Feral/Rock Pigeon - Columba livia

Summary:

The Feral pigeon is a widespread, common urban pest bird.

They have short legs with level front and hind toes, which enable them to walk on flat surfaces as well as perch on branches.

Habitat:

Mostly found in urban or suburban areas;

Especially center of larger cities and railway yards (rarely farmland);

Prefer small flat areas away from the ground like protected ledges and rooftops;

Popular nesting places include building ledges, bridge supports, air conditioning units, and above windows.

Breeding:

Mating pair has 3-4 broods per year;

Female lays 2-3 eggs at a time;

Eggs take 18 days to hatch;

Fledglings leave the nest after 35 days;

Although they mostly build simple nests from a few stiff twigs, some will lay eggs directly on a protected ledge;

They like to make nests in and on man-made structures.

Damage:

Uric acids in feces are highly corrosive;

Feces cause damage to waterproofing of roofs causing leaks; feces damage paint work of automobiles with regular/long contact;

Feces also damages air conditioning units and solar panels;

Built-up feces can lead to structural damage and blocked gutters;

Degrading the aesthetics of potentially neat and beautiful buildings;

Pigeons may cause a health risk when HACP standards are not met by food processing companies as a result of birds entering factories and warehouses: bird droppings damage and infest raw materials, products in-process and finished goods;

Nests near electrical points/lines or in chimneys are a great fire hazard;

Bacteria, fungal agents, and ectoparasites in droppings may be a health risk."

Control:

Eagle Eye Silver & Gold
Pro-Peller Silver & Gold
Bird Breezer Flash
Bird Breezer
Optical Bird Wax
Bird Wire / Bird Wire Track
Bird Spikes
Bird Netting
Bird Tape
Extreme Sound System for roosting Pigeons