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

Killing these creatures is not the best solution

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:51:02 +0000

I URGE Wycombe District Council to move away from their barbaric, ineffective and costly proposal to kill pigeons, and to instead consider the humane and intelligent alternatives to reduce the pigeon population humanely.

Lethal culling through the use of birds of prey, etc, will produce some temporary reduction in pigeon population numbers but, just as with the culling of stray dogs in urban environments overseas, the area vacated by the culled pigeons will be taken up by other pigeons, unless the council is prepared to maintain the intensive use of a hawk in perpetuity, all making their proposal an expensive and inhumane solution.

Scientific research carried out in Switzerland by the University of Basel, between 1988 and 1992, clearly demonstrates that killing pigeons as a control option is not only expensive but also counter-productive.

During a census in 1963, the City of Basel was found to have a pigeon population of 20,000 birds and in the following 24 years the city council used every means at their disposal to reduce the population, including killing over 100,000 pigeons inhumanely. In 1988, a count revealed that Basel’s wild pigeon population was nearer 30,000 pigeons, an increase of 33% over and above the figure of 20,000 birds counted in the 1963 census.

This dramatic increment in flock size confirmed that the city council’s lethal control policy, operated between 1963 and 1985, had not only been totally ineffective, but had actually resulted in an increase in flock size of nearly one third. As a result, the city council realized that the problem had to be tackled at source

Between 1988 and 1990 the City of Basel introduced a massive information campaign to educate the public about pigeons and the relationship between feeding and resultant overpopulation.

Alongside the campaign, the council asked the University of Basel to carry out a scientific study to find a solution. This well-documented research concluded that killing pigeons had no effect on reducing flock size and in most cases resulted in an increase in pigeon numbers.

Based on the view that lethal control could not reduce population size the research team looked at non-conventional and quite diverse methods.

The idea of providing artificial breeding facilities where eggs could be removed and replaced with dummy eggs was put into practice. During the four-year research period, over 1,200 eggs each year were removed and replaced with dummy ones. Over a 50-month period this had the effect of reducing the pigeon population in these test areas by a staggering 50 per cent. In addition, large quantities of pigeon excrement were removed.

It is Germany that is now setting the example. The city of Augsburg voted to improve and expand its humane pigeon control programme by the creation of pigeon lofts in converted roof voids in buildings. In just one year, the council removed 1,200 eggs from seven pigeon lofts.

The use of dovecotes and designated feeding areas in public places combined with the use of lofts has also helped local authorities and sites in the UK to concentrate and control pigeon numbers in a humane but highly effective manner.

Nottingham City Hospital was awarded the RSPCA Best Practices Award (2003) for adopting a non-lethal strategy. The hospital’s pigeon population has decreased dramatically down to 65 birds and this is from a start figure of 1,200. WDC, please consider an intelligent and humane alternative. The scientific proof and evidence is well documented and should not be ignored. There are control regimes that are 100% non-lethal, sustainable, inexpensive and publicly acceptable. That aside, the people of High Wycombe will not react well to the potential scenario of a bird of prey tearing a pigeon apart and then eating it alive in the town centre in front of children, tourists and residents.

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.

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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.

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FOR THE BIRDS ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL BATTLES AN INVASION OF CROWS

Pigeon Patrol — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:15:23 +0000

Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t have choreographed it better.

Every sunset since mid-December, the sky above St. Luke’s Hospital in Fountain Hill turns black with the fluttering swarm of 5,000 to 10,000 crows that fly from feeding grounds around the Lehigh Valley to roost on a nearby wooded knoll.

During their noisy, cawing arrival and even noisier pre-dawn departure — and much of the time between — the large birds have been bombarding the hospital, homes, streets, cars, woods and, yes, residents themselves with the natural end-result of their daylong feedings.

The problem has gotten so noxious that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been summoned to harass the birds until they roost elsewhere.

Beginning at dusk today, the USDA and members of St. Luke’s security staff will roust the crows with loud explosives and whistling pyrotechnics, and chase them with amplified crow distress calls until theyflee.

“It’s not so much that they’re causing a lot of problems, it’s just that they’re a health hazard. With 5,000 birds, that’s a lot of bird droppings, and that can become a potential health hazard,” said hospital spokesman Steve Andrews.

The most significant health threat from crow droppings is a fungal respiratory disease called histoplasmosis, according to Thomas N. Tomsa Jr., district supervisor for USDA Wildlife Services.

“The spores can become airborne, and this respiratory fungal disease can develop,” Tomsa said.

Though there are no indications that the birds have brought the disease to the wooded area behind the hospital, St. Luke’s officials are taking no chances.

St. Luke’s Security Director John Hrubenak said the hospital installed an amplified distress-call sound system two weeks to chase the birds from the roof, which has ventilation ducts and a helicopter landing pad.

“We didn’t want them hanging around on our heliport. We just didn’t want to take any chances,” Hrubenak said. “Certainly there was concern about a flock flying into the path of a helicopter.”

So far, the distress calls have kept the birds about 300 feet from the roof, he said.

It’s not unusual to see so many crows in one place, according to Kevin J. McGowan, a crow expert at Cornell University. American crows are most noticeable when the short winter day comes to an end. Streams of them can be seen flying high overhead, with a sense of purpose.

Thousands or tens of thousands converge at a winter roost, congregating from as far away as 20 miles. In the ’70s, a flock in Fort Cobb, Okla., was recorded at 2 million.

