Bird Law Archives - Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services

In Defense of Pigeons

Pigeon Patrol — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:44:28 +0000

n Hollywood’s beloved holiday blockbuster Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, protagonist Kevin’s worst fears come not from his bloodthirsty assailants—the self-proclaimed “Sticky Bandits”—but in the form of a homeless “Pigeon Lady” living in Central Park. As a child watching the film, I thought she seemed intimidating with her cloak of flapping birds, grubby face, and austere expression. However, as the movie unfolds, Kevin gets to know the Pigeon Lady (actual name notwithstanding), discovering a kind, gentle woman scarred by a tragic history of heartbreak and abandonment. Much like her feathered companions, she has faced rejection and chooses to live with them on the fringes of society. She acknowledges the similarity, explaining to Kevin: “Like the birds I care for, people pass me in the street. They see me but try to ignore me. They’d prefer it if I wasn’t part of their city.”

Touched by Kevin’s amity, her bitterness subsides and, in a climatic display, she unleashes her pigeon flock against Kevin’s pursuers. Overwhelmed by the winged warriors, the robbers are taken down and, consequently feathered, are arrested. To show his gratitude, Kevin later gifts her one of a pair of ceramic turtle doves, which he’s told by the toyshop owner signify everlasting friendship.

Like their cinematic counterparts, the common pigeon—that squat, ash-grey bird with a shimmering neckline and (if you’ve cared to look closely enough) striking orange eyes, whose ancestry is traced to the cliff-dwelling Rock Dove—is indeed a symbol of fidelity and friendship, owing to its loyal and affectionate nature. Yet, like the Pigeon Lady, it’s been cast aside by humans who have revered, bred, and even depended on the bird they once dubbed the “athlete of the sky” for thousands of years. Now, on a daily basis, these gentle birds are kicked at, shot at, poisoned, and kept at arm’s length by all manner of insidious spikes and nets.

So what happened to these affectionate, docile birds, which have shown humans such loyalty, tenderness and trust for millennia, now advocated for by a limited few and persecuted by so many?

Pigeon symbolism runs deep through human history. The world’s oldest domesticated bird frequently appears across religious texts, where doves are famously a motif for peace and purity, idealized for their white feathers. However, doves and pigeons are all part of the same family, known as Columbidae. And as author Andrew D Blechman describes, the differentiation is all down to ‘linguistic bias.’ As he notes in his book, Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World’s Most Reviled and Revered Bird, the word “dove,” in 14th century French, translates to “pigeon.”

Blechman explains that, although they’re essentially the same bird, the more delicate members of the Columbidae family are considered “doves” while the supposedly less graceful members are “pigeons,” giving rise to an old adage that “all pigeons are doves but not all doves are pigeons.” He gives the example that if a bigger pigeon (i.e. not delicate) is white, it may still be referred to as a “dove.” He continues: “Doves have come to mean petite and pure. Colloquial use of the word pigeon, on the other hand, emphasizes the dove’s docile nature and places it in a negative light.” Phrases like “stool pigeon”—which originates from the practice of tying pigeons to a stool to attract and trap predators—and “pigeonholed” are examples of how the word serves to describe inferiority.

In fact, Charles Darwin was among the first to demonstrate that the distinction between pigeons and doves is merely a biased interpretation of the same species. To support his argument for the theory of evolution, he selectively bred the birds in his backyard, often noting stark differences, like large fan-tails and feathery feet, all the while acknowledging their shared Rock Dove ancestor. He discussed his observations extensively in his famous 1859 work On the Origin of Species. Darwin’s fascination led him to join a pigeon fancier club, the Southwark Columbarium Society, in which members collected and bred “fancy” pigeons.

Appearances aside, people have observed remarkable tenderness in pigeons for millennia, regardless of color or size. This trait is especially noticeable in their mating rituals. When a female pigeon wants a male to care for her, and ultimately their children, she places her beak inside his. By graciously accepting this gesture, the male is committing to his paternal responsibility. Blechman describes the sexual act itself as “very gentle and completely consensual,” followed by “affectionate cooing and preening of each other’s feathers.”

It’s this exchange of affection and responsibility of successful mating pairs which gives rise to pigeons’ role as a symbol for chasteness and purity in many cultures—as well as the idiom “billing and cooing,” used to describe couples showing affection (or “PDA” in today’s terms).

The birds also share parenting responsibilities, including egg sitting and feeding. And, if this doesn’t already present a glowing example of gender equality, both males and females secrete a milk-like substance, produced by prolactin—the hormone behind lactation—in their throats (or crops), which is fed to newborn squabs and is crucial to their development. Pigeons are one of only three birds, including flamingos and penguins, who nurse their young in this way.

It’s these qualities that earned the birds reverence in antiquity. Historical records, including on stone tablets in Mesopotamia (the area known as Iran and Iraq today) from 3000 BCE, indicate the birds were sacrificial assets and frequently offered to gods, while also serving as a food staple. In fact, the ubiquity of stone temples meant rock pigeons were right at home, while historic dovecotes—earthen houses for pigeons—date back some 2,000 years in Egypt, suggesting the birds were intentionally domesticated.

Pigeons’ fine parenting skills also cast them as symbols of fertility. The Babylonian goddess Ishtar, “Queen of Heaven and Earth and of the Evening Star,” was often depicted holding a pigeon or as the winged bird herself. The Phoenecian goddess of love and fertility, Astarte, was also represented as a pigeon, as were the Greek goddess Aphrodite and her Roman counterpart, Venus.

Pigeons also appear in Judeo-Christian narratives, most memorably, perhaps, in the story of Noah’s Ark in which a dove is sent to determine whether the floods have subsided. The dove—or white pigeon to today’s ornithologists—returns with an olive branch to indicate dry land. This is in contrast to the first attempt by a raven, which does not return.

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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Best Types of Pigeon Repellent

Bird Spikes– Pigeons can’t land on surfaces with bird spikes—perfect for ledges, sills, signs, and fences.
Shop Bird Spikes: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-spikes/
Bird Sound Deterrents / Ultrasonic Repellers– Emit high-frequency sound to drive pigeons away without harming them.
Browse Ultrasonic Bird Repellers: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-repeller/
Pigeon Netting– Blocks pigeons from accessing nesting zones permanently.
See Pigeon Netting: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-netting/

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

Bird Gone, Pigeon Gone, Pigeon problems, pigeon spikes, 1-877-4NO-BIRD, 4-S Gel, Bird Control, Pigeon Control, bird repellent, Bird Spikes, sonic bird repellent, stainless steel bird spikes, bird spikes Vancouver, Ultra Sonic Bird Control, Bird Netting, Plastic Bird Spikes, Canada bird spike deterrents, Pigeon Pests, B Gone Pigeon, Pigeon Patrol, pest controller, pest control operator, pest control technician, Pigeon Control Products, humane pigeon spikes, pigeon deterrents, pigeon traps, Pigeon repellents, Sound & Laser Deterrents, wildlife control, raccoon, skunk, squirrel deterrent, De-Fence Spikes, Dragons Den, Pigeon, Pigeon Patrol, Pigeons Roosting, Vancouver Pigeon Control, Bird Spikes, Bird Control, Bird Deterrent, Pigeon Deterrent, Surrey Pigeon Control, Pest, Seagull deterrent Vancouver Pigeon Blog, Birds Inside Home De-fence, Pigeon Nesting, Bird Droppings, Pigeon Dropping, woodpecker control, Keep The Birds Away, Birds/rats, seagull, pigeon, woodpecker, dove, sparrow, pidgeon control, pidgeon problem, pidgeon control, flying rats, pigeon Problems, bird netting, bird gel, bird spray, bird nails, bird guard, Pigeon control, Bird deterrents, Pigeon deterrents, Bird control, solutions, Pigeon prevention, Pigeon repellent, Bird proofing, Pest bird management, Pigeon spikes, Bird netting, Humane bird control, Bird exclusion, Urban bird control, Anti-roosting devices, Pigeon removal, Bird barriers

The post In Defense of Pigeons appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Pigeon Infestation & Health Hazards in Buildings

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:38:11 +0000

Summary

Feral pigeons (Columbia livia var. domestica) can be a nuisance and may cause significant damage to buildings. If feral pigeons take up residence within a disused property they can seriously damage the interior historic fabric, contents and finishes. It is vital to take measures to minimise pigeon activity in and around buildings in order to avoid additional maintenance issues and significant problems for renovation projects.

Rectifying the damage caused to the fabric of a property by pigeon guano (bird excreta) is expensive and in most cases avoidable. There are many methods of pigeon control including bird proofing, wire deterrent systems, netting, bird spikes and a large variety of electrical and sonic bird deterrent solutions.

Introduction

Feral pigeons and other birds make nests regularly and roost outside and inside our buildings. Architects, surveyors, construction professionals and maintenance staff are all familiar with the damage that can be caused by these birds sharing our environment.

History

Feral pigeons are believed to have descended from rock doves that interbred with racing pigeons and pigeons from domestic pigeon lofts. Skyscrapers and similar tall buildings provide ideal habitats, very similar to the cliff homes of their pigeon ancestors.

These pigeons have thrived by adapting to life in and around our buildings and have learnt to roost and breed very successfully within this environment. They thrive on a plentiful supply of our dropped and dumped food scraps. As they have adapted so excellently to this style of living, they have sometimes been called “the flying rat”. It’s no surprise that over recent years there has been a marked increase in the numbers of feral pigeons.

Adult Pigeons

The adult pigeon is about 33cm in length and weighs between 280 and 560g, an average of about 350g. Its plumage can vary considerably, from a close resemblance to that of the original rock dove (with blue-grey plumage, double black wing bars and a white rump), through to various blues, reds, chequered and almost black types. Colours vary considerably from blue-grey, through blues, reds, mottled patterns and charcoal to almost pure white (Simms, 1979).

The birds will roost and nest on horizontal building surfaces and any other structures that provide a small amount of shelter from the elements. Balconies, flat roofs, ledges, loft spaces and empty buildings are often used if the birds have access.

Nests are constructed of twigs but can also contain pieces of plastic and other debris. They may even be built on or near the dead bodies of other pigeons. Their natural food is grain and green vegetable matter but they will scavenge food and eat almost any foodstuff available such as dropped takeaway foods.

Life Cycle

The Feral Pigeon is capable of breeding throughout the year and nests may be found in any month. However the peak occurs between March and July. Usually, two white eggs are laid on consecutive days and incubation is shared between both adults. Incubation lasts for about 18 days, with fledging taking place about 4 ½ weeks later. A new clutch can be laid when the first young are just 20 days old. Therefore up to nine broods may be produced per year by just one female pigeon and pigeons may live as long as thirty years (P Ehrlich et al, 1988)

Deterioration and Damage to Buildings

Pigeon droppings are not only unsightly; their acid content can lead to the deterioration of soft stone and cause long-term damage to buildings (Bassi and Chiantante, 1976; Howard and Oldsbury 1991). The accumulation of pigeon droppings can deface the finishes of the exterior facade and the interior of the building. Removal is not only difficult and expensive but can cause more damage than the droppings in the first place (D Channon, 2004).

Nest droppings and feathers block gutters and rainwater pipes causing water damage to buildings. Their droppings can lead to hazards on pavements, especially for the elderly. Pigeons are capable of lifting loose roof coverings, tiles and battens to gain entry into the roof voids. This can significantly damage the structure by allowing water penetration, providing the ideal environmental conditions for the growth and proliferation of wood rotting fungi. Wood boring insects are attracted to this damp, rotting environment, leading to substantial further decay (Singh 1995).

Pigeon nesting materials, feathers and faeces can block parapet gutters and hopper heads, allowing water penetration into the building fabric and providing the ideal environmental conditions for the growth and development of decay organisms (Singh 1994a, & Singh 1999).

In poorly maintained and unoccupied buildings, where significant undetected water ingress has occurred, major outbreaks of dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) and wet rots establish and thrive. These include (Coniophora puteana, Antrodia xantha, A. searilis, A. vaillantti & Phellinus contiguus). Thesubsequent deterioration to the historic fabric, finishes and contents is an inevitable consequence (Singh 1994). Sometimes this deterioration is so dramatic that many of the important historical and architectural features are destroyed beyond repair.

Early-morning activity around nesting areas can cause a public nuisance, as can pestering for food. Around public and buildings of historic and touristic interest further problems can arise as the visitors start feeding pigeons. Their numbers will increase dramatically, leading to extensive faeces and fouling.

Ladders and fire escapes coated in pigeon droppings become slippery and unsafe to use particularly in wet conditions. Startled pigeons may take flight suddenly and cause a hazard to road traffic.

Pigeons and the Law

Most birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The act allows the control of certain birds, including feral pigeons, by authorised people using specified methods.
The use of spring traps, poisons, certain types of nets, gassing and sticky substances that may entangle a bird is illegal.

Health Hazards

Large populations of pigeons and other birds inhabiting buildings or living on the facade for many years may present a potential risk of disease to people in and around these buildings (Weber, 1979).

The organic, nutrient rich accumulation of pigeon droppings, including feathers, detritus and debris under a nest provides an ideal environment for disease. This encourages fungi and bacteria to grow and proliferate. External parasites may also become a problem when infested pigeons or bats leave their roosts or nests. These parasites can infest buildings and cause health problems to people. Pigeons can also carry a number of potentially infectious diseases such as salmonella, tuberculosis and ornithosis (a mild form of psittacosis with pneumonia-like symptoms).

