How To Control Pigeon Numbers In Towns And Cities.

'Dovecotes are the way forward however you need to set aside an annual budget for the general dovecote maintenance and care of the pigeons for this long term project'

The need to control feral pigeon populations in urban areas has been the subject of intense debate for decades with town and city councils making little impact on the problem due to lack of investment and, in many cases, a reluctance to think laterally. Although the feral pigeon has been a common feature of urban life for the last 100 years there is no doubt that urban flocks are now growing faster than their numbers can be controlled. The reason for this unprecedented rise in feral pigeon numbers is due, almost exclusively, to the availability of food and the methods used to control the birds. Other factors such as the availability of good roosting and breeding facilities also play their part.

The feral pigeon is completely at home in urban environments, exploiting humans for food and using buildings for the purposes of roosting and breeding. This is because the feral pigeon is a descendent of the rock dove, a cliff-dwelling bird that was commonly found feeding and breeding along rocky coastlines prior to its mass exodus inland to make its home alongside man. The only proven method of reducing pigeon flock size as part of an area-wide control system is to use artificial breeding facilities. This stand-alone method of control has been scientifically proven to reduce pigeon flock size and is currently being employed throughout mainland Europe by councils and commercial organisations alike. The principle of a scheme using artificial breeding facilities is to provide a pigeon loft or dovecote in which feral pigeons can be encouraged to roost and breed and from which their eggs can be removed as laid and replaced with dummy eggs. This method of breeding control has been found to be extremely effective in reducing flock size and maintaining that reduction indefinitely.

Other pigeon control products are available, although deterrents cannot be considered to be cheap, if the correct choice is made and if the product is sourced and installed by the property owner concerned at least 20-30 years’ protection should be afforded. The correct choice of deterrents is key, with some anti-perching products such as repellent gel only providing between 3 and 12 months’ protection and bird exclusion products like nylon bird netting only offering 5-10 years’ protection. The anti-roosting spike will, however, offer the property owner up to 30 years’ protection without the need to maintain or replace the product, making it an economical and aesthetically pleasing choice.

The above information is taken from the following article supplied by the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
DB

Bird Spike Quality and Building Aesthetics

'Bird spike customers need to understand the long term dangers of inferior products!'

Quality in bird spikes is paramount to the ongoing success of town high streets, shopping centres and building aesthetics, as cheaper overseas products come onto the UK market. Although they offer value for money the long term damage of brown staining to buildings from rusting wires can be costly. The Defender stainless steel bird spike range manufactured by Jones & Son Pest Control Supplies Ltd in the UK use 304 grade stainless steel with 8% nickel content ensuring a rust free product. An cheaper alternative to stainless steel is the plastic bird spike made from 100% UV polycarbonate, these can be used in exactly the same installations as the steel spikes.

Dave B