Area-wide ControlsArtificial breeding facilities | Designated feeding areas | Deterrents & Proofing | Public Education This area of the PiCAS website has been designed as a reference section for those people or organisations that have a responsibility for town or citywide bird control. In the main this information will be of most value to local authorities and Town/City Centre Management agencies. The PiCAS approach is holistic and detailed here in four parts. Artificial breeding facilities Scientific research* has found that by providing artificial breeding facilities for pigeons, encouraging the birds to use the facilities and then removing eggs once laid, pigeons numbers can be reduced by 50% or more over a period of 4 years. This reduction is a permanent reduction unlike other more invasive control mechanisms such as lethal control, which only ever achieves a short-term reduction (in most cases only 4-6 weeks). Artificial breeding facilities can be almost any shape or size ranging from wall mounted nesting boxes costing as little as £20-£30 to large ornamental dovecotes costing several thousand pounds. These facilities can be tailored to suit the available budget and the aesthetics of the site upon which they are to be erected. It is important to identify a site where pigeons are already present and, if possible, where pigeons are already nesting. There is little point in providing a site for a breeding facility that fits all the other criteria such as accessibility, aesthetics, permission from the owner etc. if there are no pigeons present. An ideal site would be a green area, owned by the local authority and close to a town or city centre where the public is already feeding pigeons. Alternatively a town or city centre site can be considered where a dovecote can be designed not only as part of a control mechanism but also as pleasant and attractive feature. Birds will be quickly drawn away from existing town/city centre roosts if the breeding facility is complemented by a designated feeding area adjacent, where members of the public can legitimately feed the birds. Assuming that a public information/education campaign is already in place asking the public only to feed on the designated site, pigeon occupancy problems in other parts of the town or city will quickly reduce. The initial outlay for this type of facility need not be great and PiCAS can, if required, recommend an approved company that will design, build and erect a PiCAS approved cote. It is certainly worth looking at the possibility of commercial sponsorship, particularly if a dovecote is to be considered. A cote could, for example, be constructed in the shape of a local hotel or shop thereby providing extensive publicity for the sponsor and reducing cost to the authority. The structure can be as basic or as elaborate as is required, depending on budgetary restrictions and the site upon which it is to be provided. As long as the facility has been constructed with the needs of the pigeon in mind, and has been erected on an appropriate site, juvenile pigeons will take up residence without hesitation. Once pigeons are using the facility for the purpose of breeding, eggs can be removed at regular intervals; this will cause no distress to adult birds and the population will quickly decline as a result. In most cases it is possible to enlist the help of a bona fide wildlife organisation to service the breeding facility and remove eggs/clean etc on a voluntary basis, thereby further reducing the cost to the authority/sponsor. If the authority chooses to service the facility, egg removal from a standard cote/loft will take 10 minutes per week. Cleansing, if the cote is well designed, would normally only need to be carried out once every 6 months. This method of control is not only scientifically proven to be extremely effective in the long-term control of pigeons, but is also popular with the general public. It is not enough, however, simply to provide a breeding facility and do nothing else. To effect a working control mechanism that will keep on reducing pigeon numbers indefinitely, a local authority will need to focus on public education/information, proofing works and upgraded cleansing services. The public (including commercial property owners) need be made aware of what the authority is trying to achieve and why. Their support and cooperation is vital to the success of any scheme. Building owners need to proof their properties to discourage perching, particularly in key areas, to ensure that pigeons are forced away from existing roosts and onto artificial breeding facilities. Members of the public need to reduce food to pigeons and those that insist on feeding, irrespective of requests not to, must be directed only to feed on designated feeding sites. Fast food outlets and food shops need to maintain high standards of hygiene outside their properties and assist the council by displaying posters and handing out leaflets to customers. Cleansing managers need to re-assess key areas of high pigeon occupancy and upgrade cleansing services. Summary Where artificial breeding facilities are considered by local authorities the following actions are recommended:
Designated feeding areas The provision of a designated feeding area, where members of the public can legitimately feed pigeons, is an important element of any pigeon control strategy. In any town or city there will be a hard core of deliberate and persistent pigeon feeders that go out each day and feed pigeons in a variety of different areas. As many of these feeders are elderly people they will often feed at the same time each day and in exactly the same place. Pigeons are quick to recognise the routine and learn to wait at each of the different feeding spots to exploit the food source. This inevitably means that the birds will use a regular perch to await the feeder and soiling will result. If, however, a central feeding site is provided where persistent feeders can legitimately feed, pigeons will gather at this site and random perching will drastically reduce elsewhere. If an artificial perching and/or breeding facility is also provided on the site, pigeons will quickly learn to adopt this as their regular perch and roost. When meeting with new local authority clients we are often told that there are no persistent feeders in the area and that there is not a problem with commercial waste. In every town or city there are persistent feeders and one individual that feeds daily can sustain a sizeable flock of birds. In many cases feeders will go out to deposit food for pigeons in the early hours of the morning or late at night so as to avoid abuse from other members of the public. This will not only result in an increase in the local rat population but, due to extensive street lighting in town and city centres, pigeons will quickly learn to feed after dark. If designated sites are provided where persistent feeders can legitimately feed pigeons, not