They like urban areas because the artificial light helps protect them from the great horned owl, their natural enemy, and because urban areas are warmer than the countryside.

Crows that breed near the roost site mix with migrants from thousands of miles away.

Besides raising concerns at St. Luke’s, the birds have created problems for residents living near the wooded knoll and hospital employees using the lower parking lot off Ostrum Street.

The tree-lined path from the front door of Kim Gencarelli’s home at 500 Ostrum St. has turned into a nightly obstacle course.

“You’ll walk out of your house and get hit or nearly hit with their stuff,” Gencarelli said. “In order to keep clean from my door to my car, I need an umbrella.”

The daily bombardment has also taken its toll on cars. The matter had been compounded by voluntary water rationing, which limited car washing.

“On my way to the car wash, I had people staring, pointing and laughing. My car was covered. You really couldn’t see it was brown, it was white,” Gencarelli said.

On nearby Brighton Street, Robert Guerriere finds nightly challenges while walking his dog.

“I have to look up to see exactly where they are so I don’t get dropped on,” Guerriere said.

The birds’ nightly droppings are so prolific, Guerriere said, “It sounds like rain. It’s not fun. It stinks and smells.”

But not all have had their feathers ruffled.

Ed Sinkler, who lives a block from Gencarelli, said birds are supposed to be in the woods and wondered where they would go when they left.

“It’s sort of majestic watching 10,000 crows come in. They make a nice little chorus at 5:30 in the morning,” Sinkler said.

“I wish there was a way to lure them somewhere else. That would be a better solution than to scare them up and let them go. These are woods and … that’s where they’re supposed to be.”

Tomsa acknowledges the birds may make trouble at another location but prefers to address one problem at a time.

Before this year, the birds roosted in the wooded knoll and on the Hill-to-Hill Bridge. But their numbers were only a fraction of what they are this year.

In December, Tomsa said, his agency harassed a similar number of crows that had been dumping all over the Capitol complex in Harrisburg. It took about five nights of harassment to make them fly the coop. Similarly, Tomsa said he expects the birds will be flushed from their Fountain Hill roost by the weekend.

Even though the nightly two-hour bursts of sound should be enough to force the crows to take flight, the noise will be muffled in the hospital and homes and should present a fraction of the nuisance the birds cause, according to Tomsa.

In a letter to Hrubenak, Tomsa wrote that once the birds are gone, they probably won’t return this winter. But they may be back next year.

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.

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A Fixed Netting System as a Means of Excluding Birds From a Domestic Waste Landfill

Pigeon Patrol — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 03:50:16 +0000

Many bird species are attracted to landfills which take domestic or putrescible waste. These sites provide a reliable, rich source of food which can attract large concentrations of birds. The birds may cause conflicts with human interest with respect to noise, birds carrying litter off site, possible transmission of pathogens in bird droppings and the potential for birdstrikes. In the UK there is an 8 mile safeguarding radius around an airfield, within which any planning applications must pass scrutiny from regulatory bodies to show they will not attract birds into the area and increase the birdstrike risk. Peckfield Landfill site near Leeds, West Yorkshire was chosen for a trial of a netting system designed to exclude birds from domestic waste landfills. The site was assessed for bird numbers before the trial, during the netting trial and after the net had been removed. A ScanCord net was installed for 6 weeks, during which time all household waste was tipped inside the net. Gull numbers decreased on the site from a mean of 107

4 per hourly count to 29 per hourly count after two days. The gull numbers increased again after the net had been removed. Bird concentrations in the surroundings were also monitored to assess the effect of the net. Bird numbers in the immediate vicinity of the landfill site were higher than those further away. When the net was installed, the bird concentrations adjacent to the landfill site decreased. Corvids were not affected by the net as they fed on covered waste which was available outside the net throughout the trial. This shows that bird problems on a landfill site are complex, requiring a comprehensive policy of bird control. A supporting bird scaring system and clear operating policy for sites near to airports would be required.

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 A Fixed Netting System as a Means of Excluding Birds From a Domestic Waste Landfill appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Pigeon Repellents – Best Ways to Deter Pigeons

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:13:58 +0000

Pigeons are persistent birds—once they decide to roost, they can cause property damage, health hazards, and messy cleanup. The good news? You have lots of effective pigeon repellent options to choose from.

In this guide, we’ll cover the top pigeon repellents, when to use them, and how to combine products for the best results.

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/

Where to Apply Pigeon Repellents

Residential properties—balconies, rooftops, window sills
Commercial spaces—storefronts, parking garages, rooftops
Industrial & agricultural buildings—warehouses, silos, barns

How to Combine Pigeon Repellents

Bird spikes for landing prevention
Pigeon net for blocking access
Ultrasonic sound deterrents for wide-area repelling
Add visual deterrents (reflective tape, predator decoys) for extra impact

FAQs

What is the most effective pigeon repellent?

Bird spikes + netting + ultrasonic devices offer the most comprehensive protection.

Are pigeon repellents safe for other birds?

Yes—our products are designed to deter all pest birds humanely.

Choosing the right pigeon repellent depends on your property, level of infestation, and budget. Often, the best solution is a multi-layered approach using spikes, netting, and sound deterrents.

Shop the best pigeon repellents today at: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca

Call Toll Free 1 (877) 466-2473

The post Pigeon Repellents – Best Ways to Deter Pigeons appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Pigeon Net – How to Block Birds Humanely

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:57:43 +0000

If you want to stop pigeons from nesting entirely, a pigeon net is one of the most reliable and long-lasting solutions. Bird netting physically blocks birds from accessing protected spaces—without harming them.

