Feral Pigeon Control

[Clodbuster]

I am inserting this thread to try and get feed back on a proposal I've been trying to get the go-ahead for. I would like environmentalists view on the system of excluding feral pigeons from buildings using electric fencing. The system can be viewed on

Repulsion by contact utilizing non-lethal, pulsating charges of low amp electricity has proved highly effective at preventing the roosting and fouling by birds on numerous highly important architectural sites around Europe.

Feral pigeons alight on their chosen roost by landing on the edge of the ledge and then walking in. This habit then allows you to position two wires (one live, one earth) on the lip of the ledge. These are then connected to a specially developed energizer developed for the pigeons that operates at a lower power rating so that when the bird lands on the wires it receives a sting and is repulsed.

Thanx.

[StuartDH]

This has been around for years hasn't it? An old lecturer on architecture told us about an unfortunate incident with over a hundred dead pigeons under a building that a company had fitted it on in Leicester Square over a decade ago. Obviously easily fixed to be less powerful, but nothing new in this technology

[coasty]

As someone who work extensively on Railway bridge structures and other buildings anything that can help as a new idea or slant on an old one will I am sure be looked at by the property management companies , Assuming the system can be demonstrated to be effective I would imagine that their priorities will be:
1 Safety
2 Cost of Installation
3 Maintenance costs and reliability
problems caused by guano are terrible we have dug tons of it of some bridge structures. While you are on try to come up with something that stops buddlei growing in mortar joints......

[Clodbuster]

The technology has been around for 70 years but the problem involves using it against birds, the law states "Nobody is allowed to hurt, torture, frighten or do harm to any animal without justification." and "justification" is the sticking point when speaking to the authorities regarding birds. It is regularly used against animals of many species.

I have not heard of the instance outlined by Stuart DH but this would have to have been mains electricity. We are proposing the higher voltage, low amp, pulsed variety used in electric fences.

[mrs fish]

Electric fences work well with cattle, it would have to be low voltage as not to kill the birds, birds are intelligent so I'm sure they would learn quickly.

I think it is a much better idea than nets in which I have seen trapped and dead pigeons and had to call the rspca

[Clodbuster]

Hi Mrs Fish,
The opposite is true, a low voltage, high amperage constant current such as found in mains electricity (220 volts, 13 Amps and constant) is dangerous whilst that used for fencing (6000volts, 100 milliAmps pulsing at 1/300 of a second every second) is not dangerous and does not harm. Feels more like a good slap. It is the amps that kills, not the volts.

I like the comment about the nets.

[lazybyte]

Try Putting Up Owl Models,or Using The Real Thing

[mh68]

Originally Posted by lazybyte

Try Putting Up Owl Models,or Using The Real Thing

A local factory has a model Eagle Owl fixed to the roof (which has fooled quite a few twitchers recently )....i`ll have to try and find out how effective it`s been so far...if I find out i`ll post on here....

Mark H

[Clodbuster]

There have been studies using various scare methods and the summary result is copied below. Never heard of owls being kept for falconry reasons although peregrines certainly work but that means depriving them of their liberty, which would you prefer?

(Haag-Wackernagel 1997b, 2000b, 2000c) analyzed the most common pigeon excluding systems and stated that; - "…there are basically two systems: deterring systems by contact and those by distance. The latter try to keep pigeons off permanently from a specific area by sending visual, acoustic, magnetic or olfactory impulses. Those defence systems (ultrasonic sound, magnetic pulses, olfactory repellent, all kinds of scarecrows) that physically keep pigeons at a distance are inefficient in the long run, according to our as well as other scientists' studies (Woronecki 1988, Griffiths 1988, Bomford & O'Brien 1990).