by Pigeon Patrol | Dec 25, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Spikes
Carnegie Library project manager Jack Sandezer had the gathering on Monday all agog.
He was taking the Patchogue-Medford Library staff, Friends of the Carnegie Library, Greater Patchogue Historical Society members and Legis. Rob Calarco and his staff, as well as library trustees, through some of the building’s areas.
“We’ve had the demolition contractor in and there were things revealed,” said Sandezer, who works for the Facilities Management Group, of some of the surprises.
For example, he pointed out a support issue that needed tackling.
“It’s hard to tell what’s original and what’s changed,” he said of the building’s past lives. “This would be a header, but it’s not shored up and we have some framing issues.” Sandezer was standing over by the rear entrance. “We had pigeons living on the upper story,” he added. The pigeons have been vacated humanely.
Patchogue-Medford Library director Lauren Nichols said they were now hoping for a winter or spring grand opening.
The Patchogue Carnegie Library opened in 1908 and led the state in circulation in 1915. Tritec, who owned it, donated it to the village and paid for its move to its current location in August 2012. The library’s new address, on the corner of West Avenue and West Main Street, was secured by Calarco. The village turned it over to the Patchogue-Medford Library two years ago for use as a young adult library; it will also be the home of the Greater Patchogue Historical Society. The library board committed to allow $1.5 million for renovations and Nichols said funds were achieved through the Knapp-Swezey Foundation and Priscilla Knapp Teich’s own private donations, as well as grants and fundraising from Friends of the Carnegie Library.
“I spent many an hour here as a kid,” reminisced Teich, who was looking at the gutted interior.
Historian Hans Henke was also among the interested parties. “One of the most important details was the interior woodwork,” he said.
Sandezer pointed out where there will be a wheelchair lift. “The floor will get demolished and dropped two feet,” he said, pointing to the side that faces Main Street.
The balusters made of mahogany that encircled the main entrance steps will be replicated. “I enjoy the details the old craftsmen have done, and it’s interesting to talk to people who can replicate them,” Sandezer said. “With these balusters, I’ll look for something close.”
The next steps would include redoing the outer brickwork and trim and the remainder of the demolition work.
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 | Dec 24, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Deterrent Products, Bird Netting
A mystery surrounding a missing flock of pigeons and a white van has been unfolding in Washington Square Park.
The Washington Square Park Blog reported Monday that a group of approximately 300 pigeons were lured with bird seed before being scooped up by a net and loaded into a white van by two unidentified men on Tuesday, July 21 at around 3 p.m. The NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad is currently investigating the case.
Pigeon trapping on private, commercial or public property without a permit is illegal in New York City, however the city does not accept complaints about netting, “the use of nets to collect large amounts of pigeons,” according to NYC.gov.
Artist and pigeon enthusiast Tina Trachtenberg, who is known for the felt pigeons she creates and sells in the park, initially informed the blog of the alleged abduction.
Trachtenberg, who also goes by the name “Mother Pigeon,” says she learned of the incident from a man named Larry, “a constant presence in the park,” who claims to have seen the pigeons placed in the van and taken away, according to the blog. Trachtenberg and her family held a memorial for the 300 missing pigeons on Saturday, July 25.
Trachtenberg believes the motive for the bird-napping is clear, though this has not been confirmed by authorities.
“The person who did this will transport them to Pennsylvania where they will have their wings clipped and be put into a mechanism that will shoot them in the air and men will shoot them for sport,” Trachtenberg posted on Facebook. “Our hearts are crushed.”
There have been reports in the past of pigeon brokers trapping and sell pigeons to people who participate in legal pigeon shootings in Pennsylvania. At these shoots and hunts, pigeons are propelled from a mechanical launcher and shot in midair.
Although these practices do not occur legally in New York, activists are alleging that there is a pattern where large quantities of pigeons are disappearing about a week before these scheduled Pennsylvania shoots take place.
In an interview with the Washington Square Park blog, a spokesperson for the NYC Parks Department pleaded with New Yorkers: “Don’t steal our animals! Pigeons are core to the character of New York City, and it is illegal and dangerous to remove animals from NYC Parks.”
Real estate agent and pigeon owner William Macleod has observed the pigeon flocks in Washington Square Park for eight years. Macleod regularly takes his birds to the park to fly alongside the wild birds and said he noticed a significant decrease in the park’s pigeon population after the July 21 incident. He said four of his banded pigeons are missing.
“I’m absolutely devastated. When I started letting my original two out, Jacko and Jix, I knew I may never see them again,” he said of his red belgian racers, whom he rescued eight years ago from a park garbage can three days after their birth. “But to know that they may be killed is what really upsets me.”
Joyce Friedman, NYC coordinator of the Humane Society of the United States, said there are ways for witnesses to report pigeon netting. “If you witness the netting in action, call 911; try to record license plate, and description of perps and vehicle,” Friedman said. “Witnesses to the recent Washington Square pigeon netting or any other pigeon nettings learned about after the fact should contact 311.”