They are also a source of allergens, which can cause respiratory ailments like pigeon fancier’s lung, aspergillosis and allergic skin reaction. There is potential for these illnesses to be spread to people through contact with pigeon droppings, dandruff and feathers, pigeon parasites, or where dead infected pigeons get into food or water sources. Health and safety issues and site access problems are also caused by the build up of faeces due to the slippery and unsafe footing it provides on walkways and ledges, hindering proper maintenance. This may be a particular problem during building works and renovation. Pigeon faeces represent a health and safety hazard for staff working in contaminated buildings and for employees and operators who have to carry out remediation works. Pigeon infestation in and around buildings therefore represent an added problem in the renovation of buildings where large accumulations have been allowed to build-up, and this nutrient rich guano combined with moisture ingress in buildings provides an ideal environment for the growth and proliferation of moulds (Singh 1994a, Singh & Walker 1996).

Pigeon Patrol

Best Types of Pigeon Repellent

Bird Spikes– Pigeons can’t land on surfaces with bird spikes—perfect for ledges, sills, signs, and fences.
Shop Bird Spikes: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-spikes/
Bird Sound Deterrents / Ultrasonic Repellers– Emit high-frequency sound to drive pigeons away without harming them.
Browse Ultrasonic Bird Repellers: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-repeller/
Pigeon Netting– Blocks pigeons from accessing nesting zones permanently.
See Pigeon Netting: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-netting/

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Pigeon Infestation & Health Hazards in Buildings appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

METRO’S PIGEON CLEANUP BRINGS ANOTHER FINE MESS

Pigeon Patrol — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 02:36:55 +0000

Metro’s pigeon problems just keep piling up.

First, there were complaints from people who had to walk and drive

under two Red Line overpasses where thick swarms of the birds had

decided to roost.

Now, Metro’s efforts to get rid of the pigeons have created a flap

between two animal welfare organizations, which disagree over whether

the methods used — including the use of pellet guns — are humane.

“I think they’re doing an excellent job,” said Brenda Parvis of the

Washington Humane Society, which has been monitoring the cleanup work

under the bridges over Van Buren and Aspen streets NW, near the Takoma

station.

“They are doing it the wrong way,” said Jackie Freitag, president of

the Wildlife Rescue League, a regional group based in Falls Church.

“Let’s do it in a humane way.”

Both groups agreed with Metro that something had to be done about the

pigeons, which apparently were attracted to the steel girders under the

bridges by bird lovers who leave food nearby.

Before the cleanup, a person “couldn’t walk or drive underneath

without being bombarded with pigeon feces,” Parvis said. “People were

walking through inches of pigeon excrement.”

“I understand the problem,” Freitag said.

Metro spokeswoman Beverly Silverberg said the pigeons, which carry

disease-bearing lice, also create a health hazard.

Metro hired a pest control firm, J.C. Ehrlich Co. Inc., of Reading,

Pa., which has been clearing out the underpasses during the past two

weeks. The firm attached a large net just below the girders where the

pigeons roost. Then it drove most of the birds out the sides with water

and air hoses before beginning to steam clean and disinfect the area,

Silverberg said.

But many birds did not leave. Friday, dead pigeons’ bodies were lying

in the netting, while live pigeons flapped around inside.

The Humane Society has been allowed to use the contractor’s equipment

to leave food and water so that the remaining birds inside don’t starve,

Parvis said.

But Freitag said the birds had no food for three days, and said there

are baby birds trapped inside that have been abandoned and cannot feed

themselves.

Parvis said an exterminator took all the fledglings out and turned

them over to the care of league members.

The biggest disagreement has been over the decision to shoot the

remaining pigeons with pellet guns.

The Humane Society views this as the most humane alternative, Parvis

said. Allowing them to starve or leaving poison would cause slow,

painful death, while continuing to feed them would cause them to

reproduce, she said.

But league members said the pellet guns do not kill the birds

instantly, and cause the birds to suffer.

“We had offered numerous alternative solutions, all of which were

pooh-pooh’d,” said Linda Lieberman, a league member.

Pigeon Patrol

Best Types of Pigeon Repellent

Bird Spikes– Pigeons can’t land on surfaces with bird spikes—perfect for ledges, sills, signs, and fences.
Shop Bird Spikes: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-spikes/
Bird Sound Deterrents / Ultrasonic Repellers– Emit high-frequency sound to drive pigeons away without harming them.
Browse Ultrasonic Bird Repellers: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-repeller/
Pigeon Netting– Blocks pigeons from accessing nesting zones permanently.
See Pigeon Netting: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-netting/

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post METRO’S PIGEON CLEANUP BRINGS ANOTHER FINE MESS appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

“Train Delays Blamed on Pigeons—And Their Droppings”

Pigeon Patrol — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:47:25 +0000

Commuters at the Jackson CTA Station experienced unusual delays this morning—not because of technical malfunctions, but because of an unexpected menace: pigeon droppings.

Two riders slipped and fell on the southbound platform around 8 a.m., prompting a temporary halt in service while janitorial crews responded. No major injuries were reported, but the incident has raised questions about safety and sanitation in public transit spaces.

“The smell hits you first,” said Mark Ellis, a daily commuter. “Then you see the mess—droppings everywhere. Benches, railings, even the signs. It’s gotten out of hand.”

An elderly man enjoys a cold winter morning in the city.

Transit authorities said the problem has been building for months. Pigeons roost in the station’s rafters, undeterred by current pest control measures. According to CTA spokesperson Nia Harrell, “We’re working on a long-term plan that includes physical deterrents, more frequent cleanings, and consultation with pest control specialists.”

Harrell added that the CTA is exploring ethical deterrent methods like reflective strips, ultrasonic devices, and even using trained birds of prey in partnership with local falconers.

Best Types of Pigeon Repellent

Bird Spikes– Pigeons can’t land on surfaces with bird spikes—perfect for ledges, sills, signs, and fences.
Shop Bird Spikes: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-spikes/
Bird Sound Deterrents / Ultrasonic Repellers– Emit high-frequency sound to drive pigeons away without harming them.
Browse Ultrasonic Bird Repellers: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-repeller/
Pigeon Netting– Blocks pigeons from accessing nesting zones permanently.
See Pigeon Netting: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-netting/

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post “Train Delays Blamed on Pigeons—And Their Droppings” appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Pigeon terrorists were to drop bombs

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:32:29 +0000

The U.K. considered training pigeons to deliver weapons of mass destruction but changed its mind, government files show.

City pigeons

It considered using the birds to deliver biological weapons after World War II but decided the birds had outlived their usefulness in battle.

Homing pigeons carried vital messages in wartime, and the Pigeon Policy Committee of the day discussed training them to undertake ever more daring tasks.

“We can now train pigeons to ‘home’ to any object on the ground when air-released in the vicinity… Bacteria might be delivered accurately to a target by this means,” head of the Air Ministry Pigeon Section Lea Rayner said in a 1945 report.

“With the latest developments of explosives and bacterial science I suggest that this possibility should be closely investigated and watched.

“A thousand pigeons, each with a two ounce explosive capsule, landed at intervals on a specific target might be a seriously inconvenient surprise.”

But other committee members did not share Rayner’s enthusiasm and in 1948 the armed services said they had no further interest in pigeons.

The secret services, however, thought anti-British forces would continue to communicate with each other via pigeons and asked a civilian pigeon fancier to keep 100 birds for MI5 to use to prepare countermeasures.

But they abandoned that scheme in 1950.

The U.K. used about 250,000 pigeons to carry messages in World War II and 32 of the birds received the Dickin Medal, the highest award of valour for animals.

The birds were also used for aerial surveillance. At the beginning of the 20th century Bavaria’s pigeon fleet flew over Europe with cameras attached to their bodies that took a series of timed shots.

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Pigeon terrorists were to drop bombs appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Pigeon protesters ruffle Livingstone

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:31:09 +0000

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was unexpectedly “ruffled” on his trip to the US, by protesters opposed to his plan to reduce the number of pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

He was on a fact-finding mission to the US, but had not expected to be doused in water over an issue related to London’s most famous square.Mr Livingstone has been criticised after refusing to renew the licence of the last bird feed vendor in Trafalgar Square. Andrew Butler, a spokesman for the pressure group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) told how activists doused Mr Livingstone with a pitcher of water during a news conference in Washington DC on Thursday.

A protester shouted: “Your plan to poison pigeons is all wet. Mayor Livingstone starves pigeons to death.”

Pigeon on a roof with solar panels with pigeon spikes to repel pigeons, Darmstadt, Germany

Bird feed seller Bernard Rayner has until Friday to give up his job, after which the Greater London Authority will implement a one-month phased withdrawal of feed from the capital’s famous landmark.Mr Rayner had traded on a temporary licence since October after a High Court appeal against an earlier move by Mr Livingstone to target the pigeons.

At that time, Labour MP Tony Banks tabled a Commons’ motion in a bid to save the “gentle London pigeon”. Mr Butler said that people in the UK may be surprised about the trans-Atlantic interest shown in the issue – but the US activists feel strongly about the fate of the birds. He said: “This isn’t Hawaii. It’s freezing-cold concrete-covered London. There are no luscious fruit trees for the birds to flit over to. The baby and elderly pigeons have nowhere else to seek food.

“They’ll starve. What’s he going to introduce next? Bear-baiting? He is waging war against the symbol of peace. Pigeons are rock doves, and Ken needs to extend an olive branch.” The GLA plans to clean up the mess caused by pigeon droppings and pedestrianise the upper part of the square to make way for more cultural pursuits for visitors.

But Dr Jayne Cuthbert, a research fellow at Kingston University who has advised the government on pigeons, confirmed PETA’s fears that withdrawing the food supply will result in the deaths of thousands of the birds.

She said: “The basic law of ecology is that there will only be as many birds in any area as there is enough food to feed them. “The Trafalgar Square pigeons will therefore not be able to fly off elsewhere because there will be no food available.” The number of pigeons in British towns and cities is estimated to have doubled in the past five years.

Mr Livingstone spent the earlier part of the week in New York to find out about its public transport and urban regeneration schemes. He is now spending two days in Washington as a guest at the annual conference of US mayors

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Pigeon protesters ruffle Livingstone appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

PIGEON POOP POISONING 70% OF OUR CHILDREN

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:30:10 +0000

Nearly three-quarters of Big Apple kids may have been exposed to a pigeon-poop fungus that can cause vomiting, fever and other illnesses, a new study revealed yesterday.

According to researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, 70 percent of urban kids are exposed to Cryptococcus neoforman fungus, which grows in rotting pigeon roosts and is present in pigeon droppings.

Moment of tenderness between a pair of pigeons

The researchers took blood samples from 185 healthy Bronx children and found that seven out of ten of those over the age of five, and 56 percent younger than five, were infected by the fungus.

Expert say the airborne fungus – which remains until adulthood – may be an underlying cause of many mysterious cases of vomiting, fever and lethargy.

“We were surprised by the number of children exposed to this fungus,” said Dr. David Goldman, and assistant professor of pediatrics at the medical school.

“It’s all over because pigeons are common in cities all over the world,” Goldman said.

The infection, which also can be caused by parrots, canaries and other birds, can be treated with anti-fungal medications.

Cryptococcus neoforman enters the body through the lungs and spreads to other tissues and organs, especially the brain.

It is normally KO’d by the body’s natural defenses, but in people with weakened immune systems, like those with AIDS and cancer, the fungus can cause meningitis, a brain infection that is often fatal.

The post PIGEON POOP POISONING 70% OF OUR CHILDREN appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

DAMAGE POTENTIAL

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:47:06 +0000

Feral pigeons and certain species of gull, for example the Herring Gull and Lesser Black-Back Gull are potentially a source of risk to health and safety in the urban environment. A range of diseases have been shown to be carried by birds living in urban and suburban environments.

Pigeons and seagulls will deface buildings by their droppings deposited and nesting materials.

The feral pigeon use buildings throughout cities as a sheltered roosting site while waiting to feed at first light, on debris from waste management bins in the domestic and commercial sectors.

Both Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-Back Gulls are becoming an increasing problem in Dublin and surrounding areas, nesting on flat rooftops. They have become aggressively protective of their territory, especially during their breeding cycle.

Legal status

Unlike most other pest species, birds have legislative protection unless it can be provided that their presence is detrimental to man in some way.

Seagull flying in to to eat french fry chip.

Under the Wildlife (Amended) Act 2000 all wild birds, their eggs, nests and habitat are protected. However, member states may derogate from the provisions in the directive, where there is no other satisfactory solution, for the following reasons:

In the interests of public health and safety

In the interest of air safety

To prevent serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries and water

For the protection of flora and fauna

In Ireland, General Licences, issued and revised, annually by the Department list the birds that can be taken. The licences also state the reasons for such action, methods of control and that the work must be carried out by an authorised person (authorised person means the owner, occupier or someone authorised b the owner or occupier in writing).

These licences do not have to be applied for. They are a legislative means of removing the protection of certain birds, regarded as pests, from the general protection afforded them through the Wildlife (Amended) Act 2000.

Population control

Reduction in numbers by one of the approved methods, shooting, trapping etc will provide only short-term relief. This method should only provide temporary relief until proofing work is complete, or to clear derelict buildings of pest birds prior to demolition.

Management of pest birds can be divided into three distinct categories:

Reduction / removal of food sources

The number of birds in an area will be directly influenced by the food source available. Therefore, good waste management and discouraging members of the public from feeding the birds (mainly feral pigeons will naturally reduce the bird numbers over a period of time.

