Even if you are an animal lover, you will definitely not be able to fall in love with pigeons that trouble your life with piles of manure and their noisy sounds. Imagine that when you were walking around when a pigeon pooped on you, it was disgusting, isn’t it? What’s worse is that your car may be covered with pigeon droppings every morning and cleaning it out is not easy at all.
Whether in urban or rural, it is inevitable that this seemingly harmless pest. Pigeons are not really healthy and even pigeons are a species of dangerous infectious diseases. So how to get rid of pigeons / doves? Luckily, there are now many humane ways to eradicate pigeons. Do not worry!
How do the Pigeon?
Dove is known as a symbol of peace, much loved. They are also birds with a long history that few other birds have. Pigeons are known to be smarter than many other birds. Because of their guiding instincts, they possess special abilities, so strange phenomena exist around their abilities.
However, they are becoming more and more annoying with increasing numbers due to the reduction of wild predators.
#1 Smart birds of the animal world
In the animal kingdom, each existing species has its own magical abilities, which make people surprised and admired for their abilities, typically pigeons. Scientists paid close attention to the pigeons’ special abilities, so they made interesting discoveries about the strange phenomena that exist around their ability. Although pigeons’ brain size is very small, they can distinguish and name objects similar to those of children learning letters.
New research by the University of Iowa shows that pigeons have the ability to learn to distinguish 128 photos into 16 basic categories. Scientists teach them how to identify different attributes and characteristics of a dog or a horse breed. They display unclear black-and-white photographs of dogs or horses to check that they can correctly identify the corresponding signs.
After the experiment, the scientists determined that the bird had an approach to signs similar to the way a child began to learn letters. In order for the pigeons to distinguish 16 different items, researchers must train them within 40 days.
#2 One of the oldest birds
You may not believe it but the dove was raised as a bird from a long time ago. Evidence confirming this fact is the traces recorded on a stone tablet dating back about 5,000 years. In addition, in the tombs of the Egyptians also found similar things that mark the appearance of this bird.
#3 Able to recognize human faces
Another study was conducted to confirm this fact. They put two men of similar appearance wearing two different shirts and went to the park where there were many pigeons perched. One is gentle, friendly, and feeds the birds while the other is rude, growling, and chasing them away. After that, the two of them came back with different clothes and this time they did nothing. As a result, the birds appeared to avoid the man who was annoyed with them.
#4 Position the flight path with the movement of the sun
Another interesting fact about pigeons is that they can easily find their way back to their nests even though they are so far away that they rarely get lost. To do this, pigeons rely on two special types of senses: one is based on terrain and smell to know where you are; two is to rely on the movement of the sun to locate the flight path; From there, you can return to the nest despite long distances and complicated paths. In addition, pigeons also have the ability to locate by magnetic fields, so they can distinguish both North – South directions.
#5 Never operate alone
They are birds that live in flocks and often fly together foraging; In particular, pigeons know how to compromise themselves and make arrangements to make the right decisions for the flock in finding the most effective way to fly back to the nest.
So once they decide where to nest, you’ll have the headache of enduring the troubles that a large number of pigeons bring. How to keep birds from nesting is a question you will need immediate answers every time you encounter this situation.
#6 Habitat
Pigeons can live anywhere, they appear in almost every place on earth. Some species choose to live in rural areas, while others choose to live busy in urban areas.
Depending on the species, they may choose to nest in the ground or on a tree. However, in urban areas, if there is a lack of trees, pigeons will nest in places of a certain height instead of trees such as rooftops and apartment complexes. That’s why you should try to prevent birds from nesting in your living area.
Dove is a wanderer, so its nest is not as sure as many other birds. They often nest in small branches or scrap and often put eggs or young in the nest to find food.
#7 Dilemma
As mentioned above, pigeons are very intelligent so they can easily adapt to life in urban areas. This makes them a threat to the peaceful lives of many people. They will constantly make noise, even in the early morning or when night falls. Surely you do not want the precious weekend break in the morning to be destroyed by the noise.
The main food for pigeons is fruits, nuts and insects. However, in the city these foods are not available in the wild so the pigeons have to search the trash to find food. It is for that reason that pigeons often smell and carry many different diseases.
Their droppings are one of the most annoying factors. Bird on the roof can be annoyed by noise and its droppings. It contains a lot of acid so it can erode a car, concrete, roof or many other areas. Besides, the faeces also contain many bacteria that are dangerous to humans and pets.
How to keep pigeons away from your home?
When your home is about to face the risk of pigeons invading, how to keep birds away from porch or roof is what you need to find out immediately because these are the ideal places to do it. nest.
Using preventive measures not only helps to stop the infiltration of the pigeon but also eliminates the chance of returning to the previous birds.
#1 Pigeons deterrence
Pigeons can live around humans, they can be a daring bird but also very easily threatened. Currently, there are many common threats methods that many households in the world have used. You can use sounds to scare birds or predatory equipment and models.
Use an owl bird deterrent placed in the area where the pigeons often gather to chase them away. An owl, an eagle, or a fake snake can terrify a dove. However, you need to have ideas that change often to prevent pigeons from realizing. Remember that pigeons are very intelligent, so you need to change the position of the model regularly or change into other predator models.
For pigeons, a large bird of prey appears in your garden is enough to scare them. However, it is even more frightening if that owl or hawk model can turn its head and make a sound.