There is also a $500 reward poster that was created by a concerned NYC photographer, Andrew Garn, looking for anyone with information about the Washington Square Park nettings.
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 | Dec 23, 2015 | Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Spikes
According to the blog, on July 21st, in the afternoon, a van pulled up next to the park and netted between 250 and 300 pigeons. The blog states that the NYPD is investigating this issue, but a spokesperson from the police stated: “There was no crime committed. Animal Cruelty Unit is not going to investigate something that isn’t a crime.”
This isn’t the first time pigeons were snatched from the streets of New York City. There have been reports for more than 10 years of pigeons getting netted by men in vans (usually white). These pigeons are then allegedly taken to Pennsylvania, where they are clipped and sold to be used in live canned shooting events.
If you think a couple of New York’s flying rats won’t be missed, you don’t know the power of nature. A memorial service was held last Saturday for the pigeons at the park. Tina Trachtenberg, artist and animal rights advocate, was behind this memorial.
Trachtenberg told the Washington Square Park blog: “You can’t go into a park and take a tree, take a squirrel. That’s not there for us to take.”
Park regular William MacLeod has rescued and raised number of pigeons since they were babies. He had a few trained to fly to his apartment window at night, and could call them to his shoulders just by walking through the park and calling their names.
“My pet birds,” he told the blog, “my five flyers are gone. There are 300ish birds in the park at any given time. I’ve counted about 30 are left.”
Taking wildlife from NYC is a crime, but the city seems to be turning a blind eye to this. The NYPD seems aware that “this happens” from time to time, but has not been willing to open any investigation into the issue.
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 | Dec 22, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Bird Netting, Pigeon Patrol's Services, UltraSonic Bird Control
Mysterious pink pigeons have left the people of Eastville and surrounding areas baffled.
With a number of theories about how the birds ended up so luminous, people have called the Post, sent in pictures and demanded answers.
But now it can be revealed that the pigeons belong to a family man who lives in Eastville.
After chasing confused residents who sent in pictures and speaking to people who live in the area, the Post has discovered that a Mr Singh, of Glenfrome Road, paints a number of his pigeons pink.
The long-term pigeon keeper from India paints his pigeons to protect them from preying birds.
In Mr Singh’s back garden are close to 100 birds – not all pink – kept in pens with the ability to fly free if they wish.
Mr Singh’s daughter said that the birds can fly away but they always return to their keeper.
The pigeon keeper has been awarded trophies for his hobby of pigeon racing and makes sure that they are in tiptop form by feeding them and giving them a lot of special care and attention.
A number of theories surfaced about the pigeons after a family sent in pictures of the garish birds.
One woman went as far to say that the birds can actually change colour if they eat pink foods.
While others said that there was a possibility that the birds might even be a pink tinted breed known as the Columba mayeri.
But if that was the case, the bird – which is native to Mauritius, over 6,000 miles away – would have escaped from a zoo. The family who originally sent in the pictures said that the bird had definitely been painted.
And Bristol Zoo bird expert, Evelyn Guyett, agreed.
She said: “That is definitely not a pink pigeon. I think the family are right in thinking it is a common rock dove that has been painted pink.
“We have Mauritius pink pigeons on show at Wild Place Project, and they are much larger than our native species, and not quite that fluorescent.”
It was also revealed that in Mr Singh’s native country, pigeon racing is a popular sport.
But although the collector’s intentions of marking his birds might be good, the RSPCA told the Post that painting pigeons is wrong.
This is because if the birds were to ingest the dye, there is the potential that it could be toxic.
An RSPCA spokesperson also said that the pigeons may find being restrained – so the owner can paint them – a stressful ordeal.
But a bird expert from the RSPB said that people often paint pigeons at certain events – such as weddings.
Mr Singh was unavailable for comment.
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 | Dec 21, 2015 | 4-S Gel Bird repellent, Animal Deterrent Products, Bird Netting, UltraSonic Bird Control
Several pigeons are trapped under netting put up by Primark last week.
Residents in Westgate Street are able to see the rooftop netting from their windows and say the scene is a “real horror show”.
They are calling on the Stall Street business to set the pigeons free and to secure the netting to stop other birds getting trapped.
The netting was erected to cover Primark’s air conditioning units on Tuesday July 28- to prevent pigeons from roosting there.
Paul Beresford has lived on Westgate Street for 16 years and has come to know the birds well, even raising a baby pigeon at one point.
He believes this bird is one of the birds trapped under the net.
The 54-year-old says it is distressing to see trapped birds trying to find a way out, as well as birds on the outside of the netting trying to reach birds inside.
He said: “The pigeon I’m talking about was evicted from somewhere else by the council. I took him on, winged and fledged him, and let him go.
“He has been back to see me and is one of the few birds I have looked after who has done that. He has remembered me and he has now got a mate.
“These creatures mate for life and they are touchingly affectionate parents.
“It’s a real horror show. In one way the pigeons might be better off dead. To be separated from their mate- it’s torture for them.
“It’s distressing watching them in distress.”
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)
Carnegie Library project manager Jack Sandezer had the gathering on Monday all agog.
