Pigeon Control Products

by Alex A. Kecskes

Who hasn't fed a flock of eager bobbing-headed pigeons at the park? Or chased them into a tree? The honest truth is, we've had a love-hate relationship with our grey-feathered friends since they first landed on a statue or church tower.

If you're a home or boat owner, or a facilities manager for a warehouse, airport, park, zoo, government or commercial building, the pest pigeon has undoubtedly cost you time and money. Which is not surprising, since your typical pigeon deposits roughly 25 pounds of poop annually. And you've learned, through rather painful experience, just how damaging pigeon poop can be.

It can ruin a painted surface, permanently scar wood and metal, even reduce concrete and expensive stonework into something resembling a coral reef. The only way to rid a surface of pigeon waste is to blast it off with powerful (and very expensive) boom lifts and steam hoses. Pigeon damage in America has risen to the tune of well over $1 billion annually. Worse yet, more and more people are becoming aware of the many health risks associated with pigeon waste. We now know that the bacteria, fungi and parasites that live and grow in pigeon droppings can carry and transmit any of 60 known diseases. Even the fleas, mites and ticks that bury themselves in pigeons can carry a number of diseases.

If you're like most people who have been victimized by pest pigeons, you long for a pigeon control solution. Relax. There are many. Each is effective, humane and easy to install and use.

Perhaps the most effective pigeon control device ever invented is the Bird Spike. This deterrent has saved many a sign, storefront, warehouse and commercial building from costly cleanups and repairs. Ideal for rooftops, awnings, girders, ledges, and just about anywhere pigeons try to land, the long threatening tentacles coming out of these spike strips are a powerful persuader in convincing pigeons to move on. The longest lasting spikes are made of stainless steel, others have rigid U.V.-resistant unbreakable polycarbonate spikes. Either way, the spikes won’t harm birds. When installing the spiked strips (some can be glued down, others can be tied or nailed down), they're usually positioned to cover an entire ledge and to seal off corners and open sides. This is done to prevent some smart pigeon from sneaking around the strip. 

The most entertaining pigeon control device is the Bird Slope. The slippery, angled PVC panels keep pigeons from getting a solid footing when they try to land. They just slide off doing a "Road Runner" with their legs. Ideal for beams, ledges, eaves, and other 90-degree nooks and crannies where pigeons tend to nest and roost, the panels are available in a variety of colors to blend into a structure's aesthetics. Installation is a snap as they can be glued to any surface or screwed to wood. One suggestion: opt for UV stabilized polycarbonate panels that retain their color and last longer.

Another shockingly simple solution is the Electric-Track pigeon repeller. They keep pest pigeons away be imparting a harmless but very annoying electric shock. Once shocked, pigeons simply avoid the area and move on. Electric-track pigeon control is perfect for rooftops, ledges, and almost any flat or curved surface. Easy to install, the low-profile electrified tracks readily conform to a wide variety of architectural configurations. Aesthetically, when the tracks are installed on rooftops or signs, they're virtually invisible to anyone looking up from below. In terms of which track designs work for you, opt for the flow-through designed tracks, which prevent water from damming up on rooftops and other surfaces. One manufacturer uses marine grade Monel knitted wire in its tracks, which is stronger than steel, resistant to corrosion and highly resistant to alkali and acidic environments. The knitted design incorporates a single strand of high gauge wire and a tube-within-a-tube design that allows for increased conductivity and strength.

For larger areas, few pigeon control solutions beat Pigeon Netting. If it's properly installed, pigeons simply can't get through, become frustrated and leave. Ideal for rooftops, courtyards, patio covers, and other large areas, heavy-duty pigeon netting is often prescribed by builders. For applications that call for lasting durability, opt for ISO 1806 mesh test polyethylene fabric. It's U.V. stabilized, flame resistant and rot and waterproof. When installing netting, be sure to drape it over window recesses, balconies and complete rooftops to prevent pigeons from sneaking in.

If you're into high-tech pigeon control devices, you might consider a Solar Powered Pigeon Repeller. With arms rotating at 30 RPM, this device briskly sweeps pigeons away. This solution is ideal for roofs, signs, billboards, parapet walls, and almost any flat surface. Many restaurants use these devices to keep outdoor eating tables clear of birds before they open in the morning.

Another high-tech pigeon control device that's well suited for a wide range of outdoor applications is the Sonic Repeller. It emits annoying distress and predator calls only birds can hear. Pigeons feel threatened by the sounds of their natural enemies and leave.

Next up is a sticky solution that pigeons hate. Called Bird Gel, you apply it to troublesome areas with a caulking gun. The stuff is non-toxic and won’t harm birds, yet it sticks to pigeons' toes like warm saltwater taffy. It's like when you go to the movie theater and step in a puddle of half dried soda pop.

If you're on a budget, there's one last pigeon control solution you should consider: Pigeon Scare deterrents. They include an entire family of products that create an "Optical Distraction Zone." They do this through the use of iridescent reflective foil or flash tape and inflatable balloons covered with lifelike reflective predator eyes. Some have day/night capabilities--iridescent foil eyes to scare away birds by day and glow-in-the-dark backsides to frighten them off at night. So you get two deterrents when you install one.