by Pigeon Patrol | Oct 15, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
It is 9 a.m. on Feb. 1, a Sunday morning, and İzmir is still asleep, except for some people who want to enjoy the quietness of the city. I am on my way to the famous clock tower of İzmir and when I arrive at the square, the first thing that draws my attention is, of course, the clock tower. It is smaller than I expected, but it looks beautiful in the morning light. While looking at it, I suddenly hear the sounds of two women quarreling.
The square near the clock tower is a popular space in İzmir and, as so many other squares in the world – think about the Dam square in Amsterdam, San Marco in Venice or Trafalgar square in London – pigeons outnumber the number of visitors. Pigeons were eagerly waiting for people to come so they would get their daily dose of food. Around 8:30 and 9 a.m. people who sell pigeon food arrive and quickly prepare their little tables. There is a certain order at the square about who is allowed to sit where. The problem this morning was, a woman (let’s call her Ayşe) had taken another woman’s (Burcu’s) place. With loud arguments, Burcu tried to convince Ayşe of her wrongdoing. But whatever arguments Burcu used to convince the woman that it was her who had to go, Ayşe did not listen. “I was here first and this is going be my place for the day,” she tried reasoning with Burcu. It was Ayşe who won and Burcu, while still swearing at the woman, walked away to her new and unwanted post.
It was beautiful winter weather and the sun shone nice light on the tower. With just a couple of clouds in the background, this would allow me to take a beautiful picture. At 10 a.m. it began to get busier, but together with the increase of the number of visitors, the amount of clouds increased as well. Within one hour, the first drops came down and in no time it was raining cats and dogs. People tried to find a dry place at different locations, but when they realized that the rain would not stop soon quickly they also left the square.
I decided to go to the covered market in İzmir. On my way to it, there was this interesting, but at the same time ironic advertisement. So many people have lost connection with nature and there are some people who create new projects in which they use nature in a very clever way. By planting a small park and pond, they give people the feeling that they are living in nature. Seeing the advertisement, which promotes living in nature with that background and nothing more than some old, horrible buildings without any green struck me. Sometimes it is not what you see, but what you want to see and as a picture, I liked this scene very much.
Finally, being soaking wet, I arrived at the Kızlarağası Hanı. Although I never had seen the clock tower, I have visited this old Han many times. It is a rather small Han, not as big as the one in Şanlıurfa, but I love this covered market. A nice square inside where you can drink Boza or Salep (typical Turkish winter drinks. Boza is a cold, almost-custard thick, slightly fermented drink. Salep is a warm drink and is wonderful during cold weather) or tea, of course. Inside this Han they changed it into a shopping mall, but this is so nice, so cute. I love those kinds of shopping malls; they are client friendly, and not tiresome as 21st century shopping malls. In spite of all the technology they put into those shopping malls, it is impossible to spend more than one or two hours in those places. The worst one for me is Cevahir; after half an hour, I start to get nervous and one hour later it feels as if my head is exploding.
Then take those nice ancient covered markets. The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is very busy; the covered market of Şanlıurfa is crowded, especially on Fridays, but it does not matter for me how busy it is; it is always fun to walk around in those places.
The variety of shops combined with handcrafts makes an interesting combination. I will write about it in another story, but here in İzmir, in this Han, you will experience the same kind of feeling. There are a couple of silver shops, antique shops, touristic stuff shops etc. Every time when I visit this Han, I find something that attracts my attention. This time, I found this little music instrument shop and bought nice little pink (!) ukulele for my daughter. A bit further into the Han, I saw nice little shops that sell old Ottoman books, manuscripts and postcards. The woman working there knows how to read the Ottoman language and with a lot of passion, she explained about some of the books that I randomly picked from the shelves. One of the books was a children’s story translated from the original English. Of course, there were a couple of Qurans and even some schoolbooks.
If you are worried about food; don’t be, there are enough choices for everyone. It is not typical Michelin star food, but sitting there and enjoying the activities around you turn this place into an unforgettable experience.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Oct 13, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News
Visitors believe the speakers installed last December to broadcast bird noises have done little to move on the nuisance birds in the area.
Currently recordings are broadcast intermittently through speakers throughout the parklands.
It was hoped the noise would move the large white birds away from the high traffic areas, yet the ibis remain.
CEO Jeff Weigh said the Corporation is working towards finding new options to control the number of ibis that inhabit the well visited location.
“We are looking at humane ways to make space for visitors at South Bank,” he said.
“There are a list of things we are going to try including kite birds similar to what we have in the Epicurious garden at South Bank which act as birds of prey.
