Pigeons are abundant and look for roosting and nesting spots that resemble the rocks and cliff ledges they prefer. Having pigeons in your yard means you have gutters, chimney ledges, or balconies they enjoy for scoping out the area for food. Pigeons may also use eaves, barns, sheds, or roof vents to build a nest.
Pigeons are active all day, but even more so in the early mornings when they search for bugs, insects, flowers, grains, animal waste, and human food.
Signs of Pigeons
You will not likely find a pigeon in your home, but they make themselves known outside. The signs of pigeon activity can be easy to find. Pigeon droppings, for example, will be directly below the roosting spots. If you have multiple pigeons, the buildup of droppings can become a problem. Large amounts of droppings can be heavy and put pressure on wooden boards and beams. Eventually, wood will erode and become unstable, which can lead to cracking or breaking.
Pigeon droppings are acidic, killing vegetation and corroding parts of a home. Droppings can plug gutters, causing water drainage problems. It can grow mold spores that, when inhaled by humans, can cause respiratory issues. Pigeons are carriers of parasites that carry bacteria, like ticks and fleas. Pigeons are known to build their nests using dried droppings. If they build a nest in your ventilation system, it will create a fire hazard.
Our inspection process gives a definitive answer to whether you have a pigeon problem and, if so, how serious it is. We then create a plan to get rid of pigeons from your property.
Pigeon Control Methods
Whether you have a residential or commercial property, controlling pigeons and nuisance birds is much different than controlling other nuisance wildlife. For example, raccoons, bats, and squirrels can be easily and safely trapped. Trying to control birds with a trap is not conceivable since they can fly right back to their desired spot. Factors such as this make bird control difficult, especially for commercial property owners. One example is that pigeons and nuisance birds build nests in places dangerous for humans, like overhead signs and rafters.
Critter Control offers multiple options for controlling pigeon activity. Our technicians inspect the area where pigeons are active, determine the problem, then match it with an appropriate solution. If the problem is a pigeon getting into your chimney, we have various removal methods. If the problem is the birds are damaging garden crops, installing fencing is an option. If pigeon droppings are clogging your gutters or piling up under trees, we can install barriers and reduce the number of branches for roosting.
We seal and block access to their roosting spots. This can mean fixing broken vents or screens or installing roof barriers or netting. Mechanical repellents like spikes or porcupine wire deter pigeons from landing nearby. While trapping a pigeon using safe and humane methods is something we can do, it doesn’t always make the most sense. Pigeons are clever and will find their way back to your property. In some areas, relocating pigeons is not allowed to prevent the spread of disease.
The most beneficial control technique is to change the physical area to get pigeons to fly away on their own. Techniques we use include nets, spikes, and repellents that make it too uncomfortable for a pigeon to stay and roost.
Exclusion Methods
Exclusion methods keep pigeons away because they quickly realize there aren’t any good places to roost and food is scarce. Pigeons must have about an ounce of water daily and will leave an area if water is not readily available. Repairing leaky faucets and properly draining gutters can help control pigeon behaviors. Other methods include pruning trees so they do not get too thick, which is what pigeons like. Critter Control techs can teach you additional exclusions, like the following:
- Properly store garbage in garbage cans.
- Remove bird feeders.
- Fence gardens.
- Keep lawn free of pet waste.
- Avoid throwing out leftovers close to your home.
- Sealing areas on sheds and barns.
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Growing as long as 11 inches and weighing about 12 to 13 ounces, pigeons have gray bodies with dark blue heads, necks, and chests. A combination of yellow, green, and purple iridescence can be found along the neck and wings. Most pigeons have two dark bands across their wings and another band across their tail. Bills are typically black and have off-white areas of protective skin above the nostrils.
More information about what a pigeon looks like.
Pigeons make up one of the largest species of feral birds in the world. Wild pigeons can be found nesting along seaside cliffs, though they also build their nests either near or on barns, homes, and other buildings in both urban and rural areas. Pigeon nests are comprised of sticks and grasses clumped together and may be found in building lofts, church steeples, balconies, and home attics.
Are pigeons known to enter homes or yards?
Opportunistic feeders, pigeons often target human habitations and other manmade structures to roost, nest, and look for easy access to food sources. Farms with grain silos, homes with open garbage containers, and large parks all attract the birds with the promise of an easy meal. Neighborhoods and communities must often work together to deal with infestations of pigeons, as large flocks tend to settle an area all at once.
Do pigeons harm people or property?
Pigeon droppings can cause a variety of issues for buildings and people. In addition to being unsightly, the excrement corrodes buildings and kills vegetation when it accumulates in high enough volumes.
Additionally, accumulated droppings can contribute to the spread of histoplasmosis, which is extremely dangerous to the human respiratory tract. Pigeons also carry various parasites including mites, fleas, and ticks. Stored grains may become contaminated from the presence of pigeons. Large flocks sometimes cause collisions with aircrafts, as well.
For a long-term solution to problem pigeons, exclusion is usually an active part of professional bird management. Blocking open spaces on roofs with bird netting or changing the angle of ledges to avoid roosting can help prevent further infestations. Trained technicians can decide the most effective methods for each home or yard.
Blocking and sealing openings to roosting sites, fixing broken screens, and using mechanical repellents, such as spikes and porcupine wire, may discourage pigeons from landing on buildings. Refraining from feeding the birds and removing access to other food sources, such as garbage cans, also helps keep pigeon numbers down.
Certain methods, such as scare tactics, are usually ineffective at removing pigeons as the birds are accustomed to human interaction. As feral birds, pigeons are not protected by any federal or state laws, though local ordinances may exist; it is still best to call Critter Control to deal with the wild animals. Our wildlife specialists know how to perform humane pigeon removal that keeps populations at normal levels.