Removal of roosting sites

Design of new buildings should take into consideration ledges, windowsills and any other feature that might provide roosting sites for birds. An angle of 45 degrees or more will prevent birds from roosting. Maintenance of existing buildings should be carried out to remove potential ingress points for feral pigeons. These would include missing rooftiles, broken windows and areas where maintenance work has been carried out and holes left in the fabric of the building.

Roofs should be designed and detailed specifically to exclude birds by keeping all gaps and openings below 20mm

Proofing against bird nesting and roosting

Proofing measures such as netting and stainless-steel spikes can be used to deter birds from roosting on buildings.

Netting mesh sizes for bird proofing will vary according to the species of bird. As a guide, the following mesh sizes are recommended:

Sparrows and similar size birds – 19mm mesh size

Starlings – 28-30mm mesh size

Pigeons – 50mm mesh size

Gulls – 75mm mesh size

Spike systems will deter birds from roosting on ledges that cannot be made inaccessible by netting. They should be fixed in a manner that will ensure that the ledge is adequately covered by the spikes.

Bird proofing is specialist work. An experienced installer should be consulted for advice and proofing strategies.

It should be noted that birds other than those listed on the general licences cannot be prevented from accessing their nest site during the breeding season. To do so would be a breach of the Wildlife (Amended) Act 2000 and prosecution could follow.

Urban pest bird control Pigeons is a complex subject and requires an integrated approach which will include waste management regimes to minimise attractive food sources; maintenance and design of buildings that will reduce potential roosting and nesting sites and proofing strategies that will exclude pest birds from priorities areas.

Pigeons AKA ‘Rats with Wings’

Why do we dread these pests over other animals?

Since the 1930s pigeons have been causing havoc to our cities. From nesting on roofs to defecating buildings. They are commonly known as ‘Rats with Wings’ but do we have reason to despise these birds? Let us take a look

Noise

These pesky birds invade spaces that are not designed for them. They have settled in urban areas and industrial estates and are comfortable making their nest in man made structures. Their short legs and hind toes permit easy perching on pipes and ledges.

Faeces

Not only do they invade our space they also destroy it with their droppings. Their waste is highly acidic and will corrode metal and concrete. Pigeons also carry mites which can cause skin disorders, while dirt from their feathers can exacerbate respiratory problems.

Disease

Most importantly they are a health risk to us. Pigeons and their excretion spread over 60 different diseases. Histoplasmosis, Salmonella and E.coli to name just a few.

Image

A pigeon infestation will promote a bad company image. Seeing a flock of pigeons nesting on the roof of any building or its ledge does not portray a top company image.

Damage

Pigeons nest in drain gutters, blocking them causing damage. They also nest near cables which could lead to a serious fire hazard. Pigeon activity around buildings often leads to structural damage as these resourceful pests can lift roof coverings to make an entry.

How do we control these pesky pests?

In the 20^th century, pigeons were controlled by killing them however nowadays Bird Control Pigeons is much more humane. Controlling them now means preventing them nesting on YOUR building and moving them elsewhere. Our highly trained staff at Central Pest Control can help in moving these birds from your building by putting netting or bird wiring of any shape or size to fit your pest control needs depending on the area invaded.

Did you know? A pigeon dispenses over 10 kg of dung a year!

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post DAMAGE POTENTIAL appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

How did the Pink Pigeon bounce back from just nine birds?

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:45:45 +0000

The Pink Pigeon is no longer Endangered. But how did conservationists achieve this, and is it sustainable? Dr Vikash Tatayah, Conservation Director, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (BirdLife Partner) reports from the field…

Last year, one of Mauritius’ best-loved birds hit a milestone that delighted the conservation world. In the 2018 Red List update, the Pink Pigeon Nesoenas mayeri was downlisted from Endangered to Vulnerable, building upon the success of 2000, when it was downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered. But behind the scenes of this happy news lies over 30 years of gruelling devotion, with conservationists tackling the numerous threats to the pigeon from every possible angle in their bid to bring it back from the brink.

Pigeons in the city

For a while, we were worried it might go the same way as its fellow Mauritian endemic, the Dodo Raphus cucullatus. An even closer relative, the Reunion Pigeon Nesoenas duboisi, went extinct on the neighbouring Reunion Island in the late 18th century thanks to introduced cats and rats. The Pink Pigeon now holds the unenviable title of the last native pigeon in the whole Mascarene archipelago.

Predictably, it was the arrival of humans that heralded the Pink Pigeon’s decline. The species was once widely distributed across Mauritius, but by the 19th century its population had become extremely fragmented and confined to the upland forests. Humans had destroyed native vegetation to the extent that only 1.5% of the original, good-quality forest remained. They also hunted the plump bird and introduced a panoply of predators such as Black Rat Rattus rattus, Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus and Crab-eating Macaque Macaca fascicularis.

It wasn’t just animal predators: what little forest remained was soon invaded by non-native plants such as Chinese Guava Psidium cattleianum and the privet species Ligustrum robustum which choke vegetation, preventing the regeneration of native plants. By the mid-1970s, the species had plummeted to a single population of 20 birds in the upland forest of Black River Gorges, an area now known as Pigeon Wood. Just 12 Pink Pigeons remained in 1986, and of the five nesting attempts recorded that year, all were thwarted by rats. The wild population hit an all-time low of nine birds in 1990. The chances for long-term survival of the species looked bleak.

But the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation wasn’t going to let it go without a fight. With help from organisations across the world [see With Thanks, below], we set up an intensive conservation programme starting with captive breeding set up in 1976, followed by the first wild releases in 1987. We now have nine subpopulations centred around our field stations. Six of these are within the Black River Gorges National Park, close to the original Pigeon Wood. A sub-population can be found on the predator-free nature reserve island Ile aux Aigrettes, and two additional subpopulations are being created on private land at Ferney on the east of Mauritius and in Chamarel Ebony Forest in the south west. The purpose of these captive-reared birds is to bolster wild populations, and we encourage the dispersal of birds between the different areas in order to maintain genetic diversity. In total we now have 470 wild Pink Pigeons at these sites, a dramatic improvement compared to the species’ darkest hour.

Captive-bred chicks like these are released to bolster wild populations © MWF

But captive-breeding won’t help unless the wild habitat is made safe for these newcomers. That’s why wild populations are carefully managed using a three-pronged technique. Firstly, every Pink Pigeon is ringed with its own metal ID band and unique plastic colour combination. Each bird can therefore be identified and followed individually. All nests are checked regularly and the results documented. A large dataset has now been collected and continues to grow. This precise information helps us to understand in more depth the factors affecting the survival of the Pink Pigeon, and how to shape our management strategies accordingly.

Another priority is food. The Pink Pigeon is herbivorous, feeding mainly on fruit, leaves and flowers. But its natural habitat is so degraded that the birds are often unable to find enough food to support themselves. In order to supplement their diet, whole wheat and cracked maize is provided at each of the field sites. The food is placed on specially-designed platforms to prevent other species from obtaining it.

Introduced predators are, without a doubt, a major limiting factor to the survival of this species. Much energy is devoted to removing or controlling them from around the field sites. We are also researching and tackling diseases, in particular trichomonosis, an illness introduced by alien pigeons that can be especially fatal to Pink Pigeon chicks.

In the long term, large areas of forest will need to be restored so that the Pink Pigeon can spread into the uplands and breed in safe nesting sites with fewer predators. But for now, we are working on reinforcing numbers at the recently-created release sites. In order to increase genetic diversity, birds from captive populations in Europe will be repatriated to Mauritius. Research has shown that these birds have genetic variations no longer found in the wild population.

We are constantly seeking to improve our knowledge of the Pink Pigeon’s biology and behaviour, conducting studies into factors limiting the recovery of this species. We have examined the fruiting and flowering of plants that the pigeons feed on which, combined with feeding observations, will enable us to tailor our supplementary feeding more precisely. Ultimately, we have high hopes that all of these measures should enable us to meet our target of 600 wild Pink Pigeons in the next decade.

The future looks bright for other species, too. When working out how to save the Pink Pigeon, some techniques were inspired by previous pigeon rearing projects, but others have been perfected or developed on Mauritius. We can now pass these new techniques on to the rest of the world to help others restore threatened pigeons worldwide. Hundreds of field biologists trained in our methods have gone on to work in important conservation positions elsewhere. They now have the ability to disseminate what they learned globally, ensuring the Pink Pigeon’s success can spread beyond Mauritius’ borders.

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post How did the Pink Pigeon bounce back from just nine birds? appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

The Curious Case of 50,000 Missing Pigeons

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:43:35 +0000

Pigeons are more often mocked than their avian brethren. But human beings have relied on pigeons for centuries to act as messengers, a reliable early post system — or in one case, a news bulletin. The birds possess remarkable navigation abilities, which is why on a summer morning in France in 1997, 60,000 pigeons were released to mark the centenary of the Royal Pigeon Racing Society with a cross channel flight. The problem? Most of them never came back. It was dubbed the “the great pigeon race disaster” and baffled experts and pigeon fanciers alike. But this week, OTM correspondent Micah Loewinger sits down with Robert Krulwich, co-creator and former co-host of Radiolab, and Jon Hagstrum, a geophysicist emeritus at the U.S. Geological Survey, to try and figure out exactly what exactly happened.

Flock of Pigeons crowded on the floor outdoor landscape close up.

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post The Curious Case of 50,000 Missing Pigeons appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

‘Anti-flocking agent’ used to control pigeons has controversial past

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:41:04 +0000

A controversial pesticide that has been banned through much of Europe and in New York City is being used to keep pigeons away from Red Deer’s downtown bus terminal.

It’s a cloudy morning in British Columbia and it seems that this guy is accustomed to bring food for pigeons and seagullls.

A controversial pesticide that has been banned through much of Europe and in New York City is being used to keep pigeons away from Red Deer’s downtown bus terminal.

Steve Parkin, transit facilities superintendent for the City of Red Deer, confirmed on Wednesday that Calgary-based Abell Pest Control is using the pesticide, under the trade name of Avitrol, to stop pigeons from roosting at Sorensen Station.

The city contracted the company shortly after the station, on the corner of 49th Street and 49th Avenue, officially opened in September 2010.

Parkin said there were lots of pigeons at the time and they were “messing everywhere” with their droppings, which are considered a health hazard for humans. Bird spikes or nails were also installed to discourage birds from landing on the transit station.

Since this “anti-flocking agent” was introduced about a year to 18 months ago, Parkin said the pigeon population has been reduced.

Avitrol is placed in containers in the beams of the transit terminal.

“There’s still a couple of them flying around in there but not to the degree that it was, and the manure problem isn’t as bad,” said Parkin. “It’s feed that upsets their stomachs and make it a less desirable place, and they apparently rush off. The company tells us that they are funny creatures. If they can’t find a place they like and the food isn’t good, then they will move on.”

Parkin wasn’t certain what the agent was but after a phone call was made, he discovered it was Avitrol.

“They assured us it was a relatively safe way to control pigeons,” he said. “It won’t kill them, it affects their nerves, I guess.”

He said Inspections and Licensing Department, which controls the parkade above the transit terminal, is also using Abell Pest Control.

Calls to Abell Pest Control were not returned on Wednesday or Thursday.

Parkin said he wasn’t aware of any controversy surrounding Avitrol.

“All we did was contracted a certified pest control and that’s what they recommended,” he said.

Opponents of the chemical claim it’s inhumane and that it poisons non-target species that consume the bait or the carcasses of birds that have died as a result.

Carol Kelly, executive director for Medicine River Wildlife Centre near Spruce View, said Red Deer residents should be disappointed.

“It’s highly toxic and definitely deadly and goes up the food chain to peregrine falcons,” said Kelly. “Maybe in low dosages, some of those pigeons might recover. But I would not want to have that stuff spread around my community.”

Kelly is working to bring OvoControl, a birth control bait system for birds, to Canada. It’s being used across the United States and is getting good reviews for its effectiveness, she added.

According to the Avitrol website, the agent works on the central nervous system and the motor nervous system. Its action on the motor nervous system usually causes behaviours characteristic of those seen in an epileptic seizure.

The website also refers to renowned animal welfare advocate Dr. Harry C. Rowsell, who in his Assessment of Humaneness of Vertebrate Pesticides report from 1979, said that “although the ingestion of this product is visually repugnant, our studies suggest that the chemical does not cause pathological changes in the organs or tissues capable of causing pain or distress.”

“Birds eating the treated bait will be affected in a manner that, varying by species, will artificially cause them to emit distress and alarm cries and visual displays used by their species when they are frightened or injured,” says the website. “This may include flying erratically, vocalizing, trembling, dilation of the pupils and other symptoms indicative of loss of motor control. This will frighten the flock and cause it to leave the site.”

In laboratory testing, if the dose is lethal, death will usually occur within an hour following administration, reports the website.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has strict regulations surrounding the use of Avitrol, including disposing of any exterminated animals daily to prevent contact with humans or other animals. The restrictions are crucial as the province tries to protect threatened birds of prey and in particular, peregrine falcons, which like to eat pigeons.

Avitrol was developed to deter songbirds from damaging crops. As soon as the first few birds are intoxicated, they issue loud warning cries and the rest of the songbirds fly away.

“In other words, it was developed for birds who have a physiological ability to utter a distress call,” said Canadian naturalist Barry Kent MacKay in a 1999 article with the St. Louis-based The Riverfront Times. “Pigeons don’t. They cannot utter these loud alarm notes.”

New York state legislators were so concerned about the use of Avitrol that they banned it from use in major metropolitan areas such as New York City in 2000.