Brisbane City Council advises visitors to:
not feed ibis or leave scraps of food or rubbish lying around
keep garbage bin lids closed, particularly industrial waste bins
remove water sources and reduce waste disposal
not try to kill or cause injury to the birds
not remove nests or eggs
not disturb the birds when there are fledglings in the nest
Brisbane City Council – Australian white ibis
“The ibis are a local nesting bird that live in the area so we have to keep trying different ways of deterring them.”
Visitors to South Bank have told 612 ABC Brisbane confirmed that the recorded noises are not having any affect on the nearby ibis.
“It is a good idea, but it seems the birds are just too smart for us,” said Jessica from Brisbane.
“I think that fans could work with water or possibly tougher bird noises like that of a hawk.”
One local food vendor said the recordings being played have not stopped the ibis from taking food from visitors.
“We can still see the ibis and they still get up on the tables and take food from people but I do not think we can really get rid of the birds though,” she said.
“I tell customers to watch their food, and not get distracted as that is when they [the ibis] jump on the table and take food from people.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Oct 11, 2015 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
A SPECIALIST team has slaughtered potentially deadly pigeons to decontaminate Millom council offices after an infestation was exposed.
However, upstairs council offices and a kitchen are to remain closed for now after a health and safety inspection highlighted other issues including no disabled access.
A dangerous tile has also been removed from the Millom Town Council building, in St George’s Road, and Cumbria County Council said further repairs will take place once the cull has finished.
The offices have been in lockdown since January 23 when feral pigeons, which could carry deadly diseases including salmonella, psittacosis and ornithosis, were discovered in the loft.
County councillor and town councillor for Millom Brian Crawford said: “Serious concerns have been raised about the condition of the building. We are not using the offices at all at the moment.
“We’ve been left in limbo a bit as we had to use the Pensioner’s Hall last week for our town council meeting and some council staff are having to work from home.”
County council officials said it could take several days for pest controllers to finish the cull and for corpses and leftover faeces to be removed.
The town council is now on the hunt for new temporary office space and potentially permanent new premises over fears repair work may prove too costly.
Cllr Crawford said: “We will have to look at the future of the whole building in light of the other issues which have been raised as we can’t keep operating in there while the stair lift is broken because there’s no disabled access.
“It’s been suggested that it could be cheaper for the building to be knocked down and rebuilt than the cost of the repairs. I think what the council wants is for a community group to take on the work in conjunction with the town council and for it to be funded through grants.
“I know Millom residents won’t be happy if this happens because it is an iconic building in the town. Another option is to completely refurbish the inside of building.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Oct 9, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services
The fear of avian flu gripped the district after the animal husbandry department found three dead pigeons near Gushaini village of near the Banjar forest area on Wednesday.
The pigeons, reportedly spotted by some locals, caused panic a day after the first case of the avian flu in Himachal Pradesh was reported in Manali.
Kulla Animal husbandry department assistant director Vishal Sharma said samples of the bird had been sent to the Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL) at Jalandhar, Punjab, even while adding that the chances that their deaths were caused by the avian flu are slim. He said that while no other dead birds were reported in the region, residents breeding poultry have been asked to stay alert.
Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) director BS Rana, who also confirmed the news, said: “It is a normal phenomenon that birds die due to extreme cold and hail storm, which was recently experienced by the region.”
As a precaution, however, a stock of prophylactic drugs had been sent to Banjar health center, said Kullu chief medical officer Dr Baldev Thakur, adding that no symptoms of the avian influenza have so far been reported.
Residents have also been asked to wash their clothes and hands thoroughly to avoid contamination.
The department has, however, reportedly not conducted any de-contamination or quarantine procedures, which may be required if the birds test positive for the H1N5 virus.
Following the recent scare of avian flu after a goose tested positive for the disease in Chandigarh and the recovery of dead poultry in Shimla, the department had reportedly constituted surveillance teams to monitor threats of avian influenza outbreak in the region. The dead poultry in Shimla later tested negative for the ailment.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Oct 8, 2015 | Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, UltraSonic Bird Control
HARRISBURG >> Guns were a hot topic Wednesday in the Pennsylvania Senate, which voted to back a ban on pigeon shoots and in favor of a bill to give groups like the National Rifle Association legal standing to sue municipalities over local gun laws.
Senators favored outlawing pigeon shoots by a 3-1 margin and sent the measure back to the House for consideration.
The shoots, which involve launching the birds from spring-loaded boxes to be shot at close range, were derided by some senators who called it inhumane and a throwback to “another age.” Violators of the proposed law would face a summary charge of cruelty to animals.
Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Chambersburg, an avid outdoorsman and an A-rated NRA lifetime member, voted with the majority.
