by Pigeon Patrol | Oct 29, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
Spring feels in full swing. While that may not be good in some ways, plants and animals are ramping up their libidos. All manner of species display virility as spring progresses, but a common species often overlooked, is strutting about right at our feet. Call them pigeons, Rock Pigeons, Rock Doves, or rats with wings, they’re far from boring and they share our most urban Capitol Hill blocks happily.
The pigeons we see on an almost daily basis, as common as House Sparrows, American Crows, European Starlings, and Glaucous-winged Gulls in the quintet of urban birds, are all ancestors of the Rock Pigeon or Rock Dove, Columbia livia. No matter their coloration, all these birds are feral descendants of birds brought to the Americas as pets and food as early as the 1600s, while successive escapes bolstered their population and variety. Their original wild population, spans from Europe through North Africa, and into Asia. With an appreciation for ledges and cliffs, they’ve adapted wholly to our built environment. Pigeons happily crowd ledges, roof tops, and attics, calling many a ledge on buildings of Broadway, Pike and Pine, First Hill, and downtown home.
From Mike Tyson to Charles Darwin, people have seen beauty in these aerial acrobats and gentle vocalists. Pigeons in their many varied forms, appear in Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and were central in helping him develop his theory. As with dogs, selective breeding has sussed out umpteen mutations of color and shape. Natural variation existed in the wild populations of course, but feral populations have muddied human breeding with sheer numbers, and we find ourselves looking at birds looking more and more like their ancestors. Besides, being bright white in a flock of gray, having decorative feathers that block vision, or having an odd tendency to tumble in the air aren’t terribly adaptive traits.
Take a second to watch your average city pigeon. In the vast majority, you find attractive shades of bluish gray, two black bands on the wings, and purplish green sheen on the neck and throat. These are the general colors of the nominate race of wild Rock Pigeons. Male birds are ever so slightly larger and have more extensive sheen. To most, the sexes look alike, but male birds stand out this time of year in behavior.
Pigeons can breed much of the year in mild climates, but as daylight lengthens hormones surge. Almost everyone has seen the comical courtship display of a puffed up male pigeon. Like many animals, humans included, they lose grip on reality, puff up their chests, and pursue their hopeful mate endlessly (while all she wants to do is eat bread crumbs). This can go on right at your feet while you wait for the bus, or on a precarious ledge where the pursued female may well be pushed off by her overzealous courtier. The desired result of this strutting, is copulation, an awkward balancing act for a brief cloacal kiss. Yet, unlike some birds, the pair is relatively monogamous. The male chooses a worthy nest site and stays with his mate throughout young rearing (he also coos incessantly to attract a mate to his site, imagine living next to the recording below on loop right outside your window).
Pigeons get a bad rap. They seem dirty, but if anything that’s because of city living, not poor hygiene. Yes, unlike some birds, they don’t take their young’s feces away from the nest, adding a veneer to roosting sites. This has worked for pigeon kind longer than humans have been raising them, so who are we to judge? Yes, contact with their droppings has proven a zoonotic vector. But shouldn’t common sense clearly guide us away from most anything’s poop anyway? These problems are easily avoided by restricting where Rock Pigeons roost, which most cities have figured out just fine.
Pigeons can also capture the imagination. Their spectacular flying abilities, allowing escape from swift predators like Peregrine Falcons, are a beauty to behold circling across city blocks. Pigeons have been heroes, saving lives by carrying messages across enemy lines during World War II with innate homing abilities. Organizations, books, and much research are devoted to pigeons. And while they may not be the smartest birds on the block, they’re successful while not edging out our native species. I simply enjoy them because their antics add a humorous note to a less noteworthy day about the Hill.
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 28, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
Several hundred pigeons living in the downtown market square were to be trapped and exterminated after city council voted to get rid of them.
Council members agreed with its bylaws committee, which heard numerous complaints from citizens, groups and businesses who lived and or worked in the area, where the downtown library stands today.
The original request came from the Local Council of Women which claimed the birds were the creators of filth and disease.
J.T.J. Collisson, who lived in the McLeod Building, told committee members the filth left on the windowsills of the building made it look like “a country barnyard.”
N.S. Mackie of the Imperial Bank said the pigeons had angered customers.
“It is most embarrassing for our customers. They come in and complain and tell us we should do something about it. All of us have to run this gauntlet … some of us not too successfully.”
One member of the Local Council of Women, Olivia Smith, defended the birds.
“I think they are a fine sight as they swoop and wing about the downtown buildings. There’s pigeons in every big city and they don’t seem to want to get rid of them like this city.”
The meeting ended with the committee recommending to council that commissioners take the necessary steps to destroy the birds and, bring in a bylaw, if needed, prohibiting well-meaning citizens from feeding them, which was the cause of the problem.
The birds were to be trapped and killed by two city employees who were pigeon fanciers, with a lot of experience handling the birds.
In a letter read at council, Mary Sather, “longtime sole patron” who daily spread grain on the market square for the pigeons, said she was “happy to know that they shall be destroyed, for it will bring to an end their abuse by the boys who trap them, contrary to our humane laws.”
She suggested the most humane way to kill them was to electrocute them.
“I shall always have the memory that I have gladdened hundreds of human hearts by feeding the pigeons, for there are people who fully realize the rights of God’s lower creatures.”
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 27, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
MISS Lee Kay Yan has rightly pointed out that the mynah and pigeon populations here have increased drastically and are now aggressively invading our coffee shops and hawker centres (“Bring in predators to solve bird problem”; Forum Online, yesterday).