The Humane Society of the United States has described Avitrol as a poison that is not only unnecessary, but dangerous. It advocates effective humane solutions like the use of OvoControl as well as devices that keep birds off rooftops, windowsills and similar surfaces

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post ‘Anti-flocking agent’ used to control pigeons has controversial past appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Bird Deterrent Solutions for Crop Protection:

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 21:04:02 +0000

Weeds, pathogens, and animal pests are among the pests that pose a threat to the productivity of crops meant for human consumption. Bird-caused crop losses pose a serious and costly challenge for farmers. This work presents a survey on bird deterrent solutions for crop protection. It first introduces the related concepts. Then, it provides an extensive review and categorization of existing methods, techniques, and related studies. Further, their strengths and limitations are discussed. Based on this review, current gaps are identified, and strategies for future research are proposed.

Keywords:

birds; deterrents; agriculture; crops; survey

1. Introduction

Pests, especially weeds, pathogens, and animal pests, pose a threat to the productivity of human-consumable crops. Bird-caused losses to fruit crops pose significant and expensive problems for farmers. Estimates on potential and actual losses caused by different bird species were discussed in a study carried out in Sweden between 2000 and 2015 [1]. During those years, there were 2194 complaints of crop damage, corresponding to a total loss of approximately 34,500 tons of various crops. The bird species that caused the most damage were, in order of the percentage of total losses from highest to lowest, the common crane (Grus grus) (33.7%), the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) (33.5%), the greylag goose (Anser anser) (26.6%), the bean goose (Anser fabalis fabalis) (2.6%), and the whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) (2.2%). The remaining 1.4% of the total losses were caused by other birds.

Another study [2] aimed at finding out which bird species were directly related to crop damage. Visual damage was collected on 60 randomly selected plants: 12 at each cardinal point and 12 inland in New York State. It was focused on four different crops from 81 field locations: sweet cherry—23; blueberry—12; apple—24; and vine—22. Damages were estimated at 2.3% for apple fields, 3.6% for grapes, 22% for blueberries, and 26.8% for sweet cherries. In addition, surveys were also conducted on farmers with those crops via the Internet, mail, and telephone in New York, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, and California. New York farmers alone pointed out that, all together, they lose about $6.6 million per year and that 65.6% of them are taking measures to scare the birds away. Half of the farmers confirmed that birds are the biggest factor in crop loss.

A study conducted in Poland [3] concluded that, in the years 1974 and 1980, 22% and 16%, respectively, of cherry crops were destroyed by sturnids (Sturnidae). The same study also conducted another survey in four districts of Poland aimed at all crops. In Gdansk, 471 surveys were filled out, of which 27% stated with certainty that their fields were damaged by rooks (Corvus frugilegus), and 59% had suspicions that the damage that appeared on their crops was also caused by rooks. In Warsaw, 51% of 378 questionnaire respondents were certain that they had damage caused by rooks. In Kielee, 56% of 351 questionnaire respondents reported damage, and, in Wroclaw, 58% of 276 questionnaire respondents also confirmed damage caused by rooks. In that same survey, overall bird damage was also collected for four crops: wheat, oats, corn, and barley. In the four districts, corn losses ranged from 22% to 32%, wheat losses from 10% to 13%, barley losses from 3 to 18%, and oat losses from 8 to 15%.

These results highlight the importance of applying bird deterrent techniques to minimize crop loss due to bird damage. These techniques can be classified into six major groups. Visual techniques activate a trigger in the bird through a visual stimulus. Auditory techniques activate a trigger in the bird through an auditory stimulus. Chemical methods use chemical agents to cause discomfort or to kill the birds. Exclusion methods consist of simply creating a physical barrier so that the birds cannot get to a certain area. Habitat modification is when the farmer changes the factors that birds like about that environment so that it is pleasant for them to look elsewhere. Removal methods consist of forcibly removing birds from a certain environment, either by trapping or killing them.

Although many deterrent techniques based on these concepts have been tested with success, there is a lack of a systemic approach to bird management. This work aims to study and discuss challenges and opportunities for improvements in the methods and techniques that have been used as bird deterrents for crop protection. It is organized as follows: Section 2, Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7 and Section 8 describe the different methods and techniques used as bird deterrent solutions. Section 9 highlights the gaps and identifies trends for future research in the area. Finally, Section 10 presents the conclusions.

2. Visual Deterrents

Visual deterrents present a visual stimulus to the birds that can trigger fear or curiosity. The dangerous feeling can be triggered by a real or simulated predator. In the case of real predators, this can lead to birds’ deaths. By contrast, there can be the use of something birds are not familiar with, such as scarecrows, dyes, lights, reflecting tape, optical gel, kites, balloons, or others. Some of these visual repellents can incorporate audio deterrents as well.

2.1. Scarecrows

Scarecrows, shown in Figure 1a, are the oldest bird deterrent approach [4,5]. Most scarecrows are human-like effigies usually made from inexpensive materials like grain sacks or old clothes filled with straw. The more realistic the facial and body shape, the more effective scarecrows are likely to be. They can be more detectable if they are painted in bright colors [6]. Commercially made scarecrows are also available to purchase, such as the Scarey Man mannequin [7,8]. It is a 5′6 inflatable scarecrow operated via a 12 V battery with an autonomy of 14 days, which inflates intermittently for 25 s every 18 min. It can be equipped with an LED light to illuminate the interior of the scarecrow and a speaker to emit sounds. This can be operated separately from the pump used to inflate it.

Figure 1. Visual deterrents: (a) scarecrows; (b) reflecting tape; (c) hawk balloons; (d) aircraft; (e) RC aircraft; (f) lights.

By imitating the form of a predator—human or other bird—the scarecrows cause the bird to awaken the instinct to fly to escape from a predator. The more real the scarecrow is visually, aurally, and in actions (i.e., movement), the more effective it will be.

Scarecrow-type devices are considered ineffective when used alone or effective only when used for a short period of time, because birds can get used to visual stimuli [9,10,11,12,13,14]. In [5,15,16], it was concluded that the effectiveness is improved if they are relocated every 2 to 3 days. Scarecrows that move and are used in conjunction with other devices are much more effective than those that stand still and are used alone. In [17], a mannequin was used to scare oriental turtledoves (Streptopelia orientalis). It proved to be more effective than tests performed with homemade scarecrows or kites. More recently, some scarecrows with pop-up systems have begun to appear. Nomsen [18] reported that a human-shaped mannequin activated with a dual propane cannon system was quite successful at scaring off blackbirds (Turdus merula) within four to six acres in a sunflower field. Ducks and geese were also found to be more easily frightened than blackbirds by this system. Naggiar [19] concluded that some bird scarecrows are completely ineffective, whether static or mobile, in an experiment done on waders (Charadriiformes). After only two hours, the birds were already habituated.

2.2. Reflectors and Reflecting Tape

Reflective tape, shown in Figure 1b, is a rubber band composed of three layers: one side is a sheet of silver metal, and the other side is colored with a synthetic resin [20]. This tape emits flashes of light when the light hits it and produces some sounds when the wind hits it. Because of the noise and reflection, this type of tape is often found in agricultural implementations.

This device does not directly arouse any instinct in birds. Initially, they will avoid staying in the space where the tapes are applied due to their instinct to avoid unfamiliar things. They also show some startling at the reflected lights and noises produced. Because there is no strong biological connection, it is highly likely that they will quickly get used to the presence of reflective tape.

There have been several studies regarding the use of reflective tape at airports and on plantations. More recent studies focus on reflective tapes rather than just bright, eye-catching objects. Reflective tapes produce noise when they snap in the wind, and it is believed that this auditory stimulus makes reflective tapes more effective than other reflectors. Bruggers [20] used reflective tape (0.025 mm thick and 11 mm wide) to deter birds from crops, sunflowers, and sorghum crop fields. The tape was successful at scaring birds away when suspended above ripening crops in parallel lines and when crop entrances were protected as well. The strong winds may also have helped to improve the effectiveness of the device by making more noise. Dolbeer [21] used reflective tapes to repel blackbirds from crops by tying the tapes to a rope three, five, and seven meters apart that was attached to poles three meters apart, with the tapes at a height of 0.5 to 1 m at the lowest point between the poles. The three-meter spacing proved to be more effective at scaring away the birds than the five- and seven-meter spacings. However, this technique is not valid for all bird species and was no longer effective when the reflective side was not seen (due to coiling).

Summers and Hillman [22] tested a 20 mm thick red fluorescent tape to scare geese off winter wheat fields in the United Kingdom. Half of a 20.2-hectare field was used as a control, while the other half was fitted with reflective tape. Another control field with an area of 7.5 hectares was equipped with a gas cannon and two scarecrows in the field. The lines were tied at 40 to 60 m between the rows of wheat. It was concluded from this study that the tapes were more effective at scaring away geese and that the field with the reflective tape lost only 1% of its production to the birds, compared to the 6% lost to the control fields. It was also concluded that the geese grazed two meters away from the application area.

2.3. Hawk Kites and Balloons

Kites and balloons, shown in Figure 1c, are the mobile versions of predator models. These devices are tied to the ground or poles, so they do not run away from the site. They are supposed to arouse the bird’s instinct of fear, because they are flying in an area that is supposed to be controlled by a hawk. As it is not a real threat, the birds will eventually get used to the presence of these devices [23].

2.4. Dead Bird Models

Dead bird models can be a replica, or an actual dead bird set in the ground to make it seem like the bird has fallen and died there. Bird bodies have been used as repellents in both agricultural [24] and airport situations [15,25,26].

Gull replicas are used in an intensive gull control program that occurs annually at a large gull colony at Toronto’s Leslie Street Spit [27,28,29,30]. The gull replicas consisted of a plastic bottle with two gull wings tied on it. They are tossed in the air to simulate injured seagulls. This technique, used along with falconry and pyrotechnics, successfully prevented seagulls from nesting in large parts of that area. Some airports kill seagulls and then fling them into the air when using pyrotechnics. Dead bird models will deter some birds, but their effectiveness is limited to the habituation period.

2.5. Aircraft

Both planes and helicopters, shown in Figure 1d, have been used to chase and scare away birds on farms. But this method is not recommended at all, due to compromising the safety of the aircraft crew. Hence, there is the need to scare birds away from airports [23].

2.6. Radio-Controlled Aircraft or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), shown in Figure 1e, can be used to threaten and scare birds. The aircraft can be painted in predator-like colors or have the shape of a hawk.

Radio-controlled (RC) aircraft may scare birds off both farms and airports [15,31,32,33]. However, RC aircraft require a skilled operator [6], and, for this reason, it has not been widely implemented at airports [34].

One experiment with a hawk-shaped aircraft proved to be remarkably effective at scaring away starlings (Sturnidae) and plovers (Charadriinae) at the Vancouver International Airport, as well as ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) and geese (Anser anser) on Western Island, Vancouver, B.C. [32,35]. Some birds demonstrated escape techniques from the aircraft as if it was a real hawk. However, this aircraft has proven to be difficult to fly and, therefore, requires a specifically trained operator. A more conventionally shaped aircraft can be painted in the colors of a predator [31].

Another approach is to use UAVs as bird repellent. Due to their versatility, UAVs can be beneficial in solving this problem without requiring a human pilot. However, due to their low battery capacity, which equals low flight duration, it is necessary to evolve path planning optimization, as described in [36].

2.7. Lights

Flashing, rotating lights, and spotlights, shown in Figure 1f, can be used to scare birds away [37]. The reason why lights scare birds away is not truly clear. It is thought that it is because birds have not yet learned them. Thus, they are a novelty that causes them anxiety, and they prefer to fly away. At night, it is believed that lights dazzle and disorientate the birds. Lights are also used to warn birds of dangers, such as those implemented in aircraft.

Spotlights have been used to scare ducks away from landing and grazing in grain fields. Some nocturnal migrants have been found to take evasive maneuvers when spotlights were pointed at them [25]. There is a catch, however, in that overcast or foggy nights can attract birds.

Most of the information about how effective flashing lights are in addressing bird-related hazards comes from airport and aircraft applications. More recent studies show mixed results regarding their success. Lawrence [38] reviewed various pieces of evidence and concluded that flashing lights scare away birds.

The study [38] showed that, during the day, aircraft landing with the landing lights on suffered fewer bird strikes than with the lights off. The simultaneous use of flashing anti-collision lights brought the numbers down further. These lights have more effect on lapwings (Vanellinae) than on gulls (Larinae). However, Zur [39] found no difference in DC-9 aircraft with landing lights on versus those with them off.

Briot [40] observed the reactions in crows (Corvus Corax), magpies (Pica), and jays (Cyanocitta cristata) that were on the ground when two aircrafts passed at low altitudes. One had no lights, while the other had 100.000 white lights flashing at a frequency of 4 Hz. The distance between the aircraft and the birds was observed. It was concluded that there was not a significant difference between the altitude at which the aircraft passed and whether it had the lights on or not. A small difference was noticed when increasing the frequency at which the lights flashed. The procedure of the experiment eventually was not the most appropriate, as it is believed that the birds were frightened more by the approaching aircraft than by the lights themselves.

A study was conducted to test the effectiveness of lights on laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) and American kestrels (Falco sparverius) [41]. It was observed that lights flashing at 50 Hz caused the birds’ heart rates to increase more than those at 5, 9, or 15 Hz. However, in the tests during longer periods of time, the average heart rate was higher at lower frequencies than at higher frequencies. Laty [42] suggests that the frequency of lights should not exceed 100 Hz. Studies have been carried out with frequencies of 8–12 Hz in gulls (Larinae), sturnids (Sturnidae), and pigeons (Columba livia) [43,44]. Belton [43] and Solman [44] recorded that gulls took, on average, 30–45 min longer to land on the site where they were to eat with a 2 Hz magenta flashing light than the untreated site. No improvement was recorded when the light frequency was above 60 Hz.