In this guide, you’ll learn when to use pigeon netting, how it works, and which areas of your property will benefit most from this type of bird control.

What Is Pigeon Netting?

Pigeon netting is UV-stabilized mesh designed to keep birds out of specific areas: balconies, rooftops, parking garages, and commercial spaces.

Shop Bird Netting: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-netting/

Benefits of Pigeon Netting

100% humane—prevents nesting without harming birds
Durable—withstands rain, snow, wind, UV rays
Discreet appearance—nearly invisible from a distance
Protects large or oddly shaped areas
Low-maintenance & long-lasting

Where to Install Pigeon Netting

Balconies & patios
Roof overhangs & HVAC units
Parking garages & warehouses
Solar panels
Under building signage

How to Install Pigeon Netting

Inspect the area & measure dimensions
Install anchor points (eye bolts or brackets)
Stretch net taut across opening
Seal edges with zip ties or clips
Check for gaps to ensure birds can’t sneak in

FAQs

Is pigeon netting permanent?

Yes—when installed correctly, netting can last 5–10+ years.

Can pigeons break through netting?

No—Pigeon Patrol’s netting is heavy-duty and pigeon-proof.

A pigeon net is one of the most effective bird control products for keeping spaces 100% bird-free. For large commercial properties or high-infestation zones, netting is a must.

Explore pigeon netting solutions at: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-netting/

Call Toll Free 1 (877) 466-2473

The post Pigeon Net – How to Block Birds Humanely appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

Bird Repeller Ultrasonic & Other Effective Methods

Pigeon Patrol — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:57:35 +0000

Birds like pigeons can become a nuisance when they roost on buildings, damage property, and leave droppings everywhere. Traditional methods like netting and spikes work well, but if you’re looking for a modern, non-intrusive solution, an ultrasonic bird repeller might be the best option.

Ultrasonic bird repellers use high-frequency sound waves that humans can’t hear but are irritating to birds, making them seek another place to land. But is an ultrasonic bird repeller enough on its own? In this guide, we’ll explore ultrasonic deterrents and other effective bird control methods.

How Does an Ultrasonic Bird Repeller Work?

Ultrasonic bird repellers emit high-frequency sounds that disrupt birds’ ability to communicate and navigate. These devices:

Are completely silent to humans
Cover a wide area
Work on multiple bird species
Are low-maintenance and energy-efficient

Check Out Ultrasonic Bird Repellers: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-repeller/

Other Effective Bird Repellent Methods

Motion-Activated Bird Repellers

Motion-activated devices use light, sound, or water jets to scare away pigeons and birds. These are great for gardens, rooftops, and open spaces.

Bird Spikes for Landing Prevention

Bird spikes prevent birds from perching and nesting. Install them on ledges, rooftops, and fences for long-term protection.

Explore Bird Spikes: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-spikes/

Bird Netting for Large Areas

For warehouses, balconies, and parking lots, bird netting blocks access to roosting areas.
Get High-Quality Bird Netting: https://www.pigeonpatrol.ca/bird-netting/

FAQs

Are ultrasonic bird repellers safe?

Yes! They do not harm birds, pets, or humans—only drive birds away.

Do ultrasonic repellers work in all weather?

Most devices are weatherproof but work best in dry conditions.

An ultrasonic bird repeller is a powerful, humane way to deter birds, but for maximum effectiveness, combine it with bird spikes, netting, or motion-activated deterrents.

Get the best bird control solutions at Pigeon Patrol today!

Call Toll Free 1 (877) 466-2473

The post Bird Repeller Ultrasonic & Other Effective Methods appeared first on Pigeon Patrol Canada - Bird Control Products & Services.

How to Get Rid of Pigeons – Effective and Humane Solutions

Pigeon Patrol — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:49:49 +0000

Pigeons may seem harmless at first, but once they take over a property, they can create serious problems. They leave behind acidic droppings, clog drainage systems, spread diseases, and make a lot of noise. If you’re dealing with a pigeon infestation, you’re probably wondering: how do I get rid of pigeons for good?

The good news is that there are humane and effective methods to control pigeons. In this guide, we’ll cover why pigeons are a problem, the best pigeon control solutions, and how to prevent them from returning.

Why Pigeons Are a Problem

1. Pigeon Droppings Cause Property Damage

Pigeon droppings are acidic and can erode stone, concrete, and metal surfaces. Over time, this can cause damage to rooftops, balconies, cars, and historical buildings.

2. Pigeons Spread Diseases

Pigeons carry bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can lead to serious health risks. Some diseases associated with pigeons include:

Histoplasmosis – A fungal infection that affects the lungs.
Salmonella – Bacteria that cause food poisoning.
E. coli – A serious bacterial infection.

3. They Block Drainage and Ventilation Systems

Pigeons often nest in gutters, vents, and chimneys, causing blockages that can lead to water damage and poor air circulation.

4. Pigeon Infestations Hurt Business Image

If pigeons are constantly roosting on your storefront or business sign, it can create a dirty and unprofessional look that turns away customers.

Best Ways to Get Rid of Pigeons

Install Bird Spikes to Prevent Perching

Bird spikes are one of the best pigeon deterrents. They are designed to make it impossible for pigeons to land on ledges, fences, and rooftops.

Check out our bird spikes

Use Bird Netting to Keep Pigeons Away from Large Areas

If you need to prevent pigeons from accessing balconies, rooftops, or warehouses, bird netting is a great solution. It creates a physical barrier without harming the birds.

