by johnnymarin | May 4, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
How many birds is too many for a homeowner to feed?
A northeast Albuquerque neighbor claims a nearby home has so many feeders that birds they’re causing a mess, and that neighbor is asking the city to step in.
While plenty of tall trees surrounding the northeast part of Albuquerque, one home in particular near Eubank and Academy has been a magnet for birds for years.
Neighbor Katie Conant lives near the home that draws all the birds.
“If you watch you’ll see ’em flying in,” said Conant, pointing to more than 15-foot tall bush in the neighbor’s yard.
“They’re definitely doing some stuff to encourage more birds to come on site and get a free meal,” said Conanet.
Conant says this year, she’s dealt with a lot more of what the birds leave behind, especially on her pool cover where bird droppings are evident.
“You know it’s a little upsetting, we come out and I’m like, ‘I’m going to have to scrub,” said Conant.
While Conant says she’ll clean up the mess on her own, other neighbors aren’t so happy with the homeowner who’s attracting the birds and have reported the home to the city.
An anonymous neighbor recently sent a complaint to the Albuquerque 311 website, SeeClickFix.com, titled “Pest Pigeons.” The anonymous complaint calls out the neighbor’s home by address, claiming it has “multiple feeders that “attract rodents” and leave “excrement all over.”
The complainant also asked the city if there are “any codes or rules to limit the number of feeders in people’s yards.”
The city of Albuquerque’s Urban Biology Division hasn’t talked to the property owner yet, but the idea of facing questions from the city for backyard bird feeding has the neighbors talking.
“We didn’t have any thought of doing anything,” said Conant, who didn’t write the complaint.
“It’s a nice yard and they enjoy sitting back there and watching the birds, leave them alone,” said Mike Schaeffer, another neighbor who called the complaint “petty.”
The homeowner hadn’t seen the complaint until KRQE News 13 showed him a copy of it on Monday afternoon.
“We’re birders, you know, we love to bird,” said the homeowner, who admitted to having several feeders in his yard.
However, the homeowner, who says he’s fed birds for years in feeders raised off the grounds, doesn’t believe he’s done anything wrong.
“You can look anywhere over town, there’s huge flocks over the power lines, you know, you ought to talk to PNM,” the homeowner chuckled.
The city says it will send someone from the Urban Biology Division to check out the home this week. The department says the only ordinance against bird feeding is specific to pigeons. The ordinance prevents people from feeding pigeons by hand.
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 | May 3, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
CONCERN has been expressed over plans to tackle the problem of pigeons swooping around Darlington’s covered market.
The historic market’s new managers say birds roosting under its canopy and fouling around the area represents a potential public health hazard.
Jonathan Owen from Market Asset Management said harbouring pigeons overhead in the market posed a risk to the public, traders and staff and confirmed that the company was attempting to resolve the issue as part of on-going improvement works to the market.
Mr Owen said discussions were on-going with specialist pest control contractors but would not be drawn on rumours that shooting is one of the methods being considered as a resolution to the problem, instead saying various solutions were being discussed.
Members of the public, the League Against Cruel Sports and the Darlington and Teesside Animal Activists are among those calling for the birds to be treated humanely, not culled.
David Jones, from the Pigeon Control Resource Centre, said that the killing of pigeons would only be considered legal if the property owner – Darlington Borough Council – could demonstrate both that the pigeon-related problems were likely to result in a risk to public health or safety and that “all non-lethal methods of control have been tried and found to have failed.”
Mr Jones said: “As far as the law is concerned, it is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure that any pigeon control works carried out are legal.
“Culling cannot be used simply because pigeons are causing damage to a property through fouling. If this were to be done and all other deterrent methods had not been tried first, it would be the property owner who would be legally liable.”
Darlington man Kevin Bland called on MAM to halt their plans, saying: “MAM cannot undertake any action other than to request the involvement of the building owner.
“As the pigeons have been there many years and have not caused health and safety issues for DBC to act up on in such time, that cannot be demonstrated to now be a problem and further, the non-lethal methods of control have been inadequate in their suitability and installation and also poorly maintained, to the extent that they cannot be considered as “tried and failed” as is the requirements of the legislation.”
A spokesman for DBC said MAM had signed a 100-year lease to operate the market and as such, have responsibility for maintaining it.
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 | May 2, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
The death of a popular baseball coach may have been the result of an argument about whether residents should feed the birds in Pershing Field, according to court testimony.
Charles Lowy, 68, is charged with murder for allegedly stabbing Anthony Bello, 77, twice in the chest on April 15. Officials say one of the stab wounds pierced the retired teacher’s lung, causing his death.
During a Monday detention hearing that spanned nearly 90 minutes, Deputy Public Defender Joseph Russo argued the stabbing was out of self-defense and Bello was the aggressor in the case. His motion to have Lowy, who suffers from severe spinal stenosis, released pending his trial was rejected by Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale.
Lowy was described by his attorney as “the birdman of Pershing Field.” Every day he would fill a small bag of bird food, walk to the park – which is less than one block from his home – and spread the food in a circle around him for the pigeons to eat.
But something went wrong during an early morning confrontation between the two men.
According to one witness interviewed by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, he saw “two old guys roughing it up on the grass” at about 8 a.m. At one point, Bello had his arm around Lowy’s neck and was yelling for someone to call 9-1-1 because Lowry was carrying a knife.
