Stephenson) didn’t start the problem, don’t punish her for something that isn’t her fault,” Nelson said.
Christine Arnold is founder of Nobody’s Cats, a nonprofit formulated to reduce the population of feral cats.
Arnold testified she has 25 years of experience in dealing with free-roaming cats.
“TNR does not cause the problems; it mitigates them,” she testified.
Once the cat is trapped and spayed or neutered, the tip of the left ear is then snipped off, so anyone can tell which ones have already been fixed.
Stephenson said she began the practice in about 2011 and has continued to lessen the population, but it takes time to get the cats to trust people enough to allow themselves be trapped, she said.
Zoning hearing board member John Myers said that if Stephenson were only feeding the cats and didn’t intend to have them spayed or neutered, that would fall under the township’s “vague” nuisance ordinance.
Board colleague Timothy Salvatore said Stephenson could have done a better job of educating the neighbors with what she is trying to do, but he said the program “provides a greater good than the harm it creates.”
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 | Apr 4, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
NETWORK Rail is running out of ideas to frighten off scores of pigeons roosting under a bridge on a main road into Taunton.
After all efforts to date have failed to shift the pests, the company is now suggesting the district council considers culling the birds.
But Taunton Deane Council says it would rather liaise with the rail company “to come to a satisfactory solution” after years of complaints from pedestrians.
Pedestrians and commuters have complained for years about the mess caused by the pigeons, blighting the first impressions of many train travellers arriving in the county town.
Network Rail originally attempted to put the pigeons to flight with a buzzing gadget called a Wailer in April 2007, but it didn’t last long as it scared passers by more than the birds. Netting installed as part of a £300,000 spruce-up in 2012 of the bridge where Station Road joins Kingston Road has also not worked.
While the birds took off at first – many setting up home barely 50 metres down the road under a disused rail bridge – they started to return within six months.
The netting, which had become scruffy as well as ineffective, was removed earlier this year.
A company spokesman said: “The netting was removed as it was not as effective at deterring the pigeons as we hoped it would be. In its place we have installed ‘get off’ gel trays that are designed to prevent birds perching or roosting.
“These gel trays have proved a successful solution on other structures along the Western route. However, they do not solve the underlying problem of a significant pigeon population.
“Therefore you may wish to give the council a call as they have the means to control the population under the auspices of Section 74 of the Public Health Act 1961.”
A Taunton Deane Council spokeswoman said: “The council is aware of the pigeon population at this bridge and continues to take action to ensure a clean passage into and out of town along this route.”
“We will continue to encourage the owners of the bridge, Network Rail, to take such steps as they are able to resolve the issue.
“The council does have a power under section 74 of the Public Health Act 1961, but this is a little known and seldom used power which involves humane euthanising of the birds.
“We would prefer to liaise with the bridge owner to come to a satisfactory solution.
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 | Apr 3, 2016 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
A Monterey school was placed on lockdown as authorities investigated a man shooting pigeons with a pellet gun on a nearby roof, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 2 p.m. Monday, students from private York School reported seeing a man with a rifle on a neighboring rooftop, and deputies placed the school on lockdown as they investigated the call.
Units from the Salinas and Monterey patrol areas of the sheriff’s office, a sheriff’s office K-9 unit, a sheriff’s bailiff, the sheriff’s air unit and the Monterey Police Department responded to the scene.
Deputies cleared the parking lot and the offices and determined the building owner at 24560 Silver Cloud Court was on the roof trying to eradicate pigeons with a pellet gun.
The man had left the area before authorities arrived but was compliant once contacted and admitted to using the pellet gun.
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 | Apr 2, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
PESKY pigeons who set up home in a museum’s bottle oven have been forced to find another place to roost.
Scores of the birds had been settling down in one of the four ovens preserved at Gladstone Pottery Museum, in Longton, causing disruption for workers and volunteers.
Now – after Stoke-on-Trent City Council approved an application to put up camouflaged nets – the pigeons have been blocked from staying at their favourite nesting spot.
Staff at the museum say they are relieved as the potbank ‘coo’ has seen fewer birds target the area.
Museum manager Angela Lee said: “It seemed to be a feature of this year, in that the pigeons were looking for somewhere to roost and they took a liking to one of our bottle ovens.
“I think once a few thought that this was a good idea, lots of others then liked it and followed them, and it started to become a bit of a problem.