See our bird netting solutions

Install Pigeon Repellers (Ultrasonic & Motion Activated)

Ultrasonic pigeon repellers emit high-frequency sounds that humans can’t hear but pigeons find annoying. Motion-activated repellers use light and sound to scare birds away.

Explore pigeon repellers

Pigeon Trapping for Severe Infestations

For larger infestations, humane pigeon traps may be necessary.

Browse pigeon trapping cages

Simple Solutions

Block Entry Points with Pigeon-Proof Barriers
Pigeons like to nest in vents, chimneys, and eaves. Use wire mesh or netting to block these spaces and prevent pigeons from returning.
Clean Up Food Sources & Water Availability
Pigeons are drawn to food scraps and water sources. Seal trash bins, clean up outdoor eating areas, and remove standing water to make your property less attractive to pigeons.

FAQs

Are bird spikes harmful to pigeons?

No, bird spikes do not harm pigeons. They simply prevent them from landing on surfaces.

How long does it take for pigeon deterrents to work?

Most deterrents work immediately after installation. However, pigeons may take a few days to realize the area is no longer suitable for roosting.

Do pigeon repellers work on other birds?

Yes, ultrasonic and motion-activated repellers can deter other pest birds such as crows and seagulls.

Will pigeons eventually stop coming back?

Yes, if you remove food sources, block access points, and use deterrents consistently, pigeons will find another place to roost.

Where can I buy high-quality pigeon deterrents?

You can get bird spikes, netting, and repellers at Pigeon Patrol, a trusted name in pigeon control solutions.

Pigeons can be a major nuisance, but with the right pigeon control solutions, you can protect your home or business. Whether you choose bird spikes, netting, repellers, or a combination of these, taking proactive steps will keep pigeons away for good.

For expert pigeon control products, check out our Pigeon Patrol products and browse our range of humane pigeon deterrents.

Call Toll Free 1 (877) 466-2473

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Dead pigeons found in hospital years before action taken, inquiry told

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:37:52 +0000

Dead pigeons were being found in a hospital at the centre of infection concerns years before action was taken to address the issue, an inquiry has heard.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was told that as early as 2016, pest controllers were being called to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow to remove dead pigeons from plant rooms, where air handling units linked to the ventilation system were located.

The inquiry was shown part of a survey by cleaning firm GP Environmental from March 2017, which stated “ledges, beams, walls, floors and walkways of the plant rooms” had “a heavy build-up” of pigeon droppings.

Another GP Environmental report from 2018, relating to sanitisation work in a plant room, said: “All pipe lagging will need replaced due to damage from pigeon fouling.”

Karen Connelly, who became general manager of estates and facilities at the hospital in 2018, having previously worked there as part of a project team until 2015, told the inquiry she had not been aware of these reports, but that the pigeon problem at the hospital was “well known”.

The former facilities manager, whose team was responsible for pest control, said it was not until January 2019 that she became aware pigeons were getting into plant rooms.

She said shortly before this, she became aware of a potential link between pigeon droppings and Cryptococcosis, which had been identified by the hospital’s Internal Medicine Training team.

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection that can spread to humans from pigeon droppings.

Up until this point, she said, she thought pigeons posed a health and safety risk of “slipping, and also from an aesthetic point of view it looks dreadful as well”.

The sheer level of pigeon numbers are now posing a significant health and safety issue in many locations of the site

The inquiry is currently investigating the construction of the QEUH campus in Glasgow, which includes the Royal Hospital for Children.

It was launched in the wake of deaths linked to infections, including that of 10-year-old Milly Main.

GP Environmental was instructed to carry out a survey of the problem, and on January 8 2019 it reported a “significant feral pigeon infestation across the site at the QEUH, Glasgow”.

The report added: “The sheer level of pigeon numbers are now posing a significant health and safety issue in many locations of the site.”

Ms Connelly said she then visited the plant rooms, saying in her statement to the inquiry: “We found evidence of pigeon infestation and pigeon guano. This was my first visit to the plant room since the concerns were raised.”

She said she instructed GP Environmental to put together “a programme of work to clean every plant room within the hospital site, and to install proofing or block up any gaps in the buildings that pigeons may be able to access”.

She agreed with counsel to the inquiry Craig Connal KC that the reference in the report to health and safety issues was a “surprise”, adding she had not seen that in other reports from GP Environmental but she did not question it.

She explained: “I just assumed that because of aesthetically, how bad it looked, about possible slips and trips and falls, but also the fact that there had been that connection to the recent outbreaks in the wards”.

Possibly in hindsight we could have had regular inspections of the plant rooms and other inaccessible areas carried out by pest control companies, which may have prevented the problem arising to such a levelKaren Connelly

She said after starting clean-up work, GP Environmental was “on site daily for a period of weeks, if not months”, and she was shown photographs of pigeon guano in a variety of locations around the site.

In her statement to the inquiry, Ms Connelly conceded: “Possibly in hindsight we could have had regular inspections of the plant rooms and other inaccessible areas carried out by pest control companies, which may have prevented the problem arising to such a level.”

Portrait of a racing or homing pigeon looking into the camera.

The inquiry also heard that while all pest control issues were handled by the central facilities team and recorded on a single system, they did not analyse reports of infestations to identify trouble spots.

Ms Connelly told the inquiry: “Whether we had any analysis done in terms of what the make-up of all the calls were, I don’t remember us doing that.”