Tests carried out on laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) and American kestrels (Falco sparverius) by Green et al. [45] concluded that the birds’ heart rates did increase, and they did become attentive to the light, but it did not necessarily mean that it frightened them away, as they did not show that behavior, at least when using only the lights without any other method of deterring the birds. If this equipment is used in conjunction with another preferably containing movement, it may awaken the avoidance effect in the birds. They also recommended the use of several types of colors and frequencies in lights.

The use of flashing lights at an oil spill had a 50–60% success rate at scaring birds away [15,46]. Some tests have shown positive results in scaring away waterfowl (Anseriformes), waders (Charadriiformes), sparrows (Passer), gulls (Larinae), and other species [15]. Other tests have been ineffective against waterfowl (Anseriformes) [13], gulls (Larinae), blackbirds (Turdus merula), and starlings (Sturnidae) [15].

2.8. Summary

A summary of the studies that have considered visual deterrents is provided in Table 1.

Table 1. Summary of the studies using visual deterrents.

3. Auditory Deterrents

These are methods that use auditory techniques to deter birds. Most auditory deterrents also have a visual component.

3.1. Shotguns and Rifles

Weapons such as shotguns, shown in Figure 2a, when fired with real ammunition, produce a loud noise that can scatter the birds. Moreover, the shot fired can also hit the bird and kill it at fisheries operations [47,48,49,50], in agricultural fields [18], and at airports [15,34]. Even though birds can be driven away, they get used to the sound of the shots. So, it works only temporarily, and there are records of birds that returned to the site shortly after being dispersed by such noises [51,52].

Figure 2. Auditory deterrents: (a) shotgun ammunition; (b) pyrotechnics; (c) gas cannon; (d) AV-alarm; (e) predator sounds, high sounds, ultrasound, and infrasound.

3.2. Pyrotechnics

Pyrotechnics, shown in Figure 2b, consist of the use of rockets or small explosives, which emit very loud sounds and flashes of light. The resulting shockwave itself also contributes to dispersing the birds.

The similarity in sound to shotguns makes birds that are regularly hunted to have an aversion to these sounds, which contributes to their dispersal. A rope firecracker is a method that uses small explosives attached to a rope. This rope is set on fire at one end, thus varying the explosion time between devices. It is considered an unsafe method.

Pyrotechnics only have the intended effect temporarily, because the birds will get used to the noise [23].

Flares

Flares are alternatives to fireworks, which can be fired from an adapted gun or placed at a specific point and ignited. When used, they emit a kind of flame and smoke that may deter birds [25]. It is not as effective as shooting ammunition or using pyrotechnics, since it does not produce much noise.

Pistols

Pistols can be used just like shotguns or rifles. They are alternatives with less range for smaller areas. In addition to ballistic ammunition, they can also fire flares, as described above, and ammunition that produces a kind of crackle and/or a loud whistle [53,54,55]. Pistols are a widely used alternative, because they are easier to use than pyrotechnics, safer than real shotgun ammunition, and have lower associated costs.

As with most auditory deterrents, if they are not changed frequently, birds get used to the noise they produce and they lose the intended effect.

This method is used in places such as airports, and, in the long term, it has an effect in the presence of birds. Aguilera [56] registered some results where the presence of birds decreased by about 88%, but only for a week.

Mortars

The mortars are launched from the ground. While the launched device is in the air, it produces a hissing sound until it explodes [25]. While conventional pyrotechnics such as firecrackers are only useful at night, mortars are also useful during the day. Moreover, the noise they produce is much louder than fireworks.

The disadvantage is that it requires a qualified person to be able to handle these devices. It is also an unsafe option, since it is based on explosive devices.

3.3. Gas Cannons

Gas cannons, shown in Figure 2c, are devices that produce a kind of explosion by igniting a gas, usually propane or acetylene. This sound is intended to resemble a gunshot [57,58]. These cannons work through timers or by remote control [54,55]. To increase effectiveness, some have variable time intervals and automatically rotate.

These cannons only show positive results if they are moved after a few uses so as not to create habituation in the birds. It is also possible to improve the results with this method by combining it with other dispersal methods [59,60,61].

As with other auditory methods, this approach only works in the short term, because the birds get used to the sound. It is also necessary to position the cannons in strategic locations so that the leaves on the trees and other types of obstacles do not affect the sound and its effectiveness. Cannons cannot be used in certain places, because they present a high risk of fire.

3.4. AV-Alarm

The AV-alarm, shown in Figure 2d, is a device that produces sounds in the range of 1500 to 5000 Hz. These devices are controlled by timers and can be powered by photovoltaic panels or batteries.

The sound emitted by the AV-alarm is synthetic. Thus, there is no biological basis that links the sounds to the instinct to flee. It is believed that the positive results are due to the loud sounds emitted and because birds have never heard them. The AV-alarm has been used mostly in agricultural fields to scare birds away from crops.

Th AV-alarm is successful at scaring birds away from small crops [15,25]. It has also been shown to be effective in reducing the damage to grapes caused by European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), cape sparrows (Passer melanurus), and masked weavers (Ploceus velatus) [62].

The AV-alarm has demonstrated its ability to scare birds away, but is thought to work best in conjunction with other techniques. For example, this device could scare away starlings (Sturnidae) from blueberries crops, but, in conjunction with shotguns or propane cannons, it worked better [63]. Potvin et al. [64] found that combining an AV-alarm with gas cannons provided better results at scaring landbirds (Telluraves) off cornfields in Quebec than when used separately.

There are also negative results from the AV-alarm [65]. It was reported that the device is not as effective as distress calls in repelling birds. Bomford and O’Brien [66] and Devenport [67] also noted that birds become accustomed to these sounds. Thompson et al. [68] concluded that the heart rate of starlings had an insignificant change when exposed to the sounds of the AV-alarm, when compared to the heart rate when listening to distress and alarm calls. Crummet [69,70] also conducted a study to find out how effective the AV-Alarm would be in dispersing birds that were used to the water environment from watery terrain. However, it didn’t provide enough data to allow an assertive conclusion about its effectiveness.

3.5. Predator Sounds

Predator sounds, shown in Figure 2e, can be recorded, and played back to disperse birds, as they will associate them with predators, and the natural reaction will be to fly away. These sounds could be from humans or predator birds [71,72].

However, the sounds may have the opposite intended effect, because, instead of flying away, some birds can try to attack the predator to protect their young, thereby attracting even more birds.

3.6. High-Intensity Sounds

High-intensity sounds, shown in Figure 2e, can result in discomfort to the bird. It aims to cause nervousness and startle the birds, thereby causing them to disperse.

Some of these sounds can be made with air raid sirens. In [73], these sirens were tested, and very positive results in clearing an area were observed. However, this effect only lasted for a few days.

3.7. Ultrasounds

Ultrasounds, shown in Figure 2e, are above the range of sounds that human beings can hear (i.e., from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz). Some birds can pick up sounds above 20,000 Hz, although they do not communicate at such high frequencies. Nevertheless, no reaction has been shown from birds to this sound frequency [74]. Beuter and Weiss [74] found evidence that gulls (Larinae) can hear this sound frequency. It has been observed that the number of birds present in the areas where this method has been used only decreased by 5% or less [75].

3.8. Infrasounds

Some recent studies claim that infrasounds, shown in Figure 2e, may disperse birds. Just as with ultrasounds, the birds would have to be able to pick up these sounds and associate them with danger [76]. Although there are no concrete results about this method yet, it is believed that, as with all other auditory deterrents, they create habituation in birds after a brief period.

3.9. Summary

A summary of the studies that have considered auditory deterrents is provided in Table 2.

Table 2. Summary of the studies using auditory deterrents.

4. Chemical Deterrents

Chemical aversion techniques have been used in a variety of contexts, from residential areas [77,78] and cities, to agriculture and airports [79,80,81]. Birds do not tend to get used to these types of techniques.

4.1. Tactile Repellents

Tactile-type repellents, shown in Figure 3a, are sticky substances that are used to prevent birds from staying in certain places, such as corners of buildings, antennas, statues in cities, lights, and signs at airports. They can be found in various forms of application, such as tubes, spray cans, or caulking guns. Natural plant-based substances have also been tested [82].

Figure 3. Chemical deterrents: (a) spikes adhesive; (b) Avitrol; (c) ReJeX-iT.

This type of technique does not trap birds but scares them away by the sticky feeling they get on their feet. However, it is not clear why birds avoid these substances [23]. When plant-based substances were used, agitation and hyperactivity were detected in the birds [23]. It is suspected that this comes from a reaction between the plant compounds and the skin on the feet.

No studies have been found that prove the effectiveness of these repellents. Clark [82] reported that starlings (Sturnidae) became agitated and hyperactive after having their feet in contact with a substance using a 5% concentration of oil extracted from cumin, rosemary, and thyme. The result of this experiment suggests that it is possible to use non-lethal, plant-based chemical methods.

There are also mechanical methods that prevent birds from landing in certain places by using sharp objects such as barbed wire or nails. Some commercial versions are available such as “Nixalite” [23].

4.2. Behavioural Repellents

Disorienting substances such as Avitrol [23], shown in Figure 3b, and Methiocarb [23] are poisons that, in non-lethal doses, can cause disorientation and erratic behavior. These poisons are added to bait, and, usually, only a small portion of it is treated so that only a small number of birds in a flock are affected.

The goal is to cause a chain effect whereby when one of the birds becomes startled and flees, the whole flock follows it [15,83,84]. The warning signal can be given to the other birds 15 min before the poison starts to be digested, and the effects can last up to 30 min after digestion. If the dose is too high, it can lead to the bird’s death. Tremors and convulsions have been reported in birds before they die; this can cause the flock to leave the site. Unaffected birds from the flock eventually escape due to the warning signal from the flock mate.

These agents have been tested on starlings (Sturnidae), blackbirds (Turdus merula), and passerines (Passeriformes) [15,83,84,85,86]. The United States Air Force has tested this poison on seven air bases and concluded that it is effective in deterring these birds and a few others, such as crows (Corvus Corax) [87].

Even though Avitrol is highly effective, it is very difficult to dose it correctly to cause the desired effects without killing the birds. Birds may even die later, which can cause other social issues.

Another problem that has been noted is that birds avoid certain baits that they have experienced before. Gulls (Larinae) have been reported to notice this quickly. They stop eating what has been used as a bait. The problem with this is that there is a very limited number of baits that can be used, and each bait carries a different dose of Avitrol (i.e., the dose for a certain amount of bread is not the same for the same number of cornflakes).

4.3. Methyl Anthranilate—ReJeX-iT

ReJeX-iT, shown in Figure 3c, is the name for a brand that sells a bird repellent based on a natural substance found in some plants, called methyl anthranilate. For example, concord is a variety of grapes that many birds avoid eating because they contain methyl anthranilate.

This repellent works as a non-toxic substance to birds, which do not like its taste. It can be found in both liquid and powder and can be mixed in both food and water. It can also be sprayed in the air. Ortho-aminoacetophenone, which is also non-toxic, shows positive results in repelling or dispersing birds [88].

In [23], several tests were conducted with this product. They were performed in the laboratory on several bird species feeding on fruits, grains, truffles, and in water. It was concluded that ReJeX-iT can be effective if used in a high concentration. In some experiments, the applied dose of ReJeX-iT was insufficient and did not lead to the intended effect.

Methyl and dimethyl anthranilate have an unpleasant taste to birds. In [89], experiments were conducted with ducks and geese. They were given treated and untreated seeds. When only treated seeds were offered, both geese and ducks significantly reduced the amount they ate daily. The ducks showed a slightly higher tolerance compared to the geese. The experiments lasted from 2 to 4 days. The birds only increased the daily food dose due to hunger.

Methyl anthranilate was also used in a test conducted by Belant et al. [90] where it successfully repelled some bird species from water puddles in the field. However, another test conducted by Belant et al. [91] showed that the concentration used in the previous test was not effective for Canada goose (Branta canadensis). Belant et al. also concluded that geese did not learn from the previous contacts with the substance.

Problems with the application of ReJeX-iT prevented the testing of its effectiveness for repelling pond birds in [92]. But the results were promising, as the number of birds was reduced after treating the ponds with this repellent.

4.4. Summary

A summary of the studies that have considered chemical deterrents is provided in Table 3.

Table 3. Summary of the studies using chemical deterrents.

5. Exclusion Deterrents

These are devices or materials used to serve as a physical barrier. If access to a certain area, for example, where there is food or shelter, is restricted, the birds will leave the area and move on. There are also apparent barriers (i.e., there is no actual barrier).

Physical barriers are normally made up of wire mesh, polyethylene, or other synthetic materials and serve to prevent birds from approaching a specific area. They also serve to prevent them from nesting in these areas. The metal mesh can also be interconnected with electrified wires so that when birds land there they receive a harmless shock [93,94,95].

5.1. Overhead Netting

Overhead nets, shown in Figure 4a, are made up of several lines or wires interwoven. Nets may have smaller or larger meshes according to the bird species and are placed over a specific area. Birds can be deterred by the nets, even if the mesh spacing is sufficient for them to pass through. It is thought that birds are deterred by the fact that the mesh lines or wires are difficult to see.

Figure 4. Exclusion deterrents: (a) overhead net; (b) bird balls.

This method was initially recommended to prevent waterbirds (Aequornithes) from accessing aquaculture ponds [96]. Later, it was used to prevent birds from entering landfill sites, picnic areas, and other areas [54]. The effectiveness of this method varies between bird species and has had more positive results on waterbirds [97].

