Pigeonsare usually not afraid of human contact. They often look for a place on our balconies, polluting them with faeces. This has a negative impact not only on the aesthetics of the balcony, but also poses a risk of transmitting zoonoses and causing allergies. Seehow to scare pigeons off the balconyand avoid their annoying company. Thanks to these methods, you will successfullyget rid of the pigeon problem !
Pigeons on the balcony. Photo pixabay.com
Which pigeons sit on the balcony?
Thecity pigeons we meet, often sitting on balconies , are a domesticated form of the wild rock pigeon, originally inhabiting southern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa. Their body length is 35 cm and their weight is 300 g. These birds are characterized by two black stripes on the wings and a white spot located at the bottom of the back. They usually nest on buildings, window sills or balconies. They feed on seeds, fruit and, occasionally, insects. They lead a sedentary, daily lifestyle. They live up to 3 years.
7 reasons to deter pigeons from the balcony:
- the place of living is dirty with faeces, feathers and food remnants (one pigeon is able to contaminate 10 times as much food as it eats)
- pigeons pose a serious epidemiological threat - bird nests are a breeding ground for insects and mites (barbs, bugs, mites)
- their ectoparasites attack humans and carry harmful microorganisms (including Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella ttyphimurium) causing diseases such as salmonellosis, yersiniosis and tuberculosis
- their dry droppings, feathers or epidermis remnants are allergenic
- pigeon droppings are a source of unpleasant odors and unsightly appearance
- acid reaction of pigeon droppings destroys building facades (economic losses caused by pigeons are mainly related to the necessity to renovate buildings)
As you can see,pigeons can cause serious damage on our balconies , so it is worth trying to discourage them from staying in these places.
Note!After removing the pigeons from the balcony, we may be attacked by ticks - pigeons ticks. These ticks attack humans when their main hosts, which are birds, are lacking. They prick painfully and transmit serious diseases and viruses, including Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Therefore, after scaring the pigeons from the balcony, it is recommended to spray against ticks with Aspermet 200 EC.It can be used both outdoors and indoors. It also removes mosquitoes.
7 ways to scare pigeons off the balcony
1. maintaining proper sanitary conditions
First of all, we should remembernot to feed the pigeonsAnd it is not only about deliberately spilling food for them, but also keeping the balcony clean and not leaving the remains of our food or even drinking water there. Otherwise, the availability of water and foodthe pigeons will be treated as an invitation to visit our balcony frequentlyand we will not be able to get rid of them.
2. Removal of pigeons' nests - ONLY DURING CONSTRUCTION!
" We remove and destroy the pigeon nestsestablished near our balcony. However, remember to do this ONLY DURING CONSTRUCTION, before the eggs appear, or when there are no birds in them.Under no circumstances should we eliminate nests with eggs or chicks hatched from them. When we remove the nest, we should pay attention to the place left after the nest - the pigeons will want to rebuild their home.We destroy the removed nests, because they are the main habitats of unwanted parasites "
Do not leave food scraps on the balcony as they are an invitation to the pigeons! Photo pixabay.com
3. Using protective nets
This is an effective method, but not very attractive to the eye. We can enclose our balcony with the mesh purchased or made by us. This solution is very effective -prevents pigeons from getting onto the balconyand thus protects against pollution and guarantees that an unwanted guest will not set up a nest on the balcony.
4. Chemical repellants
Their main ingredient is polyethylene or polybutylene - which are not highly toxic, but quite effectivediscourage and scare pigeons off the balcony They should be applied especially in places where birds most often sit. These measures, thanks to their sticky properties, make the birds gradually avoid places with repellant, and over time they stop coming to our balcony.
5. Sound scarers
They work by making loud noises - e.g. bangs, shots or the sounds of birds of prey. However, this method works mainly in open spaces, because in densely built-up buildings, such sounds will certainly disturb the residents of the estate. However, we can use, for example, recordings of sounds made by owls and predatory hawks when we see a pigeon.
6. Visual deterrents
Thismethod of deterring pigeons from the balconyinvolves the use of colored, preferably shiny tapes made of foil. In the wind they sparkle with a rainbow of colors, making sounds unpleasant for birds.The colorful, shimmering boards with visible silhouettes of birds of prey (preferably in black) also cause anxiety - especially with the imprint of their eyes, claws and beak. We can also hang up colorful flags or rags that will make the pigeons fear while making it difficult to access the place where they want to be.
We can scare away pigeons from our balcony with a CD , which, hung on a string, will scare the birds away with its glow. Here you can also use children's windmills or, for example, shiny plates. Such views pose a threat to birds who follow their natural instincts. Therefore, probablypigeons will not come back to our balconyonce again.
7. Fear of pigeons
Predatory organisms are again the best fear for pigeons. Here it is worth using, for example, rubber hoses, which, like in the case of foil or boards with the image of birds of prey,will discourage pigeons from visiting our balcony .
Pigeons are difficult opponents and when they like our balcony, they will certainly try to return to it. When deterring them from the balcony, remember to respect the rights of the natural environment.
There are many methods ofeffective deterring pigeons from our balconies , so if we declare war on them ourselves - use all available methods alternately, because pigeons may get used to new conditions over time. If we are consistent and patient - we will get rid of troublesome guests for a long time, and maybe forever: -)
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