Bird control doesn’t have to mean extermination

When you think of London you may immediately think of Big Ben, the London Eye or perhaps the River Thames. No matter what monuments your conjure up you are also likely to think of one of London’s most common resident – the humble pigeon.

Bordering on being completely tame these feathered pests dominate as many public spaces as possible.  Their droppings ruin countless buildings, statues and areas of interest and they are invariably found underfoot, causing tourists to trip over.  It is no wonder then that bird control in London is a big business.

However, bird control brings with it its own problems. While many people are not too keen on the pigeons themselves, they also do not want to see them destroyed (even if it is in a humane manner).  It is worth pointing out then that such control measures do not have to result in the death or extinction of any pigeons, or other birds for that matter.

Rather than relying on birds of prey to catch and kill birds, or using poison to bring on a long and slow death more human methods have been developed over the years. These are especially popular among tourists who do not like the thought of birds being killed for the sake of aesthetics and the protection of landmarks.

Humane methods of control

Many professional pest controllers will have a number of ways to humanely control bird populations, so it is always worth having a chat with them first to decide what is likely to be the best option for you.  They will be able to talk to you about the type of pest you have, the area you are trying to protect, and what your goals are.

Some examples include:

• Netting 

  

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This can be used to protect buildings or vegetation. It is important to ensure that you are using the right sized netting appropriate to the size of the bird species you are trying to deter.  This can be difficult to gauge so always speak to a professional for advice.

• Spikes

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While these may sound barbaric, we are not talking about long spikes used to impale anything. Small, pointed plastic spikes can be mounted on window sills, TV aerials and roof tops to prevent birds from landing and therefore roosting.  Again, the gaps between the spikes should be carefully considered to ensure that smaller birds cannot continue to perch and cause problems.

• Wires

If you do not like the idea of spikes (mainly because they can look unsightly on the side of buildings) then it may be worth considering the use of wires.  Again these can be useful ways of preventing birds from roosting on ledges and are almost completely invisible from the ground.

The Problem with Pigeons

Despite their stellar work during the Second World War, pigeons are often seen and imagined in something of a negative fashion. We give pigeons bad names such as “rats with wings” and “flying rats” and we use precautions to help reduce their numbers.

The bird problems faced in city areas is that although we know to be fearful or wary of pigeons, we seldom know why they pose such a problem, and indeed whether the threat is real or imagined.

#1. Diseases in Excrement

As with many birds, the threat of disease from a pigeon lies with its’ excrement. Known as guano, pigeon droppings are believed to carry as many diseases as a common rat. However, there are experts who believe that in this case the threat may not be as severe as we have been led to believe. Whilst it is true that pigeon guano contains a variety of diseases, there are no more therein than might normally be found in the excrement of a common household pet. Therefore, as long as anyone handling pigeon excrement is careful whilst doing so (in that they wear gloves, and wash thoroughly afterwards) they are likely to remain safe.

There are of course instances where a person might not be aware in advance that they’re going to come into contact with guano and therefore has no opportunity to take precautions. Walking along in a heavily infested area might mean that guano from a flying pigeon lands on you which is deeply unpleasant but unlikely to be hazardous to health.

A final problem lies with guano that is well dried but must be disturbed for cleaning purposes. It is believed that the dust given off by well dried excrement can be dangerous for those with existing respiratory problems as it may irritate the bronchial passages. Again this is something which may be dealt with through the use of a dust mask during cleaning.

#2. Compromising Buildings

However, just because the guano is not actually hazardous to humans doesn’t mean that it doesn’t cause problems. Pigeons are considered a pest because they tend to attract other pests. Guano is extremely acidic and when left on roof and building surfaces, it can compromise them, which can in turn be a magnet for activity from other pests and insects.

#3. Overpopulation

There is also the issue of overpopulation from pigeons. Although parks and places such as Trafalgar Square have long been magnets for pigeon populations, there are those who believe that they are now causing such issue because of their numbers that they damage the human visiting experience. As such, many towns and cities have projects in place to limit the amount of breeding that their flocks of pigeons can do. These projects might include the use of bird spikes to prevent nesting.

About the Author:

David is leading expert of pest control in the UK and also deals with the Total Bird Control. He is well equipped to provide advice on bird spikes and netting issues.