Overhead nets do not need continuous attention from a human. Birds do not become habituated to them. Moreover, when birds manage to pass through the mesh, they become disorientated and susceptible to other dispersal techniques, such as hunters or air cannons. Although it is a solution that makes it difficult to collect fruit from a tree protected by nets, it solves the problem of the presence of birds in a permanent way. The main negative aspects are the associated costs and the difficult application in large areas [23].

5.2. Foam

Foam is a method that replaces soil when it comes to covering up an area. It is not a well-researched method, nor a widely used one, but from the few tests that have been carried out, it was possible to observe that the birds had a certain aversion to entering the foam covering [23].

5.3. Bird Balls

Bird balls, shown in Figure 4b, is a method that prevents birds from accessing aquaculture tanks. It works by placing balls on the tank surface. It helps by hiding the area beneath the spheres, thereby deterring birds from being attracted. Because it consists of several independent spheres, it is adaptable to obstacles that may arise in the water without affecting the positioning of the other spheres [23].

5.4. Summary

A summary of the studies that have considered exclusion deterrents is provided in Table 4.

Table 4. Summary of the studies using exclusion deterrents.

6. Habitat Modification

Habitat modification is the removal or alteration of the natural characteristics of a site. It may include trees and shrubs, the removal of ponds, planting in areas without flora, planting crops that are not attractive to birds, such as tall grass, eliminating possible nesting areas, the use of exclusion methods barriers, and even chemical agents used in the birds’ natural foods.

6.1. Tall Grass

The effectiveness of using tall grass, shown in Figure 5a, can be explained because it prevents birds from viewing and accessing food. Nevertheless, some bird species can feed even if tall grass exists [98]. In addition, there are areas, such as airports, where it is not possible to have tall grass, because it creates problems for clearly viewing the lights.

Figure 5. Habitat modification: (a) tall grass; (b) Benomyl.

Dekker and Zee [99] performed an experiment with “poor grass”, which was a mix of wildflowers and a small number of grasses. In a five-year period, they concluded that the number of birds in these areas was similar to the one observed when long grass was used. However, it changed the type of bird species that frequented these areas to smaller ones.

Modifying the habitat with a plow would bring worms to the top, which are food for many birds, making the area more attractive to birds. Therefore, it is advisable to use this method at times of less bird activity [100].

6.2. Fungicides

Benomyl and Tersan, shown in Figure 5b, are fungicides used to treat lawn fungus problems. These products have low toxicity for birds and have positive results in reducing earthworms [101]. Since earthworms are bird food, if they disappear, the birds will have to look for food elsewhere. Terraclor, which is also a fungicide, showed positive results in significantly reducing the number of earthworms at the Vancouver International Airport [101].

These products have been stopped from being used to reduce pesticides in the environment.

6.3. Other Techniques

Water Removal

This approach is based on the principle of removing the water to prevent the birds from resting there. Gulls (Larinae) use water areas to rest. By removing the water, the area is no longer attractive to the birds [102].

Feeding Changes

The feeding zone limits the presence of birds in each area. A study [102] reported that, on a landfill where some 60,000 gulls were believed to live close, they were dispersed to the surrounding landfills due to the lack of food.

6.4. Summary

A summary of the studies that have considered habitat modification methods is provided in Table 5.

Table 5. Summary of the studies using habitat modification methods.

7. Removal Deterrents

This method consists of catching birds and releasing them away or eliminating them, either with traps, poison, or the use of lethal ammunition. It is a method that requires skills to be used, because it may use materials that can be lethal to humans as well. Using lethal methods would only work in the short term and only reduce the bird’s local population.

7.1. Traps

Traps, shown in Figure 6a, are one of the oldest methods [103]. They consist of cages and nets [104,105,106] that are used to capture the birds so that they can be released as far away as possible and in suitable habitats so that they do not return. But they can also be used to capture the bird and then kill it. There is another type of trap, called the pole trap, but it has negative results in saving birds, and it is illegal in many countries.

Figure 6. Removal deterrents: (a) traps; (b) live ammunition shooting; (c) surfactants; (d) falconry.

The operation of the traps depends on the number of birds in the population, the amount of food that is outside the trap, and whether the birds are already used to the presence of traps. Shake [103] found that traps were not effective in red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius) in corn fields, due to the number of birds in the group. Mott [93] noticed that when a small group of green-backed herons (Butorides virescens) was captured and released a few kilometers away, they did not return.

7.2. Live Ammunition Shooting

This is a method that consists of using lethal ammunition, as shown in Figure 6b. It is a method commonly used at airports to eliminate seagulls. It has limited effectiveness and acts as a deterrent. It was seen that, in the short term, it eliminated some gulls and frightened others, but, in the long term, they returned [9,107,108].

7.3. Surfactants

Surfactants, shown in Figure 6c, are chemical elements that keep birds away but in a non-lethal way and without causing damage to them. These chemicals are used with water cannons or sprinklers to control the birds [109,110,111,112]. This method works as follows: The water cannon spreads surfactants that penetrate the feathers, and, once wet, the body temperature of the bird lowers, and, depending on the environment, the bird may even die.

The most used surfactant is PA-14, and, in [113], it was used to control blackbirds (Turdus merula) and starling roosts (Sturnidae), but it did not cause any reduction in the local bird population.

7.4. Falconry

Falconry, shown in Figure 6d, is used to chase and eventually kill the birds in the area. Falconry was widely used in airports and aerodromes, with positive results. However, it was necessary to change its “launching” origin so that it would not cause habituation to the birds [107].

Heighway [107] found that, when using a set of eight peregrine falcons that were trained and commanded by two trainers, it took about two years to control a population of gulls (Laridae) [86,107]. Gulls (Laridae) show no signs of habituation to hawks [114]. Hahn [115] concluded that the use of falconry is not recommended in civil airfields.

This method has also been used to prevent gulls (Laridae) from nesting in Toronto [116]. To do this, the predatory birds were attached to perches and only occasionally allowed to fly. Falconry has also proven useful in preventing nesting by Canadian geese (Branta canadensis) in Canada, whereas other techniques such as pyrotechnics had no effect [27,28,29]. Another study [117] concluded that the use of goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) was not effective, since, when the wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) are dispersed, they will settle back down and feed normally.

In [118], a team visiting a landfill several times a day observed that the effectiveness of the deterrent methods varied depending on the time of day and the habituation of the gulls. To reach these conclusions, the team used various techniques, including firecrackers, falconry, shooting dead gulls into the air, and firing lethal ammunition [58,118]

Moreover, falconry only achieved positive results if it was practiced by well-qualified trainers. It is only possible to use this method when there is no harsh weather, rain, or strong winds and fog, which makes it difficult to control the gulls because they feed when these conditions occur [23,119,120]. Given that it is an unscheduled technique, it can be more effective. However, its use is recommended to reinforce other deterrents [23].

7.5. Summary

A summary of the studies that have considered removal deterrents is provided in Table 6.

Table 6. Summary of the studies using removal deterrents.

8. Other Deterrent Techniques

8.1. Lure Area

Lure areas, shown in Figure 7a, are created to attract and trap birds so that they are not in areas where they should not be [121]. The best option is using food to attract birds. In agricultural fields, this method is applied through perches to intercept the birds. Thus, the birds are distracted from the crops and feed on the perch. Nevertheless, to attract birds, it is necessary to take into consideration the distance to which the birds should not go.

Figure 7. Other techniques: (a) lure area; (b) magnets; (c) microwaves; (d) laser.

These attraction areas have proved to have positive results with waterfowls and blackbirds [121].

8.2. Magnets

This approach requires two magnetic devices, shown in Figure 7b, hanging along a wire. This wire is hung along places that the birds frequent for both nesting and resting. This device creates a magnetic field that disorients the birds, which will then avoid the areas that have these devices. This can be explained by the fact that birds use the earth’s natural magnetic field to orient themselves [122,123,124,125].

Belant and Ickes [126] tested this method, and it proved to be useless in deterring European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). More testing is needed to confirm the effectiveness of this method, since it has only been proven to disorient birds and not to disperse them.

8.3. Microwaves

Microwaves, shown in Figure 7c, are electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging from 300 MHz to 300 GHz that can cause stress, discomfort, and disorientation [122,123,124,125]. If the energy caused by electromagnetic fields is too high, it can cause physical problems for birds, which leads to the birds avoiding them. Humans can detect these energies below 1 mW/cm² and at maximum power densities bellow 100 mW/cm² [127,128]. If the power is higher, thermal changes begin to be felt. In birds, these changes occur at a power of 50 mW/cm² [129]. The effectiveness of this method is questionable, but if the power is increased, the effect will be felt. For example, at a power of 10–50 mW/cm², there may be temporary muscular and neurophysiological problems [130,131]. These problems affect the ability to extend the legs and wings, so birds collapse [130,131].

In [131], tests were performed with hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). One feeder was exposed to a radiation intensity of 40 mW/cm² while the other was not. The hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) chose the feeder without radiation. The hens only returned to the first feeder 4 days after removing radiation from it. Furthermore, they avoided the feeder when radiation was applied to it again.

Some studies have concluded that radars can affect birds [132,133,134,135,136]. Short et al. [76] studied the possibility of using radar signals to disperse birds without the radiation reaching levels considered dangerous to humans and birds.

8.4. Laser

Lasers, shown in Figure 7d, produce electromagnetic waves in the visible and infrared light frequency ranges. These waves associated with the emitted light can cause birds to feel sick [23]. This decreases the possibility of birds staying in these places.

Lasers were suggested by Lustik in [137]. Although the tests showed that the laser was effective on starlings (Sturnidae), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and gulls (Laridae), the beam had to be aimed at specific areas of the bird. For example, if it was aimed at the feathers, they would not react, and if the laser managed to reach a certain temperature, there was the possibility of igniting the feathers. A particular test showed that the use of a flashing light directed at some birds could cause hemorrhages in their eyes, but the gulls showed no discomfort or reaction, not even with the light pointed directly at their eyes [137,138]. In [139], Mossler performed tests on gulls using a helium-neon laser. In this case, the gulls showed some limited behavioral reactions, but it was not enough to disperse them or prevent them from feeding.

Although lasers are a method with positive results, they can be dangerous to human beings [23], so their use is not recommended.

8.5. Summary

A summary of the studies that have considered other deterrent techniques is provided in Table 7.

Table 7. Summary of the studies using other deterrent techniques.

9. Discussion

This section draws the main conclusions from this research. Current gaps are identified and strategies for future research are proposed. Table 8 summarizes the different methods and techniques used as bird deterrent solutions for crop protection.

Table 8. Summary of different methods and techniques used as bird deterrent solutions.

Scarecrows: Scarecrows are a very versatile tool that can be applied both on land and water; they are very mobile and cheap to build. They can be combined with other bird deterrent techniques to improve performance. In the long term, they are not effective, so they are best suited for occasional bird invasions and should be used in smaller areas.

Reflectors and Reflecting Tape: Reflective tapes are easy to install and can quickly be transferred to another area. Their effectiveness can be improved when combined with other bird deterrent techniques, so their use in agriculture and at airports with more moderate use is recommended.

Hawk kites and balloons: Kites and balloons can be easily deployed and can be moved to other locations with ease, but have many limiting factors such as strong winds and rain or even the difficulty to keep the balloons inflated. These techniques must be complemented with other approaches to increase their effectiveness. Therefore, this technique is recommended only in short-term situations.

Dead bird models: When used alone, they can be effective for a short time, but they are perfect for integrating into a bird deterrent program.

Aircraft: As discussed above, this type of technique is not recommended at all. It is too risky for the aircraft tripulants, because birds can do real damage to the aircraft. That is why it is necessary to deter birds from airports.

Radio-Controlled Aircraft or UAV: Some advantages of this implementation are that the time it takes the birds to get used to this technique is much longer than the techniques mentioned above. Moreover, making several passes with the aircraft can even cause the birds to leave the site completely. It is also applicable to a wider range of bird species. Disadvantages are that it requires a skilled operator and is very labor intensive. There is also the need for landing and landing areas, and it cannot be used in adverse weather conditions. On the other hand, if UAVs are used, a human pilot is not required, but the use of optimization algorithms is necessary to improve their efficiency and autonomy.

Lights: Flashing and strobe lights can be useful for scaring birds, but they can be even more effective when used in conjunction with other techniques. Spotlights may not be as effective. because they can attract birds in certain weather conditions. They are easy to install in places such as airports and agricultural fields. They are not expensive and are quite effective at scaring away certain bird species at night. Their efficiency as a bird deterrent has not been proven.

Shotguns and rifles with real ammunition: This method is not recommended for the safety of humans, as someone could be hit by the shot. It requires authorization and knowledge to handle these weapons. Furthermore, it is costly, as the ammunition used is single-use and is relatively expensive.

Pyrotechnics: Pyrotechnics are among the most widely used approaches when it comes to bird dispersal. It is a highly effective technique, but only in the short term, due to the habituation it causes in the birds. Thus, birds stop being frightened by the noises that these devices produce. They are often used more in the form of rifles or pistols to facilitate their mobility. It is believed that the effectiveness of this method may vary with different species of bird. To be more effective, this method should be used only when many birds are grouped together. Pyrotechnics have many advantages such as their range; the blast has a stronger shockwave than a shot, so it also helps scaring birds away, and they can be highly effective when used in conjunction with other deterrents. It also has disadvantages, such as the possible death of birds. It cannot be used in all areas, since if it is used in areas with dry vegetation, it can cause fires. It requires highly skilled labor to reduce the high risk of handling. Another disadvantage of this approach is that it produces a lot of waste, such as cartridges from the devices used.