only will the pigeon population be contained in one localised area, but excess food can be removed by cleansing operatives. Persistent feeders will normally be happy to use designated sites if for no other reason than that they can feed without being verbally abused. If a designated site is considered it is vital that this facility is highlighted in any public education and information programme. The public should be made aware that if they do feed the pigeons they should do so only on this site. It should also be made clear in the publicity material that people are being encouraged not to feed pigeons and that the designated site is there only for those that feel they must feed on a daily basis. Good signage should be erected on the site explaining what the authority is trying to achieve and why, and it should also be made clear that the authority is working in consultation with PiCAS. If a designated area can be identified it is always helpful to put in place some type of perching facility. If a breeding control mechanism is also being considered, a dovecote or similar facility on the site will not only provide excellent perching opportunities, but will also reduce pigeon numbers permanently through egg removal schemes. Any optimum pigeon control mechanism will include at least one designated feeding area with an artificial breeding facility on the same site. A designated feeding area can simply be a piece of open ground where the public are directed to go to feed, but it is often helpful to fence off a small area so the public are left in no doubt as to where they are being directed to feed. The fenced area can be graveled, wood chipped, paved or simply left as a grassy area but it is often better to provide a solid base such as slabs so that the area can be steam cleaned or power washed periodically. If a solid base is provided it should slope gently to a central ‘soak-away’ with a removable trap. When cleansing operations are undertaken excess water will flow to the soak-away and any solids washed into the soak-away will be caught in the removable trap and can be disposed of easily. Once a site is identified and work has been completed a small opening ceremony will ensure a good deal of media attention which is vital if the site is to be well used. Summary In summary we would recommend the following actions:
Deterrents and Proofing Town and City centres are favoured roosting and perching places for feral pigeons. This is because the feral pigeon is a direct descendant of the Rock Dove, a cliff dwelling bird that roosted and nested on small ledges on coastal cliffs. Our town and city centre buildings simulate cliff faces and windowsills and parapets simulate ledges. Pigeons are completely at home in this type of environment. Commercial property owners and leaseholders are normally the most vociferous complainants when it comes to pigeon occupancy but most are reluctant to spend money to proof their properties. The reason for this is that many commercially available proofing products break down and degrade very quickly and the products themselves are extremely expensive, in some cases costing thousands of pounds to install. Another contributory factor is that the standard of workmanship offered by many of the companies that install this type of product is often very poor. As part of a comprehensive town or city centre pigeon control programme, it is important to encourage commercial property owners to proof their properties in an effort to reduce pigeon occupancy and resultant soiling in key areas. If property owners are faced with massive estimates for proofing works many will simply put all thoughts of proofing aside. PiCAS will offer free, expert and independent advice on proofing, normally using alternative methods that cost a fraction of the commercially available products. PiCAS will, however, recommend products and product sources if required and has, in some cases, been able to negotiate large discounts for its clients for products such as anti-roosting spikes. In the main, a builder or even an odd job person can install these alternative proofing measures. In most cases a site visit will not be required, particularly if the building or site concerned can be photographed and those photographs emailed or posted to PiCAS. A consultant will then be in a position to discuss the problem over the telephone with the client and offer advice. If, however, a site visit is required this can be arranged. Once a strategy has been confirmed, PiCAS will continue to advise both the client and their chosen contractor until the work has been successfully completed. We normally recommend that local authorities produce a leaflet for commercial property owners explaining that the authority is working with PiCAS and that if independent help or advice on proofing is required they can contact PiCAS directly. It is also helpful to source a local builder or ‘odd job’ person that is prepared to undertake proofing works for commercial customers using PiCAS approved methods. This company’s name and contact details can be listed in the leaflet and PiCAS will be happy to work with the contractor advising, where required, on the more complex proofing operations. As the local authority must be the catalyst for any town/citywide pigeon control mechanism it is important to make it as easy as possible for commercial property owners to play their part and proof their own properties. Once one property owner has successfully proofed his or her own property it will be in the best interests of their neighbours to also proof their properties otherwise pigeons will quickly take up residence. It may also be helpful for council officers to contact commercial property owners directly, particularly those in key areas where pigeon occupancy is high, to offer help and advice. Local authorities should take the initiative wherever possible and proof their own properties against pigeon occupancy in an effort to ‘show the way’ for commercial property owners. Many local authority owned properties suffer from high levels of pigeon occupancy, particularly older buildings, and it is vital that these properties are effectively proofed. It will be almost impossible to convince a commercial ratepayer to carry out extensive proofing works if local authority owned buildings, particularly in sensitive areas, are not adequately proofed. It should be understood that irrespective of how much proofing work is carried out, pigeons will merely move from one building to the next. For a comprehensive proofing strategy to be effective other measures must be put in place by the local authority to draw pigeons away from key areas and ideally reduce pigeon numbers at the same time. These measures include the provision of a designated feeding areas and artificial breeding facilities where egg removal schemes can be operated. Public information/education campaigns are also vital to the success of any town or city centre pigeon control mechanism. Summary We would recommend the following actions:
Public Education Campaigns Any strategy designed to reduce pigeon numbers must include a comprehensive public education/information campaign to reduce public feeding and encourage the proofing of buildings in key areas. Scientific research* has proved conclusively that pigeon numbers rise and fall according to the extent of available food. Commercial waste from fast food outlets is a growing problem but deliberate and persistent feeding by members of the public is the real source of the problem. A single individual that feeds each day can sustain a sizeable flock of pigeons in his/her own right and therefore it is vital to seek public cooperation in an effort to reduce pigeon numbers. Historically, public education campaigns that have been designed and produced by local authorities have failed to address the problem of public feeding; in the main as a result of poorly designed public information literature. Most of the public information literature that PiCAS sees has clearly been designed with those members of the public in mind that do not like pigeons and tend not to feed them. Much of the information is factually incorrect and in many cases health and safety problems are wildly exaggerated. This type of material will appease those that regularly complain about pigeons but alienate those that are causing the problem by regular feeding. The response from the regular feeders to negative public information campaigns will often result in an increase in feeding rather than a reduction. A well designed public information campaign will focus on the fact that a reduction in available food will not result in large numbers of pigeons starving to death, it will simply mean that pigeons slow down or stop breeding altogether. Pigeons will not breed if there is insufficient food available for them to feed their young and this fact must be communicated to feeders. Reduction in feeding must be seen to be a natural way to control pigeon numbers and as an alternative to other more invasive forms of pigeon management. It may also be helpful to make it clear to feeders that the authority is working in consultation with PiCAS, an organisation that is seen to be looking after the best interests of the pigeon and the public alike. By printing the PiCAS logo and PiCAS contact details on public information literature, concerned residents can contact PiCAS direct and be assured that PiCAS fully supports the efforts of the authority. We will also explain to them that their compliance is vital for any humane and effective control mechanism to be successful. We will also make it clear that if they do not comply with requests to reduce food, invasive control techniques may be considered as an alternative in the future. Another method of getting the message across to the general public is to consider employing a Pigeon Warden. The job of a Pigeon Warden is to act as an intermediary between property owners (that are experiencing problems with pigeons and other so-called pest species of birds) and the Local Authority itself. The Pigeon Warden will also work with deliberate and persistent pigeon feeders in an effort to reduce the overall amount of food provided to bird populations in a given area. The Pigeon Warden will provide property owners with general advice on bird control as well as expert, independent and free advice, via PiCAS International, on how to protect their property/s cheaply, effectively and humanely by installing anti-perching devices. The Warden will also interact with persistent and deliberate pigeon feeders in an effort to get the message across that feeding pigeons will, in reality, result in birds being killed by unscrupulous pest controllers rather than keeping their friends alive. Most persistent feeders believe that they are being kind by feeding pigeons and that if they stop their daily feeds the birds will die of starvation. This is of course untrue, but the message will be far more palatable to the feeder coming from a Pigeon Warden than from an Environmental Health Officer or a Pest Control Officer. The benefits of a Pigeon Warden to any local authority are extensive and PiCAS International will provide free training and support where required. Media involvement in any public education campaign is essential - the media is an excellent source of free publicity for any initiative put forward by a local authority. PiCAS will work with any authority to design and launch a good media friendly campaign and can provide templates for public information material and signage. Radio, TV and newspapers will all respond to well designed press releases and particularly to publicity rich events such as a ‘Pigeon Awareness Day’. The greater the public debate on the issue of pigeon control the more successful the information campaign will inevitably be. Many local authorities have a monthly or quarterly magazine that is delivered free to all households in their area. A feature in this type of publication will ensure that a large percentage of residents are made aware of the launch of a campaign, why the authority is taking this type of action and how residents can help. For those authorities that have a website, either a link to the PiCAS website or a page set aside to discuss pigeon control would also be extremely useful. A vast majority of the complaints that local authorities receive concerning pigeon occupancy are from commercial ratepayers or property owners. Apart from proofing their own properties, commercial ratepayers can also help the authority get the message across to the public to reduce feeding. This can be done by providing space in shop windows for posters and possibly by handing out leaflets to shoppers when paying for goods. There is also a need to educate shopkeepers and service providers (particularly fast food establishments) to play their part by ensuring that there is a minimum of commercial refuse left lying in the streets. A leaflet should be designed for the commercial sector explaining the need for hygiene outside their properties and the need to ensure their customers create a minimum of litter. This could be by providing extra bins outside their establishments and possibly by providing a litter collection service, at their own expense, within a 500 metre radius of their establishment. In some areas it is estimated that edible refuse from fast food establishments has increased the numbers of rats and pigeons by 10-15%. Summary In summary, some or all of the following actions are recommended:
* Regulation of the street pigeon in Basel by Daniel Haag-Wackernagel, 1992
Artificial breeding facilities
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Designated feeding areas
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Deterrents & Proofing
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Public Education
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