“Obviously, we were concerned that it could become a health and safety issue, from the birds themselves and from the mess they create. We had to do something about it.
“There has been a noticeable difference since the nets went up.
“We still have the odd pigeon flying around the yard, but they’re not coming in en masse like they were before.”
Paul Niblett, from Longton Road, Trentham, is one of the original volunteers who helped to save the former Gladstone Pottery Work in the early 1970s.
He is relieved the pigeons have now been pushed to the margins.
He said: “It has been happening for quite a while now, and they were quite well-established.
“Three of the four bottle ovens that have been restored in the last few years have a big glass disc on the top, which stops birds getting in there. But the fourth one, which hasn’t been restored yet, is still open.
“Pigeons being pigeons, I think they flew over it and thought ‘that’s a lovely place to nest’, and then more of them came.
“Putting a top on it is seriously expensive, as it involves a lot of work and scaffolding, but the nets are a good alternative to that.
“I think it’s distinctly improved since they’ve gone up, and it’s good to see fewer pigeons.”
Paul Buttery, a pigeon fancier from Kidsgrove, said the preventative measures taken by the museum should be enough to keep the pigeons from coming back to roost.
The 53-year-old added: “If they start going somewhere to nest then they will keep going back there – they’re very territorial.
“They won’t leave by choice, the only they will leave is if they you put a net or fence or something like that in the way to stop them getting in there.
“If they persist in being a problem then the only thing that could be done would be to have a cull.
“That’s the ultimate solution, but it shouldn’t need to come to that.”
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 | Apr 1, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
PESKY pigeons could get hot and bothered after gel which burns like chilli was put on roofs to deter the birds.
Witham Town Council called in experts from Rentokil to hear options for shooing the growing numbers of birds away from buildings in the town centre.
Solutions ranged from netting, electrical bird deterrents and special gel with an active ingredient found in chillies to “burn” pigeons’ feet.
The idea of feeding pigeons contraceptives mixed with grain was also put forward by a resident.
The environment committee met to hear suggestions after complaints had been made to the council about slippery pigeon droppings.
Worst hit are the areas outside Greggs, in Newland Street, and outside businesses in Guithavon Street, where pigeons roost on the rooftops.
Sean Byrne, specialist service consultant at Rentokil, told the committee: “The electric deterrent system, similar to an electric fence, gives them a short shock and within five to seven days, the birds don’t land on the building anymore.
“It’s humane and does not harm the birds, but it does work well.”
He also suggested spraying a protective gel on to buildings which causes a burning sensation on pigeons feet when they land.
The gel sits at 9,000 SHU on the scoville scale, making it roughly twice as hot as a jalepeno pepper.
Luke Roberts, a surveyor for Rentokil, told the committee: “It gives the sensation of burning, but doesn’t actually burn.
“As a bird brings up its legs, it touches its genitals and the rest is history. They don’t come back.”
Councillors also made reference to a story in a Barcelona newspaper, brought in by a resident, describing how authorities there had started feeding pigeons contraceptives to stop them breeding.
Lee Fribbins, pigeon enthusiast and director of UK Belgica racing pigeon clinic in Wyncolls Road, Colchester, warned there is only one way to move the birds on.
He said: “Ideally the only scientific approach that will work is to stop feeding them.
“It’s a bit disappointing when people use harmful things to stop pigeons roosting.
“We have had pigeons brought in that have sticky substances on their skin, some have been stuck on windowsills and have had to rip their toes off to move.
“Pigeons get a bad rep if you think what they have done for us in two world wars and they are an important past time for 40,000 people, like myself.”
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 | Mar 31, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) — Two armed men are on the run after Clovis Police say they broke into a home and robbed an elderly couple. It happened Wednesday morning near Willow and Alluvial.
There were officers on every corner with a helicopter in the sky but only one person was able to confront the thieves – a woman named Marilyn Williams, “I heard my husband and he was like, ‘get the gun, get the gun…shoot him, shoot him,'” Williams said.
She was defending her home with a rifle and the men, she says were in her backyard, “I got up and went right out to them and they took off.”
Before this confrontation started, police say the thieves smashed a window to get into a home down the street and held an elderly couple at gunpoint.
“The assailants were armed with handguns and were wearing hoodies, masks and bandanas,” said Janet Stoll-Lee who is with the Clovis Police Department, “fortunately no one was hurt.”
She says the men took off with jewelry and a gun from the couple’s home.
