Help! Feral Pigeon problem

[Bumblebeebob]

I love feeding the birds but lately I have acquired a hardcore flock of a dozen or so Feral Pigeons that swoop up & down from the roof all day long eating all the stuff the other birds drop. I can't put out food for ground feeding birds as it is gone in a trice. Apart from driving me mad they trample all across the flower beds & have worn out a great big patch of grass under my Plum Tree by their continual pacing & pecking! I know the only way to get rid of them (short of shooting them!) is to stop putting out any food at all. Obviously now is not a good time to cut of the other bird's food supply but when would be the best time to do it?
I did try putting out a large decoy Eagle Owl but it didn't have any effect at all!
Any suggestions will be greatly received.

[ChrisR]

My father puts a fence of wide mesh around the area that he scatters ground food onto (with string across the top) and the smaller birds hop through it easily but the pigeons can't go through

[Ukwildlifeo]

Do you have a friend that is a falconer?

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Do you have a friend that is a falconer?

Now now A female Sparrowhawk would be a welcome addition to the garden though.

Try placing your feeders above shrubbery then placing some low trellis around the shrubbery to prevent pigeons getting to spillage. I had a problem with about 10-12 Feral pigeons last year and within a month of doing this, they'd dropped off down to one or two. I also placed my birdtable onto the garden border, so now the back and two sides are 'covered' in honeysuckle and the only 'entrance' for a large bird is from the front. This really deterred them. Pigeons don't like a one way system. The smaller birds were fine with many entering through the Honeysuckle vines. This also gave them more protection from predators.

[SheffieldLass]

The feral pigeons could be clearing up the dropped seed and so be stopping rats doing it instead ....

I learnt to love my feral pigeons, not sure if my neighbours did though. But no rat problems. The smaller birds did not eat off the ground much as they were too wary of cats, so the pigeons provided a useful service. And they were always very healthy birds ... well they got good quality food, which probably helped them stay healthy.

[Bumblebeebob]

Originally Posted by Picidae

Now now A female Sparrowhawk would be a welcome addition to the garden though.

Try placing your feeders above shrubbery then placing some low trellis around the shrubbery to prevent pigeons getting to spillage. I had a problem with about 10-12 Feral pigeons last year and within a month of doing this, they'd dropped off down to one or two. I also placed my birdtable onto the garden border, so now the back and two sides are 'covered' in honeysuckle and the only 'entrance' for a large bird is from the front. This really deterred them. Pigeons don't like a one way system. The smaller birds were fine with many entering through the Honeysuckle vines. This also gave them more protection from predators.

There is an occasional passing Sparrowhawk & when it's around the Pigeons do scatter but they don't stay away too long! There are regular Fox patrols through the garden as well, but they never seem to attempt to catch the Pigeons! Also the neighbourhood moggies seem unable to deter them. The Pigeons just sit on the roof until they've gone. I haven't seen a cat catch any of the Pigeons, they seem to prefer the smaller birds
I'll attempt to fence off the spillage areas (although the Badgers that come at night are notorious at pulling down low fences!)

[Bumblebeebob]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

The feral pigeons could be clearing up the dropped seed and so be stopping rats doing it instead ....

I learnt to love my feral pigeons, not sure if my neighbours did though. But no rat problems. The smaller birds did not eat off the ground much as they were too wary of cats, so the pigeons provided a useful service. And they were always very healthy birds ... well they got good quality food, which probably helped them stay healthy.

I've never had a rat problem, I think the Foxes deal with that but there are some Woodmice that feed on the spilt seed, I don't mind them.