Tag: Pigeon

When people ask me what I do and I explain I’m in the bird control industry, they always respond with how interesting and pretty birds can be. I then explain to them how I only get to deal with a few ‘pest bird’ species and that the number one pest bird I’ve dealt with in my 20+ years in the industry is the Pigeon.

Unfortunately, the Victoria Crowned Pigeon pictured above isn’t even a species I’ve seen in my life. Though I do find common pigeons interesting, and all animals can be pretty in their own way.

However, by the time I get involved it is usually at the point where they have made a disgusting and dangerous mess and have caused thousands in damage and loss. I’d like to help people to solve their bird problems by deterring pigeons before it gets to that level. 

So, in this blog, I will focus on one or two specific pigeon deterrents in each episode. I want to be fair on what has worked and what has not worked in my experience. But, before I can start on the specific pigeon or pest bird deterrents, I should share some basic facts, habits and biology in this first blog.

Why Pigeons Become a Property Problem

Pigeons become a problem because commercial properties often give them everything they need to survive. Rooflines, ledges, beams, signs, HVAC areas, parking structures, loading docks, and covered spaces all create safe places to land and roost.

Once pigeons settle, the issue grows fast. Droppings build up, nests block drainage or equipment areas, and parasites may spread near occupied spaces. These problems affect building appearance, maintenance costs, safety, and customer experience.

The bigger issue is repeat behavior. Pigeons remember safe locations and return to them often. This is why property owners need prevention, not only cleanup.

Learn more about the risks of bird droppings, compare different bird deterrents, and see how the Symterra bird deterrent system helps protect commercial properties.

Why Do Pigeons Keep Returning to the Same Building?

The common pigeon (Columba livia) that thrives throughout the United States and all continents except Antarctica. Feral pigeons developed from the European rock dove and were introduced into this country as a domesticated bird. When these birds’ escaped captivity, they formed feral populations, creating a pigeon problem.

How Do Pigeons Choose Where to Roost?

Pigeons have short, muscular bodies. With a height of 12 to 13.5 inches with weight of 10 to 13oz. The color of their feathers vary but is usually gray, with green, blue and purple glitters. They have short, yellow beaks with a slight curve. Today, the pigeon is probably the most serious bird pest associated with human habitations.

Pigeons are likely most known for their feasting habits pigeons will happily eat just about anything they can find, from seeds and grains to garbage- which is why they thrive so well in human populated areas. Pigeons are commonly found around farmyards, grain elevators, feed mills, parks, city buildings, bridges and other areas that provide roosting, loafing and nesting sites and nearby food sources. They are also a common sight around commercial buildings and food production facilities. 

The Health Risks Linked to Pigeon Droppings

Pigeons and their bird droppings have been implicated in the transmission of diseases such as pigeon ornithosis, encephalitis and salmonella food poisoning. However, disease outbreaks that are directly attributed to pigeon flocks are rare.

Pigeon manure, if allowed to accumulate, can harbor the causal agent of histoplasmosis, a systemic fungus disease that affects the human respiratory tract. In severe cases, histoplasmosis can be fatal.

Parasites and Safety Hazards Caused by Pigeons

The external parasites of pigeons include various species of mites, fleas, ticks and bugs. In addition to being a threat to human health, pigeons can be a threat to human safety, particularly around airports, where pigeon flocks have collided with aircraft, causing human fatalities. And, in slip and fall accidents as their droppings are greasy and can be very slippery. 

The Economic Impact of Pest Pigeons

There are 400 million pigeons in the world. In the USA alone, the negative economic impact is in the tens of millions of property damage, product damage, lost time clean-up of droppings and injury to people, The cost of mitigation and pigeon deterrents by themselves reach into the tens of millions each year as well. And the population of pigeons is continuing to grow.

Why Pigeons Are Hard to Deter Once They Settle

Pigeons are highly loyal to places that provide food, shelter, and safety. Once they choose a roosting or nesting site, they return to it repeatedly, often for years.

They can breed year-round in mild climates and raise multiple broods, so a small pigeon issue can quickly grow into a major infestation. Deterrents installed after pigeons settle are far less effective and more expensive.

This is why early action matters. Preventing pigeons from landing in the first place is always easier than removing them after nests and droppings appear.

What’s Next: Bird Netting, Spikes, and Other Deterrents

Some tactics to get rid of pigeons include pigeon control products meant to scare pigeons, act as bird repellent, or discourage the act of pigeons congregating. The best pigeon repellents act before pigeons land and have a chance to cover your home or business in unsightly and unhealthy pigeon poop. In the next episode, I will discuss bird spikes, their positives and negatives, their place in the control of pigeons, and their value as a pigeon deterrent.