Russo said, during the hearing, that Bello had previously threatened to file a complaint against Lowy for feeding the birds in the park. Following Bello’s death, his neighbors told The Jersey Journal he hated the park pigeons.
Another apparent witness, who was only identified as a “dog walker” in the park, told a second man interviewed by authorities that the two men were arguing about Lowy feeding the birds. That witness has not given a statement to police.
Those who did provide statements, however, said the suspect had hand tattoos and was wearing a red hoody, blue jeans, and skull rings. A pocket knife was said to be the weapon used in the stabbing.
Assistant Prosecutor Keith Travers said similar clothing and jewelry were found in Lowy’s home when he was arrested. A pocket knife with blood stains was also recovered and testing is being done to confirm it was the blade used in Bello’s killing.
Travers showed pictures of Bello’s hands after he died, pointing that there was no indication he had punched or attacked Lowy first.
Lowy’s attorney described him as a “deeply religious” and “peaceful person” with no criminal record, but DePascale denied a request for release on house arrest.
Russo said he will discuss with Lowy the possibilities of appealing the pretrial detention.
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 | May 1, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
Today, PETA filed a complaint asking the University of Minnesota to investigate Dr. Carol Cardona—the Pomeroy Chair in Avian Health for the College of Veterinary Medicine in St. Paul—for false and profoundly irresponsible statements that she made to Bio Corporation, an Alexandria-based classroom dissection–specimen supplier.
A PETA video exposé showed Bio Corporation workers drowning fully conscious pigeons and injecting live crayfish with chemicals, prompting a police investigation and charges for 25 counts of cruelty to animals. But Cardona—in statements contradicted by American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines and veterinary research—defended the practice of drowning birds, prompting the Alexandria City Attorney’s Office to dismiss all 25 charges. PETA is asking the university to retract these statements and determine whether she violated its Board of Regents’ Code of Conduct.
“On University of Minnesota letterhead, Dr. Cardona wrote in support of drowning pigeons, which causes them a slow, terrifying, and painful death,” says PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. “PETA is calling on the university to clarify that neither it nor its faculty advocate the use of illegal and cruel means of killing animals.”
Although Bio Corporation is required by federal law to adhere to the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals, which prohibit drowning as “inhumane,”Cardona declared that the company’s practices “should be considered pest control.” Although research shows that it can take 5 to 10 minutes for drowning birds to die from cardiac arrest, she claimed that “death by drowning would be nearly instantaneous. In light of this, I don’t think that this form of inducing death should be classified as animal cruelty.”
PETA has also filed complaints against Cardona with the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine and the American College of Poultry Veterinarians.
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 | Apr 30, 2018 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
Fanciers have refined their methods over the years, including making birds’ diets more nutritious, applying superior breeding techniques and using technology in training.
Once seen as a hobby of the working class, pigeon racing has gradually managed to climb up the social hierarchy in India. People like doctors, lawyers, businessmen, engineers and lawmakers are becoming involved.
“There was a time in Chennai when pigeon racing was largely associated only with auto-rickshaw drivers and daily wage workers,” said Philips.
Many fanciers, who are mostly men, also involve their families in the sport and share their passion with loved ones. Many enthusiasts inherited the sport from previous generations.
Read more: Existential pigeon film swoops to take Golden Lion
There is little chance to make money with pigeon racing and the sport is a labor of love. Even the cash prizes awarded at the racing events are roughly worth 5,000 Indian rupees (€62), whereas the monthly expenses of about 100 birds would cost more than that.
Surprisingly, there is no rampant gambling or foul play such as the introduction of growth stimulators in birds in the loosely organized sport, barring few instances of malpractices.
In comparison, there have been many cases of violation in sports like horse racing.
One of the major challenges faced by the lovers of pigeon racing sport is the government’s reluctance to formalize the sport, which would foster a regulated system.
Pigeon racer Mohanakrishnan’s bird won the 2017 long-distance race
Mohanakrishnan, an ardent pigeon fancier whose bird won the long-distance race in 2017, is gearing up to send three of his coveted birds on an arduous 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) voyage sometime in the next few days. He rears as many as 150 pigeons at the moment and ends up spending up to 8,000 Indian rupees (€100) monthly.
Explaining his feeding methods, Mohanakrishnan, an engineer who goes by a single name, told DW “I feed corn, groundnut, white corn, varieties of wheat, horse gram, candle millet, finger millet to all the birds regularly. Every morning, I also give oil feeds so as to strengthen the birds allowing them to fly longer distances.”
When asked about the training regime for the birds, he said the preparations begin soon after what is known as the “molting period” – typically between July and September – during which the pigeons shed their feathers for fresh ones. The first month after molting is crucial to make the birds’ wings stronger and hone their skills.
After monitoring flying abilities, Mohanakrishnan said homing pigeons are then made to fly at regular intervals between five and 120 kilometers (three – 75 miles) to boost their capability and sharpen their homing skills.
Over a 15-year lifespan, pigeons are their racing peak for four to five years. After this the best are kept as “stock birds” to strengthen the gene-pool of the next generation.
Mohanakrishnan added that an experienced fancier could determine whether a particular bird is worthy of racing by looking at its eyes, wing patterns, body, feathers and legs, but cautioned there is always a chance of making a mistaken guess.
Birds can also be lost due to several factors both during the training and racing phases – but this risk can be minimized if the fanciers take necessary precautionary measures, added Mohanakrishnan.
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)
