The Need for Pigeon Control

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Family )



An Overpopulation of Pigeons and Other Birds

The world's biggest cities are currently facing pollution and overcrowding, not just from people or motor vehicles, but from an unlikely source - pigeons. These birds have compromised the sanitation in urban areas by leaving excrement and debris in parks, rooftops and cars, and can be carriers of serious diseases such as bird flu and cryptococcosis. Pigeons don't just stay in the same places but also move to other vicinities where they can spread more diseases.

The U.S. spends billions of dollars each year just getting rid of bird wastes. And although some cities have tried to cull resident bird populations to as much as 100,000 per year, these birds continue to multiply. One reason for the prolific growth in pigeon population is that these birds can live atop buildings which are considered private property, therefore they can breed with little or no human interference. Another reason is the support they get from generous human allies. There have been documented cases of individuals who really spend money and time to feed the birds, even when there are city ordinances against the act.

Steps Toward Pigeon Control

The most drastic method is to kill off the birds with poison. This involves placing poisoned pellets in places where the birds frequently hang around. This has caused uproar among bird lovers, as well as create another dilemma on how to dispose of the dead birds. Shooting the birds is another way to kill them, but this poses a danger to humans who can get accidentally hit by the bullets. Killing as a method of pigeon control has caused an uproar among bird lovers and environmentalists.

Another method of pigeon control has been to catch large numbers of these birds and move them to remote areas. This proved to be ineffective as the birds generally find their way back to their old residences. New immigrant birds settle down in the cities, and with blessings of food from kindly humans, they augment the bird population.

Some companies sell bird control products that the pigeons can take orally. Ingesting the chemicals in these products will sterilize the female birds, thus preventing reproduction.

Other companies try to market bird traps, though this will only cause the birds to transfer to friendlier areas.

Some civic groups have proposed the use of dovecotes or lofts which the pigeons can use as a sanctuary to rest and breed in. Then while the dovecotes are vacated each day as the birds look for food, bird controllers can quietly come and snatch the pigeon eggs from the dovecotes, replacing them with egg-like replicas. While this has cut down bird populations substantially, it is very tedious.

A last solution which is most ideal but almost impossible is to stop feeding the birds totally.


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