In the afternoon session on Friday, the inquiry heard from Pamela Joannidis, a consultant nurse at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who said she noted concerns about dust collecting on top of chilled beams which ran through the hospital.

When asked how dusty they were, she replied: “They were a level above what you would expect.”

Ms Joannidis also told the inquiry condensation forming on the chilled beams would occasionally drip on to the wards below.

She said: “I don’t remember it being overly much, there was just drips and you didn’t know when the drips would happen. It could drip on to beds.”

The inquiry, taking place before Lord Brodie in Edinburgh, continues.

Pigeon Patrol

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

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TransLink and BC SPCA tackling the pigeon problem

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:36:25 +0000

VANCOUVER, BC — TransLink and the BC SPCA are teaming up to humanely reduce the pigeon population at VCC-Clark SkyTrain Station. An automatic bird feeder is dispensing birth control for a pilot project to control the pigeon population. OvoControl is a non-toxic, effective and humane contraception used in other cities to prevent pigeon reproduction and reduce populations naturally through attrition.

Pigeons cause problems at several SkyTrain stations despite TransLink’s best efforts to control them. TransLink has:

Installed netting at stations to stop birds from getting into empty spaces
Set up spikes and strips to deter pigeons from roosting on flat surfaces
Hired a falconer to patrol stations with the most pigeons as part of another pilot project

Studies have shown a 50-90% population reduction in OvoControl managed pigeon populations. Pigeons that eat the bait pellets on a regular basis will not be able to fertilize eggs.

Dr. Sara Dubois, Chief Scientific Officer with the BC SPCA explains pigeons can breed rapidly but their urban lifespans are short. With fewer new pigeons born, the pigeon population around SkyTrain stations will reduce naturally and cause fewer operational issues, “OvoControl has been approved for use by Health Canada and only has contraceptive effects in birds. Pigeons must eat their daily dose (5g/bird) for the contraceptive to work, and it is designed to be fed in a manner to maximize pigeon feeding behaviour. We are happy TransLink is ready to partner with us and research what could be a very effective and humane long-term solution.”

Pigeon droppings are messy, but the birds also put customer safety at risk. Pigeons trigger track intrusion alarms, causing our driver-less trains to brake automatically. These hard stops can lead to customer falls and service delays.

TransLink customers and the public can help by not feeding the birds. Outside foods sources encourage birds to roost inside stations and can draw pigeons away from the contraceptive pellets. It is vital for the success of the project that people stop feeding pigeons in this area.

The OvoControl pilot may be expanded to other stations if successful at VCC-Clark.

The innovative partnership between TransLink and the BC SPCA has been supported by other local animal groups:

Linda Bakker, Co-Executive Director, Wildlife Rescue Association –

“The Wildlife Rescue Association of BC supports this new initiative to humanely reduce the pigeon population. Wildlife Rescue strives to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the urban environment and rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife. This project aims to humanely reduce the number of pigeons at areas that have a lot of potential casualties and injuries in pigeons. This project will reduce the number of injured, deceased and orphaned pigeons in these areas. Wildlife Rescue supports the BC SPCA in promoting humane wildlife management practices.”

Two pigeons sitting together on piece of wood.

Michael Austin, Executive Director of the Vancouver Humane Society –

“While we continue to grow our wonderful city, it is important to consider the impact such developments have on urban wildlife; Vancouver Humane is pleased to support this initiative by TransLink and the BC SPCA to humanely control the pigeon population in order to reduce unnecessary suffering. We hope that other businesses can learn from this work and that more considerations are made for the non-human animals that live in our communities.”

TransLink is Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority and is the first North American transportation authority to be responsible for the planning, financing and managing of all public transit in addition to major regional roads and bridges.

Pigeon Patrol

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

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Reading woman disgusted at dead pigeons and poo on footpath

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:35:41 +0000

A woman has expressed her disgust at the amount of ‘dead pigeons, droppings and shed feathers’ scattered across a railway bridge not far from Reading Station.

The railway line goes directly over Caversham Road taking trains to and from Reading along the Great Western Railway, with two lanes, traffic going in two directions and walkways on either side.

The bridge has become a popular roost for pigeons. This had led the regular user of this walkway to complain that it is ‘constantly covered in pigeon poo and corpses’.

Photos show a deceased bird on the concrete, the walkways covered in a mix of feathers and bird mess, and pigeons roosting despite netting being placed under the bridge in an attempt to ward them off. The woman, who lives nearby, said: “I’ve lived in Swansea Road for six and a bit years, and it’s got worse for three to four years.

“The netting under the bridge is torn and fallen down.

“The bridge should be chicken-wired. “There’s pigeon faeces running down the walls, and dead and dying birds on the pavement and the road.

“There’s often baby birds sitting on the pavement dying, it’s just really disgusting.

“When it rains the water mixes with the droppings, so you have liquid faeces dropping on people under the bridge. You have to use an umbrella.

“There are some pigeon spikes there but they’re not effective. “It’s just really grim.”

Mature gay couple feeding pigeons during a travel in Colombia

A dead pigeon seen at the Caversham Road railway underpass. She added she has reported the situation to the council’s Love Clean Reading app. However, she said just cleaning the footpath is not a solution. The woman continued: “Because it’s not blocked off, the pigeons can make nesting sites there.

“Although it’s an ideal habitat for them, this is not a healthy place for them to live, and it’s not healthy for us either. “I helped a woman who fell and tore her hand recently, I just hope she doesn’t get a nasty infection, because it’s filthy down there.” She then called for the bridge to be more thoroughly secured to dissuade the pigeons from nesting there.

