Pigeons

From a pigeon's point of view, city living can't 
be beat. Food and water are readily available. 
Predators are few and far between. Plus, there's 
plenty of free housing: Window ledges, rooftops,
bridges, and warehouses offer space for whole 
flocks to rest and take shelter in close proximity.

At first glance,it appears to be an ideal arrangement. 
We provide room and board; in return, the birds add 
a little warmth and color to our cold concrete canyons. 
So what's the problem?

In a word: droppings. 

Not only is pigeon poop unsightly, it can damage 
buildings, monuments, and automobiles. If allowed 
to accumulate, human health problems may arise. 

Luckily, a little patience and understanding go 
a long way toward resolving conflicts between 
people and pigeons. Removing the birds in 
question may seem like an obvious answer. 
The truth is, the results are short-lived 
simply because it creates a vacancy that 
other animals quickly fill. 
Humane conflict prevention and resolution 
is less expensive and more effective over 
the long-term. 

Exclusion

Deter pigeons from roosting on railing and 
pipes by installing a single strand wire 
barrier 1½ to 2 inches above the center of 
the surface so that birds will be off 
balance when they attempt to perch. Other 
devices that work include wire coils, spikes 
(usually described as "porcupine wire") and 
electrified wires. Pigeons can be discouraged 
from roosting on flat surfaces such as ledges 
and light fixtures by using boards or sheet 
metal to create a 45° or greater slope. 

Netting can be used to exclude birds from 
virtually any type of structure, from a 
house to an office building. To evict 
birds from window ledges, the netting is   
anchored to the roof, draped across the 
front of the structure and then tightly 
secured to the base and sides of the 
building. Netting can be used under bridges 
or inside buildings where pigeons perch on 
beams, girders, struts, and supports. 

Door curtains can also be used to prevent 
bird access into buildings, such as warehouses, 
that must be somewhat open to daily traffic. 
The netting is installed in overlapping strips 
so as to form a protective curtain that parts 
to allow the passage of personnel and vehicles, 
then falls back into place to seal out pigeons. 
Large-scale applications of netting almost 
always require the expertise of professionals. 
A growing number of companies provide excellent 
long-term solutions to urban bird problems. 

Repellents

Sticky substances (polybutenes) are sold to 
discourage pigeons and other birds from landing 
on treated surfaces, but we do not recommend 
these because they can adhere to and foul the 
feathers of any bird that comes into contact 
with them, and may be harmful to smaller species. 

Sound has been used effectively to scare away 
some types of birds, but pigeons, more than others, 
seem to learn to ignore loud noises quickly. 
Municipal noise ordinances must also be considered 
when using firearms or pyrotechnics.