Currently on the market sell a variety of electronic models whose heads can rotate or the wings can move like a real owl. Some come with sound, based on motion sensors. When a pigeon flies past, it will automatically turn on and off the sound startling and frightening them.
You can try out Gardeneer’s model, which has all the necessary and smart features to get rid of trouble birds.
Besides, these models are usually light in weight, so they are easy to install and move. They are also designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, but it’s best not to expose them to water because they’re electronics anyway.
The strength of this product is the ideal size to scare all birds, the light weight comes with nails and a mounting plate so you can install them in any area. It can also withstand larger winds if filled with gravel or sand.
However, the head may spin 360 degrees sometimes stuck, but it will work again if you correct a little bit. It comes with a sound system but the quality is not really good.
You can also use other devices to scare birds, such as motion fountains or deterrent sonic to keep them away.
#2 Eliminate pigeon attraction
This is considered to eliminate the reason why pigeons come to nest in your home. Removing the elements that may attract your dove is one of the simplest and most effective ways.
Get rid of all fruit that falls under the tree, use nets to protect the crop and also prevent birds from damaging it. Similarly, remove standing water or open water to prevent birds from turning it into a bath or drinking water.
Besides, you also need to eliminate the ideal place for birds to nest. If you’ve learned how do birds make nests, make sure that birds like to nest in enclosed and structured areas so they can keep their nests. Block small holes, cut branches, use cloth or styrofoam to fill empty holes in the porch, roof. Besides that you should also bird nest removal of previous birds to avoid new birds coming in these nests.
#3 Bird repellent
When large numbers of pigeons enter your home to find a nest, you cannot use extermination methods to eliminate individual birds. At times like these you need to apply a different wide-area method to overwhelm them forcefully.
Currently on the market there are many types of repellent, in the form of spray or gel. These products are widely sold online so you can find them easily. They often smell of predator urine, which can be concentrated or copied according to the chemical formula of real urine. When using repellents, the pigeon will think that predators are very close to you and will not dare to approach your home. However, this product usually cannot hold the scent for a long time and can easily be washed away when it rains.
You can also use natural bird repellent by making your own to save money. Not only can it keep pigeons away but also eliminate many other pests.
The procedure is very simple, first you need to grind about 40 peppers, then add them to 1 gallon of water. However natural bird repellent
This can not be used immediately but you need to ferment naturally in the sun within 1 week. Once fermented, add a little vinegar to the mixture and mix well. All you need to do next is to pour the mixture into a spray bottle and then spray around the house and places where pigeons appear.
The pungency in chili peppers will make the pigeon’s feet hurt every time it lands on the mixed spray. This stimulation is certainly not pleasant at all and the pigeons will not dare to experience it a second time.
Besides a bird repellent spray, you can also use a gel to keep pigeons away. This is how to keep birds away from porch that you should refer. This gel can be applied to surfaces where birds or birds land, making them unable to escape once exposed.
#4 Bird-X 54-1 Proof Bird Repellent Gel
A product that works well for an affordable price. A small amount of gel is enough to trap all birds on it. Not only that, it also does a good job destroying insects and other small animals like ants, spiders, mosquitoes, … once stuck. This product is non-toxic and can work well for several hours, to eliminate just use a wet cloth. However, this product does not work well in dusty environments.
How to Get Rid of Pigeons?
If these measures are not enough to prevent pigeons, then you need stronger measures. Although it took a bit of time to get rid of them, today it has become much easier than before.
#1 Use a dove trap
Using a dove trap is the answer to the question “How to catch a bird in your house?”. A humanitarian trap with an attractive bait is what helps you get rid of the pigeon (works best when the number of copes is not too large).
All you need to do is choose a bait, usually fruit, nuts or sometimes poison bait. You need to be persistent for a few nights in order for the bird to be less alert to the trap and note that when releasing the trapped pigeon, drive away from your home so they cannot fly back.
#2 Use Bird Spikes
How to get rid of pigeons or perches on your roof and corridor? It’s not hard to say that you should try Bird Spikes. These are firm and sharp rows of barbed wire, making it difficult for pigeons to remain on the roof.
Bird-X Stainless Steel Bird Spikes Kit (B000Z5E4IE) is a collection of long, sharp sticks that can be spread across your roof and corridor. This is a product that helps you have the perfect solution to eliminate pigeons.
Using bird spikes is also a humane measure that you should try. Certainly no bird dared to land on those sharp thorns. This product can help you completely eliminate the bird intrusion at a reasonable cost. Moreover, it does not take much time and does not harm the environment. No bird dared to land or nest on those sharp thorns.
In addition, this kit can be placed in many places outside the roof and the corridor, such as window sills, awnings or fences, anywhere flat that birds or perches. You only need to stick them with glue or install through screws, nails to keep them fixed.
However, the minus point of this product is that it will be reduced in color after a period of use. So the damage will not be strong anymore and will be less of a threat to the pigeons.
Pigeons/Doves Repellent Feature Comparison
Conclusion
Pigeons are one of the smartest birds on earth, so dealing with them is no easy task. However, there are many products available to help you in this battle. Remember, the process of eliminating any animal requires perseverance and flexibility, you should not be too concerned about the results from the beginning and become depressed.
Hopefully, with the above information, we can help you achieve victory in a persistent battle with pigeons. Never underestimate your opponent and never give up in the beginning.