Air cannons: Cannons have proven to be effective in large areas and do not require continuous attention from the owner. However, they are only effective for a brief time. Furthermore, cannons with less safety devices should not be used in certain places, because they present a fire hazard.

AV-alarm: The positive side of this device is that it does not need constant attention from the owner, and, if it is moved frequently, it will become more effective. On the downside, birds can easily become accustomed to sounds, and the sounds emitted by these devices can put the bird’s life at risk. These devices can also carry risks to human health. So, hearing protection equipment must be worn when one is near one of these devices in operation.

Predators sounds: This method is a little uncertain, because it can both disperse or attract birds. Although there have been some positive results reported in studies, it is not possible to confirm its effectiveness.

High Sounds: Like the other auditory deterrents, this method ceases to be effective within a short time. Furthermore, this method is not very human-friendly, as these sounds can also cause severe hearing damage.

Ultrasound and Infrasound: This method would be quite good because it would not affect humans, since they do not capture such frequencies and, therefore, would go unnoticed. However, it is ineffective, because birds also do not capture these types of frequencies.

Tactile deterrents: It is difficult to accurately assess how effective sticky chemicals are, due to the lack of studies that evaluate their effectiveness. They require some work to be implemented, which includes studying all corners, areas, and poles where birds may land and treating all of them. They are estimated to last for a year or so, depending on the weather conditions. They have proven not to be effective in temperatures below −9 °C. Sticky materials are not exactly pleasing to the eye, so this may limit their use.

Behavioral deterrents: This method requires several steps before it will work. It requires getting the bait and the poison, the right dosing, and waiting for the birds to be attracted to the bait. Behavioral-alteration-type chemicals are recommended to be part of a bird repellent program. However, some limitations apply to the use of this technique at airports. Since the bait can attract birds into the airport at peak traffic times, this is not recommended at all.

Methyl Anthranilate—ReJeX-iT: It has the potential to repel a limited spectrum of bird species. It is natural and has a low degree of toxicity. However, one must always pay attention to the formula applied, its concentration, and how regularly it is applied. Cost can also be a negative factor, as it can get expensive if a large area needs to be covered. Nevertheless, its use is recommended.

Overhead Netting: It is method is recommended for small areas that cannot be monitored continuously by a human.

Foam: Its effectiveness depends on weather conditions, such as rain or wind, which could eliminate the foam or remove it. It can be used in small areas.

Bird Balls: Its operation depends on wind conditions, because it is a light material that is easily moved with the force of the wind. It is easy to use and has a low cost. Since it is a new method, there are no studies that assess its effectiveness.

Tall Grass: This method is useful because it reduces the number of species. However, it becomes dangerous in certain situations, because, in this type of habitat, there is food for large birds such as hawks and owls, and, in places such as airports, this may lead to negative consequences.

Traps: This method can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Depending on the complexity of the trap, it may require skilled labor. Furthermore, it is a solution that may work only in the short term.

Live Ammunition Shooting: Lethal ammunition is only used to increase the effectiveness of other combined techniques. This method must be used sparingly and requires specific licenses.

Surfactants: Water sprays, with or without surfactants, are recommended as a lethal method of bird control. It is also used in the short term to disperse bird flocks, but pyrotechnics are preferable for that case.

Falconry: Since hawks are a real threat, the birds are not used to their presence. Since it is an unscheduled technique, it is more effective. However, qualified people are required, and there is the impediment to flying in adverse weather conditions. The use of falconry is recommended to reinforce other deterrents.

Lure Area: It requires a lot of work to study the birds’ flying patterns to implement the lure area.

Magnets: It is not recommended due to a lack of studies that prove that birds are deterred by this method.

Microwaves: From the studies and tests carried out, it was concluded that it would only be effective to use radiation if it reached levels that were already dangerous to human health. Therefore, the use of this method is not recommended at all.

Laser: Although it is a method with positive results, the energies created by them would be dangerous for human beings, so its use is not recommended.

10. Conclusions

Of the various pests that exist for agriculture, birds are one of the biggest and most damaging to farmers, and possibly the most difficult to control. This survey presented a comparative analysis of bird deterrent techniques for crop protection. It introduced the related concepts. Then, visual, auditory, chemical, exclusion, habitat modification, removal, and other deterrents solutions were presented. Their results, strengths, and weaknesses were discussed. Finally, current gaps were identified and perspectives on future developments were discussed.

Despite the availability of bird deterrents, there are still many challenges for effectively protecting crops from bird damage. These challenges include the need for cost-effective solutions, the ability to adapt to changing bird populations, and the potential for negative impacts on non-target species and the environment. Nevertheless, there are also several opportunities for improvement in bird deterrent solutions for crop protection. These opportunities include the development of new and innovative deterrents, the integration of multiple deterrents for increased effectiveness, and the use of technology to enhance the monitoring and evaluation of deterrent effectiveness.

Thus, bird deterrent solutions for crop protection are a complex and multifaceted issue, and there is a need for continued research and development to improve their effectiveness and minimize negative impacts.

The research that is presented in this paper is a first step in an ongoing effort to propose, in the context of smart farming, a new bird deterrent technological solution based on the concepts of the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless mesh networks, and smart drones.

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Bird Deterrent Solutions for Crop Protection: appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Search for the one-legged pigeon continues

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:38:33 +0000

If you’ve been around Ryerson, chances are that you have heard of, or maybe even got the chance to see, the one-legged pigeon. This famous icon is well-known for roaming the campus, along with being one of the school’s greatest memes.

When The Eye spoke with the pigeons five years ago, there were reports of a second wave of the Pigeons’ Movement. Recently, we have been in contact with some inside voices. After deciphering their coo-coos and squawks, it turns out that the second wave Pigeons’ Movement fell through because the leading figure went missing—the one-legged pigeon.

To get to the bottom of this, I set out to find her. It would be no easy task—the only way to do that is to explore every inch of Ryerson. Her Twitter hasn’t been updated since 2014. While searching around campus, I encountered many pigeons. But to the demise of the entire student body, all these pigeons had two legs.

All of the pigeons were quite strange. There were many different pigeons—concrete pecking, bread pecking, aggressive wing flapping. None of the pigeons could even gracefully win in a breadcrumb fight. The pigeon community has really taken a hit since this tragedy struck.

I asked the pigeons if they knew anything about the word on the street, but none had any useful information. It seems as though the pigeon’s movement is no longer birds of a feather. Actually, some of them even seemed bird-brained.

The regular day-to-day pigeons weren’t much help, but we searched the dustiest of alleyways and found a lone pigeon smoking a cigarette and wearing a trenchcoat.

After demanding a payment of seven Ritz crackers, he told us one of his feathered associates received a telepathic message that the one-legged pigeon is still alive, and is planning something big. We still don’t know if what the mysterious pigeon’s associate’s friend said was reliable or true. Due to not wanting to suffer an Alfred Hitchcock-esque death and get picked to pieces by the pigeons, we did not press further.

For now, unfortunately, the one-legged pigeon is still missing. Alas, I still have hope. I won’t stop working on this story. I’m willing to bet my last One Card dollars that Ryerson will be blessed with the return of this legend.

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Search for the one-legged pigeon continues appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Sandwich shop to offer ‘seagull insurance’ to customers robbed of their toasties

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:58:03 +0000

The Cheesy Toast Stack, a popular sandwich shop in St Andrews, has introduced a unique countermeasure against an unusual problem: seagull theft. Dubbed ‘seagull insurance’, this initiative gives customers the option to pay an additional £1 to safeguard their purchase against aerial bandits.

Angry seagull with open beak

Sam Larg, the founder of The Cheesy Toast Stack, spoke to The Telegraph about the challenges his business faces with the increasing boldness of local seagulls. During the peak summer months, the problem of these birds swooping down to snatch customers’ food has intensified. “Replacing up to 10 sandwiches a day has pushed us to think innovatively about solutions,” Larg commented. With 10 years in business, this summer has been notably problematic, marked by frequent disturbances from the birds.

The new insurance scheme was conceived as a way to manage the financial burden of providing free replacements for stolen food. Larg expressed his concern about the sustainability of their previous approach: “It always felt cold-hearted to turn down a customer for a replacement, but continuously offering free meals is becoming untenable for our business.”

The insurance option is not just a business move but also carries a community spirit. Larg plans to donate any profits from the insurance at the end of the season to local entities, such as the football club and charities. This gesture aims to support community initiatives while addressing the shop’s operational challenges.

The background to this peculiar issue was highlighted by recent research from Emma Inzani of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus. Her study on seagull behaviour indicates that while these birds do occasionally steal human food, they show a natural preference for their traditional diet of fish, such as mackerel and sprat. Inzani suggests that reduced fish availability in UK waters might be driving the gulls to adapt to more urban food sources. “Although urban foods are more accessible, seagulls still choose fish whenever possible, which is less energy-consuming than scavenging in urban areas,” she explained.

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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Sandwich shop to offer ‘seagull insurance’ to customers robbed of their toasties appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Birth control for bird control? Toronto put pigeons on the pill to fight the flock

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:29:05 +0000

Birth control for bird control? Toronto put pigeons on the pill to fight the flock

A city pilot that put pigeons on the pill to regulate the population costs about $24,000 a year and is listed as a success in this year’s budget.

Toronto’s pigeon problemA city pilot that put pigeons on the pill to regulate the population costs about $24,000 a year and is listed as a success in this year’s budget.

Luis Canseco gets anxious when he walks across the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue intersection because he knows he’s directly in the line of fire.

Not from cars or trucks — Canseco keeps a wary eye on the wires overhead where dozens of pigeons congregate, feather to feather.

Whether he can make it across unscathed has become a crapshoot. “I’ve been hit with liquid three times in the last year,” said Canseco. “Now I cross it with an umbrella, rain or not.”

Toronto’s prodigious pigeon population has long been a frustration for residents who — even away from their excrement-painted balconies — can seem like collateral damage in a war being waged between those who want to feed the flocks and those who want them gone.

Coun. Lily Cheng (Ward 18 Willowdale), whose ward includes Canseco’s intersection, said many residents have complained about the influx in recent years.

“There’s many condo residents who no longer feel like they can use their balconies, which is what precious outdoor space they have,” said Cheng, noting there’s been more signage in her ward imploring people to stop feeding the birds. “It’s just not hygienic and hard to keep clean.”

In an effort to humanely reduce the numbers of feathered bombers, the city has put some of them on the pill, an endeavour listed as a success in this year’s budget. Under the pilot project that began in May 2022, the city has set up feeders in four locations across the city that dispense feed laced with OvoControl — birth control for birds.

Esther Attard, veterinarian and director of Toronto Animal Services, said her department worked with a pest control company to set up automated rooftop feeders: two downtown, one in East York and one in North York. City staff are looking at adding a fifth downtown.

According to Attard, OvoControl has proven to be a humane, successful baby blocker for birds in various countries, including Spain where a recent study showed a steady decrease in the avian population after several years.

The feeders dispense a fixed amount of food that contains the birth control pellets at the same time every day. The flock size is then tracked by a nearby camera, although it’s nearly impossible to get the same pigeons to take their daily dose.

Attard said the pilot costs about $500 per site for a flock of no more than 150 pigeons, or about $2,000 a month for all four sites.

Attard said there has been “some decrease” in the flock size, but she expects to have a better picture of its progress by the summer.

“The bulk of them are domestic, abandoned pigeons,” she said, noting the 2022 bylaw amendment to restrict the number of pigeons residents can keep. “The difficulty has been getting people to stop feeding and conditioning them.”

Canseco said he’s concerned about the health implications of having so much excrement around the city, but Attard noted that while it could carry silicosis or salmonella, the risk to humans is notably low and rarely poses a public health threat.

Vancouver’s TransLink tried a similar tactic at eight SkyTrain stations in 2019. The city’s automated rapid transit was often disrupted by pigeons that ended up on the tracks, triggering intrusion alarms, hard brakes and unnecessary service delays. A spokesperson for TransLink said the project lasted 18 months and returned in 2022 at seven stations. While the pigeon populations have not increased, Thor Diakow said, they also haven’t declined.

Attard said the method doesn’t harm the birds, even if they embrace their greed for feed and swallow more than one daily dose, but it also doesn’t harm what few seagulls and squirrels have gotten into the laced food.

Nathalie Karvonen, biologist and executive director of animal rescue Toronto Wildlife Centre, neither endorses nor condemns the pilot project.

“People tend to ride into two camps: either they are adamant they must continue to feed animals or they’re very upset because there’s too many pigeons,” Karvonen said, adding that as long as it’s humane and fiscally responsible the pilot is better than the cruel practices of poisoning or trapping and killing them.

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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Birth control for bird control? Toronto put pigeons on the pill to fight the flock appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Pigeon Protest: Free the Brooklyn Navy Yard 2,000

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 03:22:00 +0000

At least one of the protesters’ claims is undeniably true. No one asked 2,000 pigeons if they wanted to have lights strapped to their legs in the name of art.

Nor did anyone ask the birds how they felt about being shooed from their homes at dusk and sent flying up to illuminate the Brooklyn sky.

But whether Duke Riley’s avian-powered performance piece “Fly by Night” constitutes pigeon abuse is a more complicated question.

More than 5,000 people have signed a change.org petition calling for the show, which opened May 7 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, to be closed. At Sunday’s performance, a gaggle of protesters — perhaps several dozen — gathered outside the Navy Yard gates.