The nets have not prevented pigeons roosting under the bridge over Caversham Road in Reading. When asked what could be done to rectify the issue, councillor Tony Page (Labour, Abbey) lead for transport, said: “The bridge structure and the pigeon netting above falls under the responsibility of Network Rail.

“The council’s street cleansing team regularly clean the footway below. “We understand that Network Rail has funding for an alternate solution to the netting and a scheme is currently being designed with a view to deliver this financial year. “We will support by providing the traffic management and lane closures to facilitate their works.

“The new solution should resolve issue on the footpath on both sides.” The concrete is caked in pigeon droppings and feathers as people walk through the Caversham Road Underpass. Credit: UGC

A spokesperson for Network Rail confirmed that netting under the bridge will be replaced. The spokesperson said: “We take our impact on the environment and our local communities seriously.

“We regularly inspect the condition of our infrastructure including deterrent measures such as the pigeon netting underneath Caversham Road bridge.

“We have agreed with Reading Borough Council that we will replace the existing netting with a new, more effective system and are working with our contractors to design this new system and agree a programme timeline for its installation.”

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

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IN PRAISE OF PIGEONS

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:34:54 +0000

Fresh debate has been sparked over a controversial Oxford statue after onlookers noted it had been pelted with “pigeon droppings”.

The Cecil Rhodes statue on the grounds of Oriel College at University of Oxford was covered in protective black netting after protesters in 2020 demanded it be taken down.

Before then, it had been a free for all zone for pigeons in Oxford.

“Earlier in my life I lived in Zambia, which used to be known as Northern Rhodesia, after Rhodes.

“As soon as they won their independence they changed the name of the country, because Rhodes prevented Africans from voting and stole their valuable resources.

“I agree with those who say that statues of people like him belong in a museum, not on a pedestal. People need to be able to read about the good and the bad things he did when he was alive.”

The statue of Rhodes, a 19th century imperialist linked to the slave trade, has been shrouded in controversy for years.

It gained renewed attention in June 2020 after a statue of the 17th century slave trader Edward Colston, was thrown in a dock in Bristol by Black Lives Matter protesters.

The Cecil Rhodes statue was set to be removed by summer 2021 and placed in a museum after governors of Oriel College voted to take it down – reversing a decision they made in 2016.

The Cecil Rhodes statue in High Street.

This was eventually prevented by “regulatory and financial challenges” but an explanatory plaque “contextualising” the statue was placed next to gating at the building.

Green city councillor Emily Kerr said: “I’ve long been disappointed that Oriel College hasn’t been able to come to a suitable compromise on the statue of Rhodes.

“It seems that it should be possible to have a pragmatic compromise, such as turning the statue around to face the wall and clearly highlighting the colonial history should be possible. I hope this is a step towards some action being taken.”

Thousands of people signed a petition against removal of the statue when it was due to be taken down in 2021.

Greg Everest, who started the petition, said at the time: “Cecil Rhodes is an historical figure with world wide significance. We must keep our history, British history, in order to learn from it regardless of political feelings and persuasions.

“If we continue down the road of removing statues of people who we feel no longer fit today’s morality we will have to remove 90 per cent of British monuments along with our kings and queens.”

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

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IN PRAISE OF PIGEONS

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:33:54 +0000

More than 20 years ago, after a boozy bachelor party, three of us were walking across the small park at the intersection of State and Rush Streets. This, like many other parks large and small, is a place where pigeons congregate. Without a word of warning or “Hey, watch this,” the bachelor took a couple of quick steps and kicked an unsuspecting pigeon into the air. I saw the pigeon land with a thud 20 feet away but before I could say to the bachelor, “Why’d you kill that pigeon?” I watched in amazement as the pigeon shook its little head, got up on its skinny legs and went about its business. And I thought, “What a tough little bird.”

I didn’t give pigeons more thought until a few weeks ago when artist Tony Fitzpatrick–whose previous subjects in the Magazine have included fighting dogs, boxers, snakes and flowers–showed me his pigeon pictures. Here they are on this page and in my head’s a question: What do pigeons deserve? To be pitied, praised or punted?

There is no doubt that pigeons are the most urban of birds, the avian equivalent of squirrels or traffic jams; facts of city living to be either tolerated or complained about.

But listening to Megan Ross, curator of birds at Lincoln Park Zoo, talk about pigeons is to gain a new appreciation of them. “The species does get a bad rap,” she says. “But it is a fascinating species, if one takes the time to look.”

She points out that there are some 300 species of pigeons and doves. “What we commonly refer to in Chicago as a pigeon is actually a rock dove,” she says. Look closely and you will see that a pigeon is not just a dull gray mass, but a bird of 10,000 feathers, some of them bronze, pink, white and green. (Seriously, just take a look.) Watch them fly and you will also see what Ross describes as “fun flight patterns.” And, she adds, “They also have a nice courtship display.”

As well they should, since pigeons, it may surprise you to know, mate for life. Not only that, but male pigeons have the ability to lactate, producing milk for the babies just as females do.

Admittedly, when pigeons gather in groups, as they mostly seem to, they can exude the quiet menace of a gang. One almost expects to see some of them smoking cigarettes or spitting on the sidewalk.

“Rock doves are very docile birds,” says Ross. “They gather in groups not to intimidate people but as a protection against predators, such as falcons or raccoons. There is a certain safety in numbers.”