In our urban setting, certain species of birds have become a public nuisance. The normal activities of the birds will conflict in some way with human activity.
Some birds feed on grain and fruit crops. The common mynahs eat insects and human food scraps. They are aggressive and often attack native birds. They also spread mites and have the potential to spread disease to people and domestic animals.
They are adept at stealing food off people’s plates. They can be discouraged by depriving them of food sources, chasing them from yards and disturbing them when they try to nest.
Rock pigeons are quite common in Waterloo Street and they feed on seeds and fruits. In urban areas, however, they have adapted to roosting on high-rise buildings and feeding on human food like bread and rice.
Their droppings soil public amenities and private properties. Roosting pigeons damage buildings and the roofing of houses.
They can transmit illnesses such as encephalitis and salmonella poisoning. They harbour the causal agent of histoplasmosis, a fungal disease that affects the human respiratory tract.
Pigeons can be a threat to human safety, particularly around airports where pigeon flocks have collided with aircraft, causing human fatalities.
It is important to understand how human activities in urbanised areas affect ecosystems, with urban habitats becoming relevant to biodiversity research.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) can collaborate to reduce the bird population and bring about a cleaner city environment by using ultrasonic and sonic audio systems like the Tube Sonic.
This product produces electronic sounds to scare birds with distress calls and predator sounds.
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 22, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News
An underpass at Linlithgow railway station is the subject of a bitter battle between those looking to keep the ‘Burgh Beautiful’ – and a flock of pigeons!
Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Town Management Group (LLTMG) has recently written to Network Rail requesting its assistance in remedying ownership queries about cables in the underpass.
The LLTMG group has recently spent £6,000 upgrading the underpass, installing new railings and anti-pigeon spikes, as well as cleaning down the walls.
But despite this the pigeon problem persists.
The main issue is bundles of cables which are not encased that run along the top of the underpass roof, leaving what is an ideal roosting location for the birds.
The Town Management Group identifies and undertakes projects that will improve Linlithgow.
After many complaints about the mess the piegeons were creating, it took steps to rectify the issue.
The underpass connects the north entrance of the railway station to the canal basin.
It is also a busy pedestrian footpath to the town centre and for commuters heading into the railway station.
In addition, it is a designated safe route to the local primary school.
Stewart Ness, BID Manager for Linlithgow, said: “We are hopeful that once ownership of the cables is acknowledged further action can be taken.”
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 21, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons in the News
Instinctual Response for Survival
Birds have many behaviors that help them to survive. Some of these are learned behaviors, but many others are not learned. Behaviors that animals are born with are called instinctive behaviors. Some instinctive behaviors help birds recognize enemies. Great kiskadees display an instinctive behavior related to coral snakes, which eat young birds. Even though they have never seen a snake, hand-raised great kiskadees are frightened by sticks that have been painted to look like coral snakes. Other birds instinctually will keep away from moving objects or any object that will heighten their flight response, especially in their peripheral vision. The BirdNix products take advantage of this instinctual behavior to keep birds out of a effected location.
BirdeyeAvian Vision is Key
Avian vision has been studied significantly to better understand bird behavior and characteristics. Birds have a similar eye structure to most other vertebrates, but when it comes to receptors, bird clearly has us all beat. Humans have about 200,000 receptors per mm2, but the House Sparrow has 400,000 and the Common Buzzard 1,000,000. The photoreceptors are not all individually connected to the optic nerve, and the ratio of nerve ganglia to receptors is important in determining resolution. This is very high for birds; the White Wagtail has 100,000 ganglion cells to 120,000 photoreceptors. This high level of receptors will cause bright reflective light to be even more annoying to birds than it is for humans. Also, the avian eye is not spherical but rather more like a reptilian eye which is flatter, enabling it to keep more of its visual field in focus. The reflective light in the peripheral vision of the bird gives a visual cue that there might be predators and makes birds uneasy about the location. Both of these facts allow the BirdNix reflective deterrents to effectively work on controlling bird populations. To learn more continue here.
Wind and LightBirdNix Phoenix Reflecting Light
The wind causes a swaying spinning motion and ambient light ( natural light) is reflected by the faceted mirrors of the Diamond Light™ . This combination of light and motion creates heightened survival instinct awareness in birds resulting in an undesirable location for them.
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 20, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
Hundreds of thousands of fake plastic owls are sold for the purpose of keeping birds away every year. The problem with them is that they are not effective over time. They work on the philosophy that a predator bird will scare the other birds from the area. This might work for awhile but in the end the birds will see that the plastic owl is not moving and not a threat to them. Sometimes this takes days and sometimes it takes months, but over time birds are smart enough to know the difference between real and fake.
The BirdNIX Diamond Light reflective bird deterrent works on a scientific fact that birds have up to 10,000 times more sensitive vision than humans and flashing light and movement will create an undesirable location for birds to be in. Also, the monocular vision of birds means that flashes of light in the peripheral vision will instinctively put the bird into a “fight or flight” situation. These traits are inherent in birds which is why the BirdNIX Diamond Light is so effective at removing unwanted birds from boats, docks, gardens, fruit trees, patios, carports, warehouses, parking lots, or wherever there are birds!
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)
Spring feels in full swing. While that may not be good in some ways, plants and animals are ramping up their libidos. All manner of species display virility as spring progresses, but a common species often overlooked, is strutting about right at our feet. Call them pigeons, Rock Pigeons, Rock Doves, or rats with wings, they’re far from boring and they share our most urban Capitol Hill blocks happily.
