Most birds, in their natural environment, are perfectly harmless. In fact, many people actively encourage birds on to their property by hanging up bird feeders and providing a source of fresh water for them.
Pigeons however can be a different story. These birds have adapted perfectly to our urban environment, multiplying in huge numbers, and they’re often referred to as ‘sky rats’.
We as a pest control company in South London want to advise you of the following…
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Pigeon Problems
Feral pigeons can be a nightmare. They nest on roofs, balconies and in guttering, causing problems with noise and swooping. However their worst problem is the mess they leave behind.
Pigeon droppings look horrible and the acid in them causes damage to the finish on buildings and to your car, whereas droppings on the pavements can become slippery when wet causing a hazard to pedestrians. Pigeon droppings also contain bacteria and fungi that are potentially harmful to humans.
In addition, their droppings, along with nesting material and dead birds, will block up drains and guttering, causing water damage to buildings and contaminating the water supply if they get into uncovered water tanks.
Their presence is especially unwelcome around businesses, particularly food premises.
Pigeon Barriers
One of the most effective ways of preventing pigeons from taking up residence around your property is by putting up barriers on the places they like to roost, such as roofs and ledges.
Fit anti-roosting spike strips – available in hardware stores or garden centres – to favourite roosting spots, or tie weatherproof string along the ledges so they can’t perch comfortably.
If you’re experiencing a particularly bad problem, professionally installed netting is a discreet and effective solution.
Reducing the Population
Traditionally, pigeons feed on seed and grain, but as they’ve adapted to the urban environment, they’ve also adopted a love of our food waste.
Eliminating food sources from your property will encourage pigeons to go elsewhere to find their food – this includes pet food left outside and grass seeds on your lawn.
If you like to feed the birds, then controlling access to larger birds like pigeons is possible. Cage in food so that only the smaller birds can get to it, using netting that has a mesh size of 2.5 inches.
Professional pest control experts can also remove the nest and any eggs from the site, to reduce the number of birds raised at that location and encourage the birds to nest elsewhere.
Pigeon Scaring
Finally, if you don’t like pigeons around, then scare them off. There are various audio deterrents on the markets – some automatic, others manual – or you can install electric deterrents that give the birds a small shock when they land.
If you’re looking to bird proof your home, you can do this by placing a life-like bird of prey decoy on your property will stop pigeons from coming too close, and if you have a large commercial property you can hire a professional bird handler to bring a trained bird of prey to your premises, which will convince the nesting pigeons that this location isn’t safe for them.
If you’re concerned about a pigeon problem at your property, call in a professional pest control expert who can advise you on the best options for your requirements.
