Pigeon & Bird
Control Products
NEW ULM — Pigeon and poultry enthusiasts from near and far participated in the New Ulm Poultry and Pigeon Association show at the Brown County Fairgrounds Saturday.
For most veteran enthusiasts, it’s a time to renew old friendships and take their favorite birds to a show of about 900 birds, have them judged and visit in a place they’ve been coming to for many decades.
“I remember coming to a national show at George’s Ballroom in 1965. They put cages on top of the ballroom booths,” said Mark Peterson of Amboy. “(George’s Ballroom owner) George Neuwirth was a big pigeon guy. A band would play and he had a big crystal fountain shaped like a pigeon. George didn’t do anything small. He was a showman.”
Don Roscoe of Kasota recalled showing poultry and pigeons at the New Ulm Armory more than 50 years ago.
“I used to hunt in the fall besides go ot shows, but then decided poultry shows, most of which usually happen in the fall, were more fun than hunting,” said Roscoe, who taught geography at Mankato State University.
Staff photo by Fritz Busch Show-goers take a good look at chickens displayed among hundreds at the Brown County Poultry & Pigeon Association show at the Brown County Fairgrounds Saturday.
Art Rieber of Neola, Iowa, said he doesn’t mind driving four and one-half hours from his home, 30 miles northeast of Omaha, to New Ulm. Sometimes, he’ll drive even farther to pigeon and poultry shows, which are also held at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.
“I can see the Woodman Tower (in Omaha) from my kitchen window,” Rieber said. “It’s about seeing the exhibitors. I’ve known these people forever.”
Doug Grams of New Ulm said he enjoys coming to shows and that his seven grandchildren are also interested in the poultry and pigeons.
Robert Kosek of New Ulm said he remembers selling a case of eggs each week from this chickens.
“They give me eggs year around and I enjoy meeting a lot of interesting people at shows and maintain friendships with them,” Kosek said. “I’ve got pigeon and poultry pen-pals from all over the United States.”
New Ulm Pigeon and Poultry Association Secretary Aaron Dittbenner of Morgan was busy at the show, keeping records of everything that goes on. He admitted he is busy preparing for the show about a week before it begins.
Some poultry breeders enjoy traveling to national shows during the winter months in places like San Diego, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Salt Lake City, Florida, Texas and Vancouver, Wa. Breeders who travel far to shows often use special mailing boxes ship their birds to distant places.
Dominique chickens, also known as Pilgrim Fowl or Dominickers, were transported across the country by early settlers. They were valued for their meat and brown eggs.
Years ago, their feathers were very sought after for pillow and mattress stuffing. In addition, they tend to be calm, personable birds, making them more successful as show birds or family pets.
Also known for their close feathering, the breed survived the Great Depression due to it’s hardiness and ease of up-keep, according to The Livestock Conservancy.
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)
The central government’s Swachhta Hi Seva has left animal lovers and religious communities in a flap. The cleanliness campaign, which was launched across the country on Saturday and will continue till Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, has led to a ban on feeding pigeons at Gateway of India’s “iconic” kabutarkhana.
To ensure that Gateway’s promenade was clean for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interactive televised address on Saturday morning —attended by Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan and business tycoon Ratan Tata — the BMC banned feeding of pigeons four days earlier, dismantled the makeshift kabutarkhana, a large barricaded enclosure, and took away water troughs.
Civic marshals were then deployed to stop people from feeding the birds.
Decades-long tradition
The move has rankled local Jain organisations, which claimed that they have been feeding pigeons at the spot for decades. The groups have threatened to stage a protest.
“This is unfair. We have been dropping grain at this spot for decades. The issue concerns the religious sentiments of the Jain community. The BMC must restore the kabutarkhana. Else, we will go on a protest,” said Paras Jain, member of a local temple trust.
Paras said several traders from south Mumbai as well as Jain temple trusts volunteer to supply grain to feed pigeons at Gateway.
Animal activists, too, slammed the BMC’s move. Sunish Subramanian Kunju, founder of NGO Plant & Animals Welfare Society, Mumbai, said, “Birds have become used to getting food at particular feeding spots. If that is suddenly stopped, then they will panic. The BMC must not take such arbitrary steps, and must bring out a clear policy on kabutarkhanas, instead,” he said.
The activists and bird feeders have the backing of local BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar. He said pigeons are intrinsically tied to Gateway’s charm. “They are as iconic as the monument itself. To completely stop feeding is not fair. We have requested the BMC to restore the feeding area and the water troughs. The BMC has agreed to allow feeding at a smaller portion of the promenade. We will ask it to give enough space so that those feeding pigeons will not be inconvenienced,” said Narwekar.
