Pigeons can be great pets but they can also be a menace to your garden when uninvited.
Pigeons will not hesitate to attack crops or damage your plants in search of food and can spread disease.
Our relationship with pigeons is a long and varied one.
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For hundreds of years, we used them to carry messages, as a source of food, and for entertainment.
It is due to this long history that they are no longer afraid of humans.
This fearlessness is what gives them the confidence to nest in, or around our homes.
They transmit a host of parasites and diseases through droppings, and dust which goes into buildings through air ducts.
Some diseases spread by pigeons are E.coli, Histoplasmosis, Psittacosis, Cryptococcosis and more.
Pigeons are frequent pests in Irish gardens and once they choose your garden as a nesting ground, they will eat the plants you’re trying to grow.
Unfortunately, pigeons can be tough to move once they’re nested on your property, but it can be done with these tips and a bit of patience.
Here are a few suggestions on how to keep pigeons out of your garden.
Like most pests, pigeons need a safe area with a stable supply of food to survive.
Once they find a stable food source, they’ll likely create several nests because they like to live in flocks.
Birds are not picky eaters and will eat everything from seeds, and breadcrumbs, to fruit and worms.
Don’t feed the Pigeons
While you may not be feeding pigeons in your garden, bird feeders and breadcrumbs scattered on your lawn will create a feeding ground for them.
If you want to continue feeding wildlife in your garden, there are a few things you can do to make feeders inaccessible to unwanted pigeons.
Avoid certain food that contains whole grains such as corn, wheat and barley that are likely to be eaten by pigeons who are known to scare off smaller birds.
It is worth switching to a smaller feeder in order to stop sizable pests from getting into the mix.
Keep your garden clean
Fantastic Pest Control said: “In order to keep the parasite-laden demon spawn at bay, it is best to employ multiple pigeon countermeasures.
“The best place to start on your quest to rid yourself of your feathered housemates is to survey the exterior of your home and make nesting areas as inhospitable as possible.”
“Everyone who’s ever had pigeons around for longer will agree that their cooing isn’t as nearly as romantic as movies depict it to be, especially on a Saturday morning.”
It’s important to keep on top of attractive food sources such as compost, waste bins and fallen birdseed if you are trying to avoid unwanted visitors.
The easiest way to keep on top of it is:
- Clear up fallen birdseed from your garden as soon as possible
- Regularly sweep up leaves and fallen blossoms from plants
- Clear fallen fruits from beneath fruit trees and shrubs
- Seal or lock waste bins
- Keep compost heaps secure and inaccessible to wildlife
Use reflective surfaces
An old deterrent used by gardeners is to see gardens filled with CDs or shiny surfaces which are used to reflect sunlight and scare away unwanted visitors.
Shiny discs are hit by direct sunlight and create a prism effect that can temporarily affect the pigeons’ eyesight.
This makes your garden an uninviting nesting spot for new pigeons and will encourage existing nests to vacate your garden.
Stage fake predators in your garden
While pigeons have few predators, owls and snakes are a successful way to keep pigeons away from your growing plants.
You can buy or install a scarecrow, a life-sized plastic owl or a snake with a silhouette and place it on a patio, decking or roof to deter the unwanted birds.
It’s even better if your decoy makes noise.
It’s also crucial to change the decoy’s position every so often unless the birds figure out that there’s no real danger.
Encourage your pets to go outside
You can encourage your pets to go out into your garden.
Dogs and Cats love exploring the great outdoors, and they can do so safely in the comfort of the garden.
You can let your pet outside more often, it’s good for your pet, and will also scare away pigeons from lawns, fencing and rooftop nests.
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