by johnnymarin | Jul 28, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
URGENT action must be taken to tackle an epidemic of pigeon mess under bridges in Renfrewshire, a councillor has warned.
Bird droppings are causing chaos with the Linwood Toll, Paisley, a particular hot spot for mess falling on cars and the footpath below.
And now Councillor John Hood, who represents Johnstone South and Elderslie, is demanding Renfrewshire Council takes action to combat the rise in pigeon fouling.
Cllr Hood insisted the problem had been getting worse over the last few years.
He said: “There are places in the area where you can’t walk because the mess is six inches deep.
“The birds are roosting on bridges and people are then having to walk through it to get to their destination. It is a joke.
“This has been a bug bear of many people for a long time.”
Despite the efforts of Renfrewshire Council and Network Rail to prevent the mess piling up, pigeons are continuing to return all around the area.
Cllr Hood, who is a frequent walker in the area, added: “I became fully aware of the problem when I was walking along South Campbell Street a few months ago and a chick egg fell on me and hit me on the head. That was the final straw.
“This has been getting worse over the last few years. People are actually having to go out onto the road to avoid the mess.
“We need to make these bridges secure so that the pigeons don’t roost in them.”
The problem has been made more complicated by a legal dispute between Railtrack, who used to own the railways, and the old Strathclyde Regional Council in 1995.
After a lengthy legal dispute, it was confirmed Railtrack was not responsible for droppings from wild birds and the management of pigeon nuisance is the council’s responsibility.
The council’s infrastructure boss, Councillor Cathy McEwan, said: “We recognise birds fouling onto footpaths under railway bridges causes a problem and have agreed to bring forward a comprehensive report so we can review all options.”
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 johnnymarin | Jul 27, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
Two men, aged 62 and 68, were fined in court on Wednesday (Jul 3) for pigeon feeding.
V Rajandran, 62, was fined $450 for one count of pigeon feeding.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) had been alerted to a case of pigeon feeding in February, and investigations found that V Rajandran had been feeding pigeons with bread crumbs at the void deck of Block 145 Potong Pasir Avenue 2.
He had previously been fined on four occasions for a similar offence.
In a separate case, Abdul Aziz S/O Saik Mohamed, 68, was fined $1,500 for five counts of pigeon feeding, and another six counts were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Investigations found that Abdul Aziz had been feeding pigeons at a grass verge at Block 825 Woodlands Street 81, near a “No feeding” signboard on multiple occasions between Dec 2017 and May 2018.
He had continued to feed pigeons despite several warnings from the AVA, and had previously been fined on two occasions for a similar offence.
Pigeon feeding in any premises or public place, including at HDB estates, is an offence.
The presence of feeders provides a regular source of food which may lead to pigeons congregating in the area. Feeding also encourages pigeons to breed, which results in an increase in their population.
Pigeons contaminate the environment with droppings, and leftover food from pigeon feeding may attract other pests including rats, that carry diseases and pose a risk to public health.
Anyone caught feeding pigeons can be fined up to $500 under the Animals and Birds (Pigeons) Rules.
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 johnnymarin | Jul 26, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
The number of fines issued by councils under controversial powers that let them penalise shouting, feeding pigeons and even collecting for charity has increased eightfold in a year.
Campaigners say that some town halls are “criminalising everyday life” by using antisocial behaviour laws to levy thousands of penalties of up to £100 for activities that are not illegal or harmful, but may be seen as distasteful or out of keeping with the area.
Councils in England and Wales used “public space protection orders” to issue at least 8,638 fines in 2017, up from the 1,004 since 2016, a freedom of information request by The Times revealed. The powers were created under the Antisocial Behaviour Act in 2014, allowing authorities to ban any activity deemed “detrimental to the quality of life”.
Some 152 councils have used the powers to ban drinking in public, while 29 have banned people from car racing. Antisocial behaviour is defined as anything that could cause harassment or distress and councils have used the orders to ban swearing and shouting, drawing on pavements with chalk, feeding birds, carrying a golf bag in a park and collecting for charity. Loitering, wearing hoods, busking, keeping chickens, riding hover boards and playing ball games have also been banned.
Councils can issue orders after public consultation and then issue fines. In most cases, they act only if behaviour is shown to have caused distress. Last year, councils implemented 960 orders, up from 519 in 2016.
Some have attracted controversy, such as banning protests outside an abortion clinic in Ealing. A proposal in Stoke-on-Trent to bar rough sleepers from using tents was dropped after criticism. However, at least 11 councils have banned the homeless from spending the night in tents, cars or the open air, while 34 have banned begging.
Almost 14,000 people have faced fines worth around £1.4 million to councils. Some authorities could not provide figures because fines are issued by police, and 17 failed to supply details.
“Councils are criminalising everyday life by banning things that aren’t antisocial or even unpleasant,” said a spokeswoman for the Manifesto Club, which highlights excessive regulation. “There is no distinction between what is harmful and what is not.”
Simon Blackburn of the Local Government Association said councils were acting to stop problems such as public drinking, racing in cars and aggressive begging.
He said: “Councils are determined to protect their communities from behaviour that ruins their quality of life, harms business or means people are scared to visit public places.”
has increased eightfold in a year.