Williams says they ran through the neighborhood, jumped some fences and landed in her backyard. That’s when she pulled out a rifle and she says they dropped a pillow case full of jewelry.
“Everybody is ok but they wouldn’t have been had I got to my gun soon enough,” Williams said.
Investigators recovered the stolen gun and jewelry but they need help finding the two home invasion suspects. If you have any information, you should call Clovis Police.
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 | Mar 30, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
It’s bad enough when a pigeon treats your Toyota like a toilet. It’s worse when you have to run a gauntlet of dead birds and poop while dashing for your morning train. Who’s going to clean up this mess at Metropark station?
Commuter Joe Yospe emailed us about a problem he encounters on his commute from Iselin in the walkway between the third floor parking deck and the station.
“The walkway is full of pigeon excrement, feathers, other unknown filthy objects and for a two-week period, two dead pigeons (were) just sitting in the walkway,” he said. “No one cleans up that area, as well as the area on the platform itself which is full of bird excrement.”
Q: Whose job is it to clean up the pigeon poop and remove the dead birds and what’s being done?
A: NJ Transit hires contractors to run some of it’s parking facilities and that is the case in Metropark, said Jennifer M. Nelson, an NJ Transit spokeswoman.
“The parking deck is run for NJ Transit by Nexus. We have responsibility for the platform and it was just power washed this past Friday,” she said. “We did a walk through with a pest (bird) control representative, with Nexus, and with our staff to discuss how to best address the ongoing bird-related issues at the station and parking deck.”
NJ Transit expects to have a proposal from the pest control representatives in the next few weeks to address the issue around the station and parking deck, she said.
“(We) will implement an agreed upon course of action as soon as possible,” Nelson said.
Let us know how the battle of the birds shakes out, Joe.
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 | Mar 29, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
Pigeon ‘stools’ on the Craigavon Bridge are imperilling pedallers and pedestrians alike with one Waterside Councillor calling for netting to be erected to help address the problem.
Waterside SDLP Councillor Martin Reilly said the problem of ‘unpleasant and unsafe’ pigeon deposits, which are causing distress to cyclists and pedestrians in the area, needs to be tackled immediately.
“I have been contacted by people who use the cycle path along the lower deck of the Craigavon Bridge who are annoyed at the gathering of pigeon mess which makes cycling and walking in this area unpleasant and unsafe,” he said.
He explained that the section of the crossing is not wide enough for Council vehicles to access.
“Unfortunately this part of the bridge is too narrow for Council cleansing vehicles – and in the past Council worked with Transport NI and Sustrans to close this stretch to carry out the necessary cleaning works. While this cleaning work is welcome the effects do not last long and a more permanent solution is required,” he added.
Whilst bird droppings are found throughout the city a pigeon hang-out close to the steps near the Waterside end of the bridge is where the problem is most pronounced. Layers of pigeon droppings millimetres thick have been allowed to accumulate and when slick with rain it poses a serious hazard for walkers and cyclists.
The ordure is creating serious disorder.
Mr Reilly said: “Transport NI previously suggested installing netting in this area to prevent pigeons from roosting. I am therefore calling on these statutory agencies to work together to find an adequate solution which would encourage further use of this key walkway and cycle route.”
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 | Mar 28, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News, UltraSonic Bird Control
A pensioner has been left with a £1,000 court bill for feeding the birds in her back garden.
Brenda Hawkins, 74, was hauled to court after neighbours complained about flocks of pigeons, jackdaws and seagulls descending on her home daily – likening it to a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.
After being fined £1,000 for ‘nuisance’, she was told the penalty would be as much as £2,500 next time if she continued putting out food – and a refusal to pay could result in a jail sentence.
Brenda Hawkins, (pictured) 74, was hauled to court after neighbours complained about flocks of pigeons, jackdaws and seagulls descending on her home daily
Ms Hawkins was fined £1,000 for ‘nuisance’ and she was told the penalty would be as much as £2,500 next time if she continued putting out food. A refusal to pay could result in a jail sentence
Locals in the seaside town of Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, said up to 100 birds arrived in Mrs Hawkins’s garden every day, causing an intolerable mess and racket.
But yesterday, the retired personal assistant complained that Conwy council had punished her in a ‘draconian’ manner. Mrs Hawkins, who has lived in her semi-detached bungalow for more than 25 years, said: ‘I think it’s disgusting. The council has gone over the top to make an example of me.