But their most common and persistent enemy is us. Besides various eradication efforts designed to limit their numbers, pigeons face determined campaigns by businesses to chase them away. Some even install fake owls on building ledges or set up loudspeakers that periodically emit terrible screeching, hawklike sounds in outdoor parking lots in an attempt to keep the CEO’s Jaguar clean.

“Many people are turned off by the fact that the birds poop,” says Ross.

This was not always the case. That people are turned off, I mean. In the 18th Century, King George I of England decreed all pigeon droppings to be property of the Crown. He even put guards at sites where the birds perched to enforce his edict. He was no birdbrain. There was a practical reason for his order: Pigeon manure was used in making gunpowder.

But if the birds have thus unknowingly contributed to the taking of lives, they have also done their bit to save them. With the ability to beat their wings up to 10 times a second, maintain a heart rate of 600 beats per minute for up to 16 hours without rest and fly as fast as 60 m.p.h., pigeons are the extreme athletes of the air.

In World War I, a homing pigeon named “Cher Ami” finished his distinguished career by delivering, while wounded, a vital message: the location of the famous “Lost Battalion,” thereby saving some 200 human lives. In WWII, a homing pigeon named “GI Joe” saved more than 1,000 allied soldiers’ lives in a single mission.

Who knows if Chicago pigeons would be up to such valorous deeds? But they are tough characters.

They do not migrate, as do more sensible species, and take the full brunt of Chicago winters. Unlike the rest of us, they do not whine about the wind chill. They seem capable of eating almost anything, from popcorn in the parks to abandoned pizza slices, old hamburger buns to cotton candy. “They have, shall we say, a hearty digestive system,” says Ross.

They don’t seem to be at all insecure about their looks, though people vastly prefer spunky sparrows.

They appear to be fearless, not only when confronted by the attacks from businesses but from individuals. Many little kids like to chase them. Older kids try to hit them with rocks or kick them. Some adults hunt and kill them for food. Though we were unable to catch any of these folks in the act of hunting, cooking or eating, the Internet is filled with recipes for pigeon.

All this, and pigeons can still live to be more than 30 years old.

It’s so easy to take everyday things for granted. When was the last time you watched a river or stream flow, looked up at a building’s decorative elements, scooped up a handful of sand or dirt or asked the name of your local Streetwise vendor?

So, why not give pigeons another look? Start with the ones fashioned by Fitzpatrick and then move on to the real things, to the resilient birds with which you share the sidewalks and park benches.

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

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Pigeon feed seller takes flight

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:33:13 +0000

The last pigeon feed seller in London’s Trafalgar Square has agreed to stop trading in return for a cash payment.

Pigeon standing on the house

Bernard Rayner reached an out-of-court agreement after a legal battle with London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who wants to clean up the mess caused by the birds.

Mr Rayner, 47, had taken his fight against eviction from his pitch to the High Court, pressing for a judicial review of the decision.

But in a surprise move on Wednesday morning, the judge who was due to hear the case, Mr Justice Hooper, was told Mr Rayner was now prepared to cease trading with immediate effect.

Outside court Mr Rayner denied that he had sold out, saying he was “happy” about the settlement.

The amount has not been disclosed, but Mr Rayner said: “I have got the best possible deal.”

The London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, said later in a statement: “I am delighted we have managed to reach agreement so quickly.

“The out-of-court settlement now means I can continue with my plans to transform Trafalgar Square into a cultural space for Londoners and visitors to enjoy.”

Solicitors for The Greater London Authority (GLA) said an agreed sum would be paid to Mr Rayner “to recognise the fact that he will be unable to trade in the square in the future”.Part of the sum representing Mr Rayner’s costs would be donated to an animal welfare organisation.

The GLA is to organise a programme for the phased withdrawal of feeding the pigeons until 30 April. After the settlement was announced, Mr Rayner described the withdrawal scheme as “the best possible plan”. The GLA stripped Mr Rayner of his licence in the autumn, but then granted a temporary reprieve which ran out in mid-January.

Mr Rayner then won a court ruling allowing him to continue trading until Wednesday.

‘Health hazard’

Mr Livingstone recently described pigeons as “rats with wings”, and a health hazard.

The GLA plans to clean up the mess in Trafalgar Square caused by pigeon droppings, and pedestrianise the upper part of the square to make way for more cultural pursuits for visitors.

Pigeon campaigners expressed their dismay over Wednesday’s settlement, accusing Mr Livingstone of “bully boy tactics”.

Andrew Butler, the UK representative of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Europe (PETA), said: “Basically this spells disaster for London’s pigeon population.

“There is a strong likelihood that 25% of the 6,000 Trafalgar Square flock will starve to death.”

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

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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.

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What happened to the one-legged pigeon?

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:31:54 +0000

Ah, the one-legged pigeon of Ryerson — a famous figure on campus. Students and regular citizens alike fondly regale each other with stories of the deformed bird.

It’s been brought to my attention that the pigeon has gone missing. Is she dead? Was she eaten? Did she just pick up and leave, sick of all the attention she was getting at Ryerson?

Fret no more, my friends. I know the truth. Our one-legged pigeon is less of a circus freak and more of a noble revolutionary than any of us expected.

Pigeons and their chicks sitting on perches in farm countryside

The year was 2004. Facebook had just launched and everyone had flip phones. Outside the realm of human interest, however, a revolution was brewing.

The Pigeons’ Movement was one that had a substantial following, as all pigeons agreed that their resemblance to seagulls was systematically ruining their lives. They were sick and tired of being mistaken for the evil birds, who had garnered a bad reputation among the humans. As a result, a group of passionate individuals decided to take action.