Not official kabutarkhana
BMC officials said permission for a kaburtarkhana at Gateway was never granted, adding that feeding of birds at the promenade had become a nuisance. “The feeding area kept expanding, even though there was no official nod for a kabutarkhana. There is no space for tourists who visit Gateway and it was not possible to keep aside so much space for pigeons,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner of A ward, under which Gateway falls. “Since the Swachhta Hi Seva event was to be held there, we removed the barricades and stopped pigeon feeding. We will talk to those who are protesting against the BMC’s action.”
Narwekar said if pigeon feeding is a nuisance to tourists, then the BMC should designate a small space for it. “Stopping feeding suddenly is cruelty.” Another BMC official said on Saturday evening, a group of residents resumed feeding at the promenade. “However, it will not be possible to give back the entire space. We will examine the issue in detail next week.”
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)
Avid young pigeon enthusiast Abigail Mona Redelinghuys (12) is a gr 6 pupil at Southcity Christian School. Her interest in pigeon racing was sparked by stepdad Hannes Nortjé when she was eight years old. After curiously studying Hannes’s interaction with his birds in his loft in 2015, she was given a pair of breeding pigeons by Frikkie Muller while on holiday in Western Cape.
This chain of events soon turned a hobby into a lifestyle. Abigail is currently the youngest member of the NPS Racing Pigeon Club on Lower South Coast. After racing pigeons competitively for almost two consecutive years, Abigail and her ‘blue bar pigeon’ (ring number NPS 2107) took first place at the recent KZN Combined Racing event.
Chairman of the NPS Racing Pigeon Club Deon Kapp visited Abigail Redelinghuys at the loft in Ramsgate to congratulate her on behalf of the club.
This is a phenomenal achievement as the bird had to travel 1 588m per minute (95 28km/h) over a distance of 557km from Boshoff, Free State, to Ramsgate against 1 197 other birds.
Abigail attributes her success to her passion for her pigeons and the support she receives from her family. The club looks forward to watching this young, enthusiastic member’s future progress.
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)
In January, Broadsheet reported on one of Melbourne’s most inspiring residents – the indomitable Parkdale pigeon.
Since at least October 2016 the pigeon has defied the efforts of Public Transport Victoria cleaners to remove its nest on top of an LCD screen at Parkdale Station.
The pig-headed bird has returned time and again to rebuild following the ruthless destruction of its nest, and has now given birth to two new baby chicks.
Pigeons usually stay with the same partner for life, and the randy little critters have been known to give birth up to six times a year, so it’s hard to say how many chicks have been raised at the Parkdale Station nest.
Some call them grey sky demons, but to others they’re a symbol of endurance and perseverance. Keep doing your thing, Parkdale Pigeon. Stick it to the man with your pile of sticks.
See the dedicated work of pigeon correspondent Michael Bell below.
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)
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – A serious pigeon problem is popping up in at least one Las Vegas neighborhood forcing a family to declare an all-out war.
Sandy Love said the problem began a few years ago but now the pigeon population has ballooned in her neighborhood near Ann Road and U.S. 95.
“Just the pigeons, it’s crazy,” said Love.
“I mean, they are out of control now,” she added.
Love and her neighbors suspect someone is feeding the flying vermin nearby causing them to roost and poop — everywhere.
“This is my pigeon stick and it’s to get rid of all of the pigeons under my solar panels,” explained Love while holding a stick made of bamboo.
Love says aside from from the pigeon poop and feathers, she’s worried about her mother Liz Watson, 84, who suffers from Lupus.
“I do not have an immune system,” explained Liz Watson.
“I have SLE lupus and I’ve had it for 30 years so I have to be super careful,” added Watson.
The Southern Nevada Health District said pigeons can pose a danger to people.
A well-fed pigeon can produce up to 25 pounds of poop every year, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.
The city of Las Vegas introduced an ordinance against feeding pigeonsearlier this month, however a formal vote to enact the ordinance may not take place until October.
A Las Vegas spokesperson said if passed, it would bring the city of Las Vegas in line with similar ordinances on the books in Clark County and Henderson.
In the meantime, Love says she has fortified her home using pigeon spikes, gorilla glue, and a decoy owl.
Authorities recommend consulting with a pest control specialist to tackle additional pigeon problems.
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)