‘My difficulty is that when feeding small birds, it’s inevitable that larger birds such as seagulls join in. I have no control over which birds turn up.’ She added: ‘I enjoy nature but now that’s been taken away from me. It’s a sad day for bird-loving people.’
Diane and Harold Fredman (pictured) live next door and their garden backs onto Brenda Hawkins. They said they see the birds all the time
Magistrates in Llandudno were told how around 80 to 100 pigeons, jackdaws and seagulls descended on Mrs Hawkins’s lawn and garden wall to eat seeds and other food she put out each morning
Neighbours said their cars, along with clothes on their washing lines, were regularly spattered with droppings
Magistrates in Llandudno were told how around 80 to 100 pigeons, jackdaws and seagulls descended on Mrs Hawkins’s lawn and garden wall to eat seeds and other food she put out each morning.
Neighbours said their cars, along with clothes on their washing lines, were regularly spattered with droppings. They claimed they felt threatened by the birds, which sometimes ‘dive-bombed’ residents in the otherwise quiet street.
The council first received complaints in May 2014, and Mrs Hawkins was offered advice on reducing the number of larger birds. But she refused to change her behaviour, and in June she was issued with a Community Protection Notice – similar to an anti-social behaviour order. She denied failing to comply with the notice, but magistrates found her guilty after hearing evidence from neighbours including Diane and Harold Fredman, whose garden backs onto Mrs Hawkins’s.
Mrs Fredman, 69, said: ‘The noise from the flapping of wings and the seagulls was horrendous. Putting that amount of food out with no consideration for neighbours is ridiculous.’
Her daughter Alex Harvey, 35, added: ‘It’s like a scene from the Hitchcock horror film The Birds when huge flocks swoop into the garden.’
But Mrs Hawkins’s husband Derek, 78, said there had been no complaints until the Fredmans moved in, describing the couple as having a ‘vendetta’.
Mrs Hawkins was fined £200, also paying costs of £409, a criminal court charge of £520 and a surcharge of £20, leaving her with a £1,149 bill.
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 | Mar 27, 2016 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeons in the News
27PIGEONS are no stranger to the Worcester streets, but most of the time they are the usual dull grey variety.
But one brightly-coloured visitor added an unusual splash of colour.
Worcester News reader Becca Rammell sent in these pictures of a pink coloured pigeon she spotted in Worcester High Street near WHSmiths at about 4pm on Saturday, September 19.
This may be one of a flock of unusually brightly-coloured birds spotted throughout the country earlier this year.
A number of reports of pink pigeons were made during the summer in areas including Stockport in Greater Manchester, Milton Keyes, West Yorkshire, Surrey and Northumberland, leading to a number of theories including a new breed or the after effects of eating pink food.
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But it later emerged pigeon keeper Sher Singh from Bristol had been painting his bird’s feathers in pink fabric dye to protect them from falcons, claiming it would make them difficult to spot for the birds of prey. But he later agreed to stop the practice after learning it could be harmful to the 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 | Mar 26, 2016 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
Walls of glass that blur the boundaries between indoors and out may be an appealing design feature for homeowners, but for birds, it’s deadly.
That telltale thud against a window is a horrible sound to bird lovers. Millions of birds die each year from flying into windows. And these incidents happen more frequently during spring and fall migration.
“It’s a conservation issue that everyone can immediately act upon to make a difference,” said Christine Sheppard, Bird Collisions Campaign manager for American Bird Conservancy and one of the nation’s leading experts on window strikes. “Everyone can make their house friendly to birds.”
The problem is that birds can’t see glass. They see a reflection of their habitat and strike the glass as they attempt to fly through.
The most vulnerable are songbirds, which already face threats from climate change and habitat loss. “Unfortunately, hummingbirds are killed in large numbers from window strikes,” Sheppard said.
To help prevent window collisions, the experts at American Bird Conservancy have designed translucent ABC BirdTape. Most birds will avoid windows with vertical stripes spaced four inches apart or horizontal stripes spaced two inches apart. When the tape is applied according to these guidelines, birds will see a barrier to avoid, not space to fly through.
“The good news is that after you put tape up, you’ll forget it’s there,” she said.
There are also a variety of prefabricated decals that can be used as an alternative to tape as long as they are placed according to the above guidelines, she said. Tempera paint, which is available at most craft stores, is an inexpensive solution. It can also be used to create window designs that have the same effect as tape. The paint stays on even in the rain, but will easily come off with a damp sponge.