Our one-legged pigeon was in the midst of a sit-in on the Kerr Hall Quad and was a leading figure of the Pigeons’ Movement. She was giving a speech (telepathically, of course) when an idea flashed across her mind. Why not make it clear that we are a force to be reckoned with?

As the birds communicated, it was decided that they would amputate a leg to demonstrate their seriousness. They wanted to be seen as unique, dammit. To them, this was the only solution. I won’t go into the grisly details of how exactly it was done, but I will say that it included some plastic knives and a lot of effort.

The movement yielded minimal results and soon, all of the dismembered pigeons lost touch. Of course, most of them died immediately, as they were unable to fend for themselves. Actually, all but one was deceased. She is the mastermind behind the imprudent plan. She is (you guessed it) the one-legged pigeon of Ryerson.

For years, she wandered around the campus, hoping to run into one of her old friends from her old life. Was the movement still kicking? Did she cut off her leg for no reason?

While humans laughed and took pictures of her, she cried. All of this suffering, because she wanted to fight the good fight.

Now, the question of where she disappeared to. The infamous one-legged pigeon is not, in fact, dead. She was discovered by some young activists, who then brought her underground to speak to a gathering of pigeons who wanted to revive the movement. She is respected there, and she is hopeful.

Expect to hear about the second wave of the Pigeons’ Movement. Expect to see some more deformed feathery friends hopping about. Let it be known that it all started with the one-legged pigeon of Ryerson.

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

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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.

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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.

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Pigeon, mouse and loo roll among causes of London fires

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:49:47 +0000

Fires were caused by a mouse chewing wires, a toilet roll being microwaved and a pigeon with a cigarette

A pigeon dropping a discarded cigarette down a chimney was among the most unusual causes of London fires in 2013, the city’s fire brigade has revealed.

Researchers studied 2,000 incidents in the capital in a bid to highlight the importance of fire safety.

Another case saw a fire caused by a dog hitting a toaster’s controls as it leapt on a worktop to reach food

Close-up of a Pigeon at a Vancouver Island park.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) investigator Charlie Pugsley said he had seen some “weird and wonderful” things this year.

He added that even the strangest fire could have been prevented by taking simple fire safety precautions.

Other cases which highlighted the more unusual causes of fire included a teenage boy lighting a can of deodorant he had just used on himself ahead of his first date.

The LFB also attended fires started by someone putting a toilet roll which dropped down the loo into a microwave to dry it out and by a mouse eating through the wiring in the back of a fridge freezer.

Mr Pugsley said people should not use microwaves to dry out clothes or other items.

He added that candles should not be left unattended and mirrors and glass, which reflect the sun’s rays, needed to be kept away from flammable objects.

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Logo Shocked the internet

Pigeon Patrol — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:49:19 +0000

How to represent a city as old, sprawling, and populous as London? The London Museum shocked the internet when it debuted its new logo: a humble pigeon who, as the locals might say, has just gone to the loo. Looking a bit less dingy grey than usual, the gleaming white porcelain pigeon is accompanied by a glittering gold splatter of bird droppings.

According to a blog post, the newly rechristened London Museum (formerly the Museum of London) chose this quintessential urban bird as a symbol for the U.K. capital because it has remained “an impartial and humble observer of London life” for nearly 1,000 years.

The controversial logo has been designed by Uncommon Creative Studio, who enlisted the help of 33 Londoners from 32 boroughs, including a chef, a DJ, a children’s TV producer, a boxer, and a tattoo artist. They collaborated on the logo via workshops and focus groups, informed by the input of hundreds more Londoners whose opinions were solicited via survey.

“A good logo gets people talking,” said the museum’s director Sharon Ament. “The pigeon and splat speak to a historic place full of dualities, a place where the grit and the glitter have existed side by side for millennia.”

The pigeon has split opinion online, with some believing it to be a humorous homage to city life while others have found it “baffling,” in the words of Maxwell Blowfield, author of the popular “maxwell museums” newsletter. “No one ever thinks, feels or speaks about pigeons,” he said. “They’re one of the least unique things about London.”

Romantic day out with pigeons in the Amsterdam main square for a diverse tourist couple made up of an alternative brunette female and a curly transgender woman

“London is a remarkable place,” he added. “Yet the London Museum has has managed to avoid representing anything remarkable about it in this rebrand. Which is in itself remarkable.”

So what is the history of pigeons in London? The birds are descended from rock doves and were domesticated in the U.K. at around the time of the Norman Conquest, in 1066, as a food source as well as for long-distance communication. Some managed to escape, becoming the feral pigeons that roam free today.

A white clay Roman figurine of a pigeon from the 1st century C.E. is in the London Museum’s collection, speaking to this origin story.

In more recent centuries, some Londoners have taken kindly to pigeons. In the Victorian era, it became common for people to sell bags of bird seed to visitors to give to the pigeons. This was particularly commonplace in Trafalgar Square, as in one scene by Harold Dearden in the 1950s.

Another “little old bird woman” is described each morning on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral in “Feed the Birds” from the film Mary Poppins (1964). The practice was banned when, in 2000, the Greater London Authority stopped the square’s resident feed seller Bernie Rayner from supply grain to tourists. Pigeons are often viewed as unwelcome pests, and feeding them would encourage them return to the square as they are able to remember faces and places.

Will museum-goers find this unusual logo memorable, or is it for the birds?

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

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