Their charges: that the birds are terrified by the flapping plastic flag Mr. Riley waves to keep them flying; that it is unnatural to make pigeons fly at night, when they normally rest; and that between their poor night vision and the distractions of the moving lights, they could become disoriented and crash into the East River.

An artist, Duke Riley, has trained 2,000 pigeons to fly above the Brooklyn Navy Yard with tiny lights attached to their ankles in a performance that will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 12. An artist, Duke Riley, has trained 2,000 pigeons to fly above the Brooklyn Navy Yard with tiny lights attached to their ankles in a performance that will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 12.CreditCredit…Yousur Al-Hlou

“There’s plenty of ways to create beautiful art without using unwilling participants who are forced to perform,” said Nora Marino, who runs the Animal Cruelty Exposure Fund.

Mr. Riley has kept pigeons most of his adult life, and says the birds are not suffering and that they fly when he waves his trash-bag flag for the same reason a dog gets excited when you pull out your car keys. The birds are not forced to fly, Mr. Riley said — every night, some choose to stay in their coops.

The show’s critics say “Fly by Night” disregards the growing sentiment against performing animals. Ringling Bros. is retiring its circus elephants, SeaWorld its killer whales.

Before “Fly by Night” opened, the nonprofit arts group that organized it, Creative Time, asked the director of the Wild Bird Fund, Rita McMahon, to inspect. The fund, based on the Upper West Side, treats more than 2,000 sick and injured pigeons a year.

“Mixing art and animals is a very risky business,” said Ms. McMahon, who is a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator, “but I was very impressed.” The pigeons were healthy and well fed, their temporary homes beautiful and clean.

“I didn’t see any traumatized pigeons,” she added. “You see them mating, courting, everything, all over the boat. I think that’s a pretty good sign.”

“Fly by Night” runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until June 12, and the protesters say they will be out every night for the rest of the run.

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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Pigeon Protest: Free the Brooklyn Navy Yard 2,000 appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Staff at B.C. prison bust another backpack-wearing pigeon

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:22 +0000

Staff at B.C. prison bust another backpack-wearing pigeon

Correctional officers say they’ve caught another backpack-wearing pigeon at a B.C. prison.

John Randle, regional president for the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, said the bird was captured inside the Matsqui Institution, a medium-security prison in Abbotsford, on Feb. 27.

Unlike a similar pigeon caught on the grounds of the nearby Pacific Institution in December, this pigeon’s backpack was empty. The prior pigeon was carrying a cargo of methamphetamine.

“The best guess, or educated guess I could make right now is that it looks like they were training this one to eventually bring in a package,” Randle said. “They didn’t find anything in the backpack that was secured to the pigeon.” The backpack, he told Global News, was fabricated out of blue jeans and bed sheets.

B.C. prison guards intercept pigeon carrying crystal meth “It’s a huge concern. We’re fighting the drone issue big time right now, almost on a daily basis. And now we’re going to start worrying about wildlife,” he said. “(We’re) searching and watching the skies I guess. It’s kind of funny to say that.”

Randle said the drone problem is a growing concern, noting that correctional officers had intercepted everything from ceramic knives to cellphones to drugs.

He said officers want to see more action from the federal government to combat smuggling, such as the deployment of netting or drone detection systems. Randle said corrections officers were also working with police on the smuggling problem.

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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post Staff at B.C. prison bust another backpack-wearing pigeon appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Keeping Pigeons Away from Your Home

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 21:35:09 +0000

Pigeons have a long history with humans. In Europe, pigeons were a common source of meat in the Middle Ages. They were once used to carry messages and have even been used in racing. During WWI and WWII, carrier pigeons were used as part of the communication systems. There’s even a pigeon museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, dedicated to man’s oldest feathered friend. Modern pigeons are considered a nuisance. They don’t seem to be scared of humans, nesting and roosting under eaves, in chimneys, or on roofs where they quickly become problematic. Learn more about how to keep pigeons away and why you shouldn’t let pigeons make a home in your building or house.

PROBLEMS OF PIGEON HABITS AND HABITATS

Pigeons aren’t menacing to humans, but they can be problematic when they build a nest inside a structure. Although most people love to feed pigeons in the park, they aren’t so happy with the negative effects. The same place where pigeons roost becomes a space for pigeon droppings. These droppings are acidic and cause a lot of damage to property. Eaves and gutters can get clogged, which leaves your home vulnerable to water damage and leaks. Humans can also potentially slip and fall on the mess that accumulates. In addition, pigeon droppings can carry disease and parasites. Pigeons damage plants and crops in search of food. They don’t have natural predators, so it can be difficult to control their population. A group of pigeons can be very noisy, especially when dealing with the sound every day, 24 hours a day. Movies may romanticize the cooing that pigeons make, but when you’re woken up on a lazy Sunday morning, it’s not so idealistic. Pigeons may also bring lice, ticks, and other insects to your home through their nest.

HOW TO GET RID OF PIGEONS

If you have a flock of pigeons living in your home or business, you will need to take multiple steps to eliminate the problem. Modern pigeons may not be used as messengers any longer, but they do have a strong homing instinct. They cannot simply be relocated to remove them. Removal should be performed by a professional wildlife service that can employ countermeasures that prevent pigeons from returning to the nest.

The nest area will need to be cleaned and disinfected.
All food and water sources will have to be removed.
A prevention plan will need to be established.
Entry points of the home must be sealed off properly.

One important consideration in removing birds is to know any laws that pertain. In some jurisdictions, it is illegal to remove birds and bird’s nests with eggs, even if the birds are a nuisance. Depending on where you live, you may need to work with a wildlife agency to remove the pigeons, which is why we always recommend calling a professional.

HOW TO KEEP PIGEONS AWAY FROM YOUR HOME

Once you’ve removed the pigeons, prevention is key. The goal is to make your home as unappealing to birds as possible. Installing physical barriers, such as screens or netting, can prevent pigeons from roosting, but it’s not always practical in certain locations. There are other options that deter pigeons from nesting, such as spikes, audio, or taste deterrents and bird wire. In some cases, it’s enough to install reflective surfaces or metal surfaces that reflect sunlight. These deterrents affect a pigeon’s ability to see and keep them away from your garden or home. Keep in mind that you may want to deter pigeons from roosting in your garden without repelling beneficial wildlife, such as hummingbirds or bees. Professional wildlife removal services can help you get rid of pests without harming other wildlife. Don’t try to deal with a pigeon nest on your own. Professional wildlife control services in North York are available to keep your family safe and to prevent re-infestation. Contact Skedaddle for safe, effective, and humane wildlife removal.

Source

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

ls/bird guard

The post Keeping Pigeons Away from Your Home appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

New Study Finds Unexpected Connection Between Pigeon Feather Patterns And Human Blindness

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:10:30 +0000

Through genomic sequencing, researchers at the University of Utah have discovered a single gene responsible for pigeon wing patterns and human blindness.

Genetic differences cause an infinite number of differences between species and within species, for example, the variation in human hair color.

Another example is that all of the pigeons that you see have one of only four different feather patterns. These feather patterns are due to genetic differences.

“Pigeon breeders and early pigeon biologists and geneticists found that these four different patterns seemed to be determined by a single genetic locus or a single spot on the genome,” said Anna Vickrey, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Utah and the lead investigator of this new research.

Vickery and her collaborators found that the one gene causes the four different feather patterns in pigeons.

“What we were excited to find is that there’s two kinds of variation… that was really exciting for us to find these two different mechanisms acting on a single gene that is making this suite of wing patterns,” Vickrey said.

In investigating the genetics behind pigeon feather patterns, Vickery and her collaborators made an unexpected discovery about blindness in humans.

“The gene that we ended up finding associated with the wing patterns is pretty well studied in humans in the context of a hereditary disease that causes blindness,” Vickrey.

Future research will explore this pigeon-human genetic connection.

“So in humans… what happens is their vasculature in their eyes doesn’t develop correctly and so we’re working with some collaborators to look at vasculature in pigeons’ eyes to see if it’s developing normally or if it might be similarly affected,” said Vickrey.

Source

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post New Study Finds Unexpected Connection Between Pigeon Feather Patterns And Human Blindness appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

A backyard pigeon ban that goes to the heart of good government

Pigeon Patrol — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:01:01 +0000

The politicians are seated in a semi-circle at a meeting of the council. One by one, they raise their voices as part of the deliberation. “I believe it is time we took a position on this,” says a black-blazered woman. “It’s not an industry that I want to support,” a second woman, wearing dark-rimmed glasses, reads into the ofﬁcial record.

“It’s time,” concludes the mayor, donning the heavy chain that is the insignia of his ofﬁce, “to end the practice in our community.”

It is a fall meeting of the District of North Vancouver’s city council and they are discussing whether people should be allowed to keep pigeons. Councillors Lisa Muri, in the blazer, and Megan Curren, with the glasses, ultimately vote with the mayor in favour of an outright pigeon ban.

Coun. Matthew Bond, one of those who votes against, says skeptically, “I don’t necessarily see this as a good use of our time.” But the bylaw passes, four to two.

Something smells, though. Only one property in the community is known to harbour pet pigeons. Only one complaint about pigeons, dating back several years, is known to be active. Only one city councillor has recused herself from the discussion. “I have been in a situation like this,” Coun. Betty Forbes says, at the same meeting. “So I’m stepping aside.”

One plus one plus one equals . . . a conflict of interest?

Documents obtained by the CBC under access-to-information seem to bolster that view of events. The “situation” was that Forbes lived next-door to pigeons. That she did not like pigeons. And that after complaining to the city as a private citizen to no avail, she took matters into her own hands; after being elected to council in 2018, in an email to two fellow councillors, she requested a bylaw banning residents from keeping the birds.

Emails viewed by Maclean’s suggest that during the spring, Muri initiated a process to change the district’s pigeon ownership rules, and kept Forbes up to date on its progress. But the whole project has since run into trouble because it turns out Kulwant Dulay, Forbes’ neighbour, cares deeply about his pigeons. He cares enough to go to court.

His petition to B.C. Supreme Court, dated Dec. 4, seeks to have the bylaw declared illegal and set aside. It relies heavily on the CBC’s reporting, referencing emails between Forbes and Muri earlier this year that appear to reveal a plot to hatch the bylaw.

Dulay is arguing that Forbes’s involvement was “biased and bad faith and acting in a conflict of interest,” says Camille Chisholm, a lawyer representing the pigeon enthusiast. The district has retained its own lawyers and was expected to respond in January.

The same week as Dulay’s petition was ﬁled, the District of North Vancouver announced it was tasking former B.C. privacy commissioner David Loukidelis with investigating how the pigeon ban came to be. His review, the district announced, will assess the “awareness” of conflict-of-interest rules by councillors. The process is expected to take a couple of months.

Dulay, Chisholm adds, has kept homing pigeons as pets for years—including during his time in India before he immigrated to Canada. “My neighbours in the front and back, everybody loves my pigeons,” says Dulay, adding that other than Forbes’s, he hasn’t had a complaint in 17 years. “Everybody comes to my house and looks at them. It looks cool, them flying around.” Some have names. One is called “Big Boss.” His favourite pigeon is blue and white. He said it always comes to his hand.

Dulay keeps his 15 birds in a coop that’s about as tall as the backyard fence and roomy enough for him to enter and move around. During the warmer months, he lets them out to fly around the neighbourhood, including over other people’s yards. He said they always return.

Lately, he has wondered whether Forbes has a problem with him, not his pigeons. He said she “never talks” to him, and notes that he has never complained about her two barking dogs, though he believes he might have reason to.

His across-the-street neighbour, meanwhile, has spoken in his support. “I’ve had opportunity to go over and see the coop,” Krista Page told council on Nov. 18. ”It is clean. There’s no foul smell. I’ve never met neighbours that keep a tidier driveway and home and everything.” Page noted there have been no complaints from the Dulays’ other next-door neighbour, adding: “I just feel that this is very much a misuse of power.”

Forbes declined an interview request from Maclean’s but insisted in an email that there is “another set of correct facts” to the story. “However, because the mayor has requested an inquiry of all council and himself,” the email added, “I am unable to make any comments at this time.”

Her only public response came at the end of the same meeting Krista Page attended. “If I have erred in any way,” she said, “I assure council and the community that it was done inadvertently and in good faith with my understanding, as a new councillor, of the conflict-of-interest rules.”

Muri echoed Forbes in an email to Maclean’s, saying: “We are currently reviewing the process of this bylaw, so it would be inappropriate for me to comment.” But a response to the petition later filed in court by her lawyers denies the councillor was aware of any interest Forbes could’ve had in a pigeon ban beyond one “in common with electors of the municipality generally.”

The submission argues that neither councillor stood to gain financially from the bylaw and doubles down on the councillors’ position that the ban is legitimate and serves to protect residents from current and future pigeon keepers who might “adversely impact them or their property.”

To some, this is more than a dispute between neighbours. Givo Hassko, who is on the board of the Vancouver Poultry & Fancy Pigeon Association, told council in November he believed this was a test case for corruption in Canadian politics writ large. “If there are no consequences to how council goes to change bylaws here locally or Canada-wide,” he said, “then anyone—anyone—would get a green light.”

Hassko set up a GoFundMe to help with Dulay’s legal fees. At the time of writing, it had raised $700. A single commenter named Wayne, who pitched in $55, offered this input: “It is important that pigeons are not homeless.”

Source

Pigeon Patrol

Canada’s top wholesaler for bird deterrent products for twelve consecutive years.

The post A backyard pigeon ban that goes to the heart of good government appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.