I loathe pigeons! They’re ugly, stupid bullies.

I loathe pigeons! They’re ugly, stupid bullies.

Pigeon PatrolShocking news: The pigeon, is taking over.

If you do not believe me, just look at the figures from last week’s RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch survey.

In the past 35 years, sightings of pigeons in our gardens has increased sevenfold, or a horrible 743 per cent, while robins have reduced their cheeky, inquisitive appearances by 45 per cent.

Disgusting: In the past 35 years, sightings of pigeons in our gardens has increased sevenfold, or a horrible 743¿per cent

I suppose there’s someone who welcomes a pigeon into their garden. Probably the same person who feeds them in Trafalgar Square before retiring out of range. But the truth is, pigeons are stupid, irritating, destructive and ugly..

I no longer have a vegetable garden. My pigeon problem is closer to home.

Last year, the pigeons were on the winning side in this  eternal battle. Now I know why. According to the RSPB, there are 5,400,000 breeding pairs of wood pigeons in the UK.

Worse still for us pigeon non-fanciers, they are quite capable of having several families, with two or three eggs per nest, in the course of the year, particularly when the weather is mild.

Problem: According to the RSPB, there are 5,400,000 breeding pairs of wood pigeons in the UK

I didn’t always dislike them. In my childhood, I used to go out in the field and woods with my brothers who were shooting pigeons, and felt quite sad when they downed one.

I was fond, too, of reading stories about brave carrier pigeons that were such heroes in both World Wars. Even this year I was moved by the story of a World War I pigeon named Cher Ami that delivered his message despite being gravely wounded.

He was patched up and given a wooden leg, but died a year later — when it was discovered he was actually a hen, so should have been called Chere Amie.

In the summer I only have to take a deckchair and sit under a tree in a quiet corner of the garden for a pigeon or two to arrive over my head, clattering and banging among the leaves before embarking on a frantic cooing routine, which sounds more like a pneumatic drill.

The saddest thing about this rant is that I really do love birds. I would be prepared to love pigeons if there weren’t so many of them and they didn’t invade my garden.

The only place I am able to admire pigeons nowadays is in Chinese paintings whose artists somehow manage to turn their annoying plumpness into stateliness. They are often paired with peonies or flowering cherry trees, which they inhabit with a proprietorial air, little round eyes gleaming complacently.

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)  Now shipping World Wide.

 

What can be done about … Those dirty birds?

What can be done about … Those dirty birds?

Pigeon PatrolThe city of North Platte is evaluating how to cope with feral pigeons that call the city home.

City Administrator Jim Hawks said that during the budget process for the 2013-14 fiscal year, he decided not to opt in to a United States Department of Agriculture program the city has utilized several times. Instead, he asked Police Chief Mike Swain to evaluate the city’s process.

“We did contract with [the USDA], and we felt for the money spent, there wasn’t much of a noticeable difference,” Swain said. “Our hope is we can find another method.”

Thus far, Swain said his department hasn’t found the answer.

“We can’t open a hunting limit and we can’t make it possible for everyone to use their guns. It has to be within our ordinances. Right now, I’m still researching,” he said. “We’re hoping to find something, because the pigeon population certainly isn’t going down.”

In the past, the city and Lincoln County opted in to the USDA’s animal damage control program, which helps counties manage animals that can cause problems — like pigeons, coyotes and beavers.

Solutions are not easy to come by for city

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)  Now shipping World Wide.

Why do birds space themselves out on overhead wires?

Every time I see many pigeons perched on wires, they are sitting far apart from each other.

The only reason I can think of is that they need space between each other in the event that they have to escape predators fast without hitting one another.

Good theory, but scientists actually have studied the distance between not only pigeons but other birds. They have determined it’s not to make it easier to take flight or land. The birds could easily do that in less space.

 

Blackbirds on power lines theory is that it’s a self-governing system to prevent conflicts among the birds.

They create some personal space by perching far enough apart that it would take some effort to start a fight with another bird.

Humans do it, too. Think about the last time you stood in line and the person behind you was practically breathing down your neck.

Having your space violated can make you pretty grumpy. And because the person is close, it makes it easy to accidentally on purpose step on their toes.

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)  Now shipping World Wide.

 

Peregrine falcon goes up to keep down pigeon numbers

Peregrine falcon goes up to keep down pigeon numbers

pigeon patrol 2011, the hospital brought in specialists from NBC Bird and Pest Solutions because the number of pigeons had increased since the building was revamped.

The firm’s bird handlers now bring the birds of prey to the site about three times a week. Duncan Jones, marketing manager for NBC Bird and Pest Solutions, said: “They are used as a predatory deterrent to keep pigeons away. Rather than culling or trapping the pigeons, which could kill them, this is a wildlife friendly way to keep them off the site.

“The pigeons quickly determine that there is a predatory presence in the area and leave.”

 

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)  Now shipping World Wide.

Pigeon or Parrot you decide?

Pigeon or Parrot you decide?

Pigeon Patrol funny bird

Over the weekend a couple of peculiar looking pigeons were spotted. Are they parrots? Or are they both?  “I have never seen birds with this marking and have not been able to find anything about them online.  Or maybe a teenage pigeon got mad at mom and dad and rebelled by Manic Panic-ing her feathers? Or maybe these pigeons are just naturally cooler than the other pigeons?  Or maybe someone is breeding parrots with pigeons and one day our streets will be so colorful? Or maybe a human dyed them for an art project.

We’ve reached out to a local bird expert, as well as the Audubon Society for answers, and will update when we know more.Pigeon Patrol funny 2

 

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)  Now shipping World Wide.