“Birds are accurate judges of their body size,” she said. They fly through tight spaces in their habitat, so the tape or decals have to be placed according to the guidelines to be effective.
“Window screens are the simplest solution,” Sheppard said. “Even if there’s a bit of a reflection, it’s less dangerous because they tend to bounce off.” Bird netting when stretched a few inches in front of a window can have a similar effect.
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 | Mar 25, 2016 | Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
25India and her neighbours ought to remember that from superstition to intolerance is often a short step
We’re in a sort of skiff under a small bridge over the river Ravi in Lahore. Heavy traffic, incessant honking, and all the expected city noises fill the air. The river itself is sluggish, and, like the Yamuna in Delhi, more a drain than a river. As our little boat makes its way from one shore to another, a strange packet floats down from the bridge into the river. I think resignedly how alike we are across borders: stand anywhere, and chuck anything overboard without a thought about the consequences.
But I’m wrong — in one thing at least. This is not rubbish as I soon discover: a bunch of kites parked on a small mud island quickly wing it across and pick at the packet. Later, standing on the bridge, the story unravels. Dotted here and there along both sides of the bridge are men and women holding plastic bags. They’re poor, some are disabled and what they have in their hands is meat — the offal and leftover bits of meat that humans don’t eat, which they purchase from butchers for cheap.
Here, on the bridge, the meat-sellers stand and offer this to anyone who wants to leverage some good karma by feeding the birds. So, the rich and the middle-class stop by, and they or their drivers step out and buy, and then cursorily chuck it over the side. Good deed done, they can get on with life. Meanwhile, as an environmental activist tells me, the birds suffer, they grow fatter and fatter, and sometimes this kills them and their numbers fall.
I’m struck by how alike we are — no matter that we are across the border. And no matter that there may be differences in religion. Here, in Delhi, every day when I drive to work, I see a similar sight.
Turning off the main road to the lane that leads to my office, I traverse a small traffic island on my right. Here, every morning, a young man arrives bearing two large sacks of grain and chana, and a number of light metal plates. He sets himself up with four or five plates and, soon enough, cars stop, oblivious to the vehicles of office-going people they are blocking. They buy a plate and then chuck its contents right there. Then, there’s a great flapping of wings as hundreds of pigeons descend onto the food and begin to eat it up. Meanwhile the grain-throwers get on with life, secure in the knowledge that they have earned their brownie points for this life and the next.
The scattering of grain on the ground goes on all day. By evening, the pigeons are stuffed and disinterested, the young entrepreneur (what else can you call him?) is still there, and sometimes a desultory customer will show up and he’ll get some more business. One day I watched a young girl arrive in a large limousine. While her rich parent sat in car, the girl stepped out, ayah in tow. Instructions relayed from parent to driver to ayah to the supremely bored girl, who followed those nonetheless. Perhaps she had an exam to clear or an engagement in the offing.
Elsewhere there may be people feeding monkeys, or cows, or crows. It’s a strange thing: we destroy their habitat, and then feed them silly to gain good karma.
I’m struck by many things about this phenomenon: there’s the spirit of entrepreneurship. For the poor, whether it’s in Lahore or Delhi or elsewhere, it’s a way to trade on people’s blind faith and make a rupee or two out of it. You have to admire that.
But then, there’s also this question that bothers me every day: how have we become so deeply superstitious? Where does that come from? And why are we unable — or unwilling — to see that the pigeons and kites and other sundry animals and birds are being overfed?
There are other concerns too: it’s easy for me to laugh at the pigeon-feeders but this isn’t just funny. It’s precisely this kind of superstition and blind belief that kills the Dabholkars, Pansares and Kalburgis of this world. From superstition to intolerance is often a short step: you can convince yourself that, say, eating beef will bring you bad karma — even if it’s your neighbour eating it — and you then take law into your own hands and kill them. Or you can convince yourself that a woman is actually a witch and you destroy her life (and sometimes take over her property too).
Increasingly, in India today — and who knows, perhaps across the border too — using superstition and blind belief, or exploiting the human need for faith, have become weapons in the hands of cynical politicians and corporates.
If a builder can conduct human sacrifices to appease the evil spirits in a building where people will live and love and give birth and die, there has to be something seriously wrong with us.
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)
