The Most Humane And Effective Ways To Rid Your Balcony Of Pigeons

For even the most avid of birdwatchers and those who love all fauna, pigeons can bring frustration and annoyance when they’re close to your home, or even your place of work. Waking up to find a once tranquil space has been taken over by a whole bunch of cooing pigeons, and transformed into a poop and feather nightmare, isn’t ideal, and while they have as much right to share the planet with us, we really don’t want them messing up our balconies or making us sick.

Pigeons can carry diseases and their poop can also be harmful to our health, particularly in large amounts. So, if you’ve got a pigeon shaped problem and want to do something about it in the most humane way possible, here are some effective measures you can take:

Visual measures

In some instances, placing a fake plastic crow, hawk or owlon your balconies ledge can prevent pigeons from inhabiting the space, although they may get used to the object over time, and come to understand that it’s not actually a threat. You could, however, fix up a line to hang your plastic bird from so that it moves in the breeze and gives the impression of it flying. Many apartment owners choose to hang CDs from their balconies to deter pigeons, and while this does usually work, it’s not always such a good look for the space. A more attractive option with a similar effect, would be a glitter ball, and when attached to a wooden stick and stuck in a plant pot or flower bed, the light reflections will scare the birds away.

Nets

This is arguably the most effective pigeon deterrent of them all, since it physically prevents them (or any other birds that may cause a nuisance) from landing anywhere on the balcony. With different types of mesh available, you can buy a bird proof net at a very reasonable price, and still enjoy the sunlight on your balcony, without the noise and mess of pigeons. As an added bonus, the net will also prevent anyone or anything (children or pets, predominantly), from toppling over the edge; a significant risk in many high rise apartment complexes.

Spikes

Also an affordable and effective option, spikes can be placed at regular intervals along the railing of a balcony to prevent birds from being able to land there, and since no bird would ever choose to perch on one (or be able to), it’s a completely humane solution.

Pigeons are Mother Nature’s creation, but they don’t belong on balconies, and with these simple but effective methods, you can prevent them from ever becoming a nuisance.