“I have a deep admiration for our traditions and that includes a respect for the game we pursue, as we participate in these pastimes,” Alloway said. “This is in no way a slippery slope toward eliminating legitimate hunting opportunities, but rather a personal decision I have made regarding this individual activity. To me, hunting is about sport, and there is no sport in violating the fair-chase laws that we hold in such high esteem in the Commonwealth.”
“There is no appropriate way to do a pigeon shoot,” said Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, leader of the Democratic minority.
Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Hollidaysburg, voted not to outlaw the shoots. The Senate earlier voted down his proposed amendment to make trapping or poisoning pigeons a summary offense.
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Sen. Mike Brubaker, R-Lancaster, proposed a compromise amendment placing the shoots under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Game Commission but it was rejected by 33-15 vote.
Alloway also voted with the majority to allow “membership organizations” to stand in for any Pennsylvania member who is “adversely affected” by local gun-control ordinances.
The measure was portrayed by proponents as a simple clarification of existing laws. The amendment to a separate bill was approved by a 2-1 margin and sent to the House for additional action.
“We’re not doing anything drastic here, this is just good common sense,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson.
“At least 50 individual municipalities have enacted their own firearms ordinances that are more prohibitive than those set by the Commonwealth, and therefore in violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution,” Alloway said. “The unfortunate reality is that a person — who is abiding by state law, but is in breach of a municipal ordinance — has no way to recover damages they have incurred as a result of their legal battle, a legal battle they should not have had to fight in the first place.”
Eichelberger, who represents western Franklin County, also voted in favor of the measure.
Opponents, particularly senators from the Philadelphia area, which is plagued by gun violence, said the proposal gives special license to the NRA to push its agenda in Pennsylvania courts at the expense of local taxpayers.
“This is a mess!” said Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia.
Wednesday was supposed to have been the last session day before a new Legislature is elected on Nov. 4, but both houses added a day to their calendars. The Senate reconvenes Thursday and the House on Monday.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by Pigeon Patrol | Oct 7, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, UltraSonic Bird Control
In the span of a few weeks, Erica Richards has been transformed from a vibrant 23-year-old woman who loved nature to a person battling for her life.
In early January, the Fredericton woman contracted a potentially fatal condition called cryptococcal meningitis, a fungal disease carried in the feces of pigeons.
The debilitating illness attacks the spine and brain, causing severe swelling. It left her confined to a hospital bed in a state of delirium for weeks.
But the most devastating side effect is that Ms. Richards is now blind.
“Be aware of this disease. It could kill a child in a heartbeat,” Ms. Richards said in an interview from her hospital bed.
“It could kill a senior in a heartbeat without you even having to worry about the symptoms. It comes on that fast. If you don’t realize the symptoms, it could kill you, too.”
Her emotional warning comes on the heels of city council’s approval earlier this month of a recommendation that it toughen its animal control bylaw to allow for fines for feeding pigeons. Once the amendment is drafted and declared law, it will give the city’s bylaw enforcement officers the power to ticket and fine offenders.
Ms. Richards said she decided to go public about her illness after learning about a recent newspaper story about a problem with pigeon poop in the city.
“Please don’t feed the pigeons,” she said. “Try to shoo them away if you see them. … It (the disease) is horrible. The pain that you get from this disease is crippling.
“The after-effects are with you for life and you just can’t stop thinking about it. I just want other people to know and try to stay away from pigeons.”
Oddly enough, Ms. Richards said she has no recollection of ever being anywhere near pigeons.
“I am still wondering to this day where I got it,” she said. “I could have stepped in it and brought it into the home. I just don’t know.”
Ms. Richards said the symptoms started with a migraine headache that wouldn’t go away. She was admitted to hospital on Feb. 10 after many days of intense head pain. Shortly after, she went into a coma-like state.
“When I woke up I thought I had a mask over my eyes, but I was wrong. I was blind. I was recently told that I will be blind for the rest of my life. This is a tough thing for a 23-year-old to go through. … My world crumbled around me.”
Ms. Richards said the odds of surviving the disease are 50-50.
“However, I managed to make it through,” she said, battling tears. “I don’t know how but I am still here, and I am glad because I get to warn everyone else of this.”
Cristin Muecke, the Health Department’s regional medical officer, confirmed the disease is often associated with pigeon droppings. She said the illness can’t be spread person to person and is more common with someone who has immune problems.
Ms. Richards, however, said she has never had a problem with her immune system and that’s what’s so puzzling about contracting the affliction.
“I do not want anyone else to suffer this agonizing disease and I ask anyone who is feeding pigeons to stop,” she said. “It’s not just a matter of keeping your neighbourhood clean … it’s a matter of keeping people healthy.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