Campaigners say that some town halls are “criminalising everyday life” by using antisocial behaviour laws to levy thousands of penalties of up to £100 for activities that are not illegal or harmful, but may be seen as distasteful or out of keeping with the area.
Councils in England and Wales used “public space protection orders” to issue at least 8,638 fines in 2017, up from the 1,004 since 2016, a freedom of information request by The Times revealed. The powers were created under the Antisocial Behaviour Act in 2014, allowing authorities to ban any activity deemed “detrimental to the quality of life”.
Some 152 councils have used the powers to ban drinking in public, while 29 have banned people from car racing. Antisocial behaviour is defined as anything that could cause harassment or distress and councils have used the orders to ban swearing and shouting, drawing on pavements with chalk, feeding birds, carrying a golf bag in a park and collecting for charity. Loitering, wearing hoods, busking, keeping chickens, riding hover boards and playing ball games have also been banned.
Councils can issue orders after public consultation and then issue fines. In most cases, they act only if behaviour is shown to have caused distress. Last year, councils implemented 960 orders, up from 519 in 2016.
Some have attracted controversy, such as banning protests outside an abortion clinic in Ealing. A proposal in Stoke-on-Trent to bar rough sleepers from using tents was dropped after criticism. However, at least 11 councils have banned the homeless from spending the night in tents, cars or the open air, while 34 have banned begging.
Almost 14,000 people have faced fines worth around £1.4 million to councils. Some authorities could not provide figures because fines are issued by police, and 17 failed to supply details.
“Councils are criminalising everyday life by banning things that aren’t antisocial or even unpleasant,” said a spokeswoman for the Manifesto Club, which highlights excessive regulation. “There is no distinction between what is harmful and what is not.”
Simon Blackburn of the Local Government Association said councils were acting to stop problems such as public drinking, racing in cars and aggressive begging.
He said: “Councils are determined to protect their communities from behaviour that ruins their quality of life, harms business or means people are scared to visit public places.”
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 johnnymarin | Jul 25, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
A Chicago alderman wants the city to lift a nearly 15-year ban on pigeon racing.
Alderman Gilbert Villegas says pigeon racing is a sport that receives little attention in the U.S. but is “deeply loved” in Poland. Villegas’ ward is home to many Polish residents he says are working with his office to change the city’s law.
The sport features specially trained pigeons that are released from specific locations and race back to their homes.
Villegas’ proposal would lift the ban for people in good standing with a national professional organization that requires minimum standards of care for “pedigreed rock doves.” Each bird would have to be registered with the organization.
The city banned homing pigeons in residential areas in 2004 after complaints from residents.
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 johnnymarin | Jul 24, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
The idea of raising barn pigeons as racing pigeons made sense, at least to me. So growing up, I built a coop (with help) behind our garage, then raised and trained barn pigeons as though they were racing pigeons.
I only trained them over a few miles, not the hundreds of miles that racing pigeons (homing pigeons) can do. But my training and buried knowledge in the barn pigeons worked: They came home to my chicken-wire coop.
Memories rushed back this week when I read Fran Spielman’s Sun-Times story on Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) introducing an ordinance at the City Council meeting Wednesday to lift the Chicago ban on pigeon racing. Two other Northwest Side aldermen, Ariel Reboyras (30th) and Nick Sposato (38th), co-sponsored the ordinance.
I would love to see the return of racing pigeons — legally — in Chicago. They’re remarkable creatures.
Barn pigeons, the country cousins of city pigeons, are not as remarkable. The difference between barn or city pigeons and racing pigeons is like the difference between me and Julius Peppers.
Barn and city pigeons are descended from domestic pigeons. Domestic pigeons, such as racing pigeons, descend from rock doves.
The homing instinct is mysterious and remarkable in racing pigeons.
As a kid, my dad would drive me into the city (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) and its edifice of a massive library. I read every book on pigeons they had, but I devoured the books on racing pigeons.
I read of the exploits (some were war heroes) and looked at the photos of them — erect and firm specimens, unlike the creatures pecking grain and corn kernels out of manure on farms or the city pigeons picking up bread crumbs.
Racing pigeons required a very special mix of feed. I even found the place that supplied racing food.
On the sports pages of the daily Intelligencer Journal, the agate section (as somebody who did two staff stints as a lowly agate clerk for the Sun-Times’ sports section, I love that part) would include a small piece of fine print from the Red Rose Pigeon Club, now gone as members aged and younger people did not join.
I quickly reached what I could do in terms of training barn pigeons. I learned how to handle them and to get them to fly to me to eat grain from between my lips.
So I dug out a number for the Red Rose Pigeon Club, then found the nerve to call. The guy I reached knew a club member willing to give me an old mated pair. That was a big deal. In those days, a top racing pigeon was worth more than my dad made in a year working in a stone quarry.
There was a good reason for an old pair. While they didn’t mean much to the owner, they meant the world to me. Second, the pair would be imprinted with the old coop, but their young would be imprinted with my chicken-wire coop.
I would love to tell you I grew into a proud junior member of the club. No. While I became good at training and raising racing pigeons, soccer and girls (or the idea of girls) took over my life.
Here’s hoping some young man or woman has the chance to train racing pigeons in Chicago.
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)