UltraSonic Bird Control Archives - Pigeon Patrol USA - Bird Control Products & Services

Wimbledon Hired A Hawk To Scare The Pigeons Away

The Wimbledon tennis championships started today, and if you pay close attention, you might notice an unexpected employee keeping the riff-raff of the courts: a hawk named Rufus.

Every morning, from 5-9am, Rufus patrols the skies above Wimbledon and scares away any pigeons. And he’s been at it for fourteen years.

Lucky for the pigeons, its a humane process. They’re not killed, only scared away. At Nerdist, Kyle Hill explains:

Raptors like Rufus—large predatory birds that include eagles, hawks, and falcons—are nothing to mess with. Whether it is scaring pigeons or throwing goats from cliffs, raptors have the speed, vision, and strength to contend with all but the largest game (look at this eagle’s claw for goodness’ sake). All raptors also have ratchet tendons, which allow the birds to effectively lock their claws shut and maintain enormous grip pressures with bone notches and interlocking tendons.

None of that is good news for the pigeons that Rufus keeps out of Wimbledon, but Rufus isn’t a killer. According to a recent Reddit AMA with Rufus’ handler, “Rufus is a non-lethal deterrent which is based on the fact that pigeons have an innate sense of fight or flight, and they don’t hang around very long to fight when they see his talons!”

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Birdman’ feeding more than one flock

Ed Berube sits in his motorized scooter in the middle of Kennedy Park every nice day he can. As he digs into his giant bag filled with unshelled peanuts, pigeons begin to flock around him.

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Jerk Pigeon Guy

Ed Berube, who many know as “Birdman,” feeds pigeons in Kennedy Park in Lewiston on Monday afternoon

“There’s the birdman with his flock,” said a person walking past him Monday afternoon.

But it’s the human flock Berube is really trying to reach.

“I use the birds and peanuts to open the door to talk about Christ,” he said. “I was born again 28 years ago,” he said, standing straight up out of his chair.

He has chronic breathing problems, so he gets short of breath walking. When he’s not with his “girlfriend,” a 1,400cc motorcycle parked just up the street, he is motoring around town on his scooter looking for somebody with whom to share his love of Jesus.

“I was trouble as a kid. I was run out of town in Massachusetts where I grew up,” he said. “They told my mother to take me away or they would send me away.”

He and his mother moved to Richmond, and he took jobs in the woods and on farms. He eventually moved to Lewiston to work in the Libbey Mill until it closed.

“I was just going on with life, drinking, drugging and all that. On Sunday, my wife would go to church and I’d start drinking. They kept inviting me to come, and when I finally did, I warned the pastor that he didn’t know what he was dealing with,” Berube said.

“It took about 17 months, but I finally felt the spirit kicking into gear. And then, it was like a light switch just flipped on,” he said.

Berube recited Scripture, then pulled out a zippered case with books and clippings in it. He thumbed through a Bible and challenges people to read the verses and not become changed.

“I just want to kick their spirit into gear,” he said, as he reached for another handful of peanuts for the pigeons circling closer and cooing.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Rufus, Wimbledon’s pigeon poo policehawk

Rufus the Hawk reports for duty weighing 625 grams.

Ten grams more and he’s too sedentary. Any lighter, and he ceases being the non-lethal deterrent Wimbledon contracts him to be and roams farther afield for mouse, snake or hare.

But if Rufus arrives at his optimum weight, he need only soar over centre court a few times to earn his hand-fed reward of raw chicken bits.

The mere sight of his one metre wingspan is enough to shoo away the pigeons that might otherwise land on the court during a critical point, deposit droppings in the Royal Box or roost in the eaves to feast on grass-seed all winter, as if the sod were a buffet table.

A 6-year-old Harris Hawk with prodigious self-esteem, Rufus is just one of several hundred actors in the meticulously choreographed dance that unfolds between dawn and 10.30am daily in London throughout the Wimbledon fortnight.

From strawberry-hullers to bomb-sniffing English Springer Spaniels, every man and beast has a task before the All England Club’s wrought-iron gates open to the tennis-mad public. And every task – whether mowing, measuring, marking, pruning, watering, soaring, sniffing, sweeping, scrubbing or polishing – has its appointed time for completion.

No detail is overlooked. Everything must be just so at the most esteemed of the four Grand Slams. A ticket to Wimbledon, after all, constitutes an invitation to a private club that opens to royals and commoners alike for two weeks each year to watch the world’s best players in the most pristine setting in sports.

“It’s all about the details,” says Lucy Tomlinson, 21, a member of Wimbledon’s daytime housekeeping staff, which from 7.30am onward restocks the loos with soap and hand towels, polishes the banisters, scrubs scuff marks from the entryways and wipes away beads of water left by the power-washing of ticket-holders’ seats.

“We make sure everything is absolute perfection!”

Neil Stubley, the head groundsman, starts his day with a 5.30am check of the forecast. Based on that, he directs his staff when to deflate the translucent covers on the 41 grass courts so they can be rolled up and stowed and the sod watered if the daily measurements of its hardness indicate there’s a need.

All of Wimbledon’s courts are oriented in a north-south direction. A specific groundskeeper is assigned to each court for the tournament’s duration. And each mows the rye grass to precisely 8 millimetres each morning, in exactly the same pattern of alternating stripes.

Every cutting is captured by the mower; even a stray snippet of grass could cause a player to slip.

“If Roger or Andy or Rafa goes out onto any of the practice courts in the morning and then comes out to any of the match courts, they should play exactly the same because we have controlled the moisture, the grass species and the cutting,” explains Stubley, who supervises a staff of 32 groundskeepers and gardeners.

Then come pairs of groundskeepers who mark the lines with titanium dioxide and set up the nets.

By that point, roughly 9am, David Spearing has started work at the golf course across Church Road that doubles as a camping ground for the thousands of fans in the queue for tickets.

Wimbledon’s honorary chief steward, Spearing has the privilege of informing the campers over a loudspeakers at 7.30am the number of tickets available for public sale that day and handing out the wristbands that guarantee entry to centre court, court 1 or the grounds in general.

It is but one of his duties. The other is sitting in the players’ guest box on centre court. Wimbledon is the lone major that seats the relatives, coaches and friends of both players in the same box. And Spearing, expert in protocol and discretion, is on hand to greet, seat, and on the rarest occasion, mediate.

“It’s basically an honour to have the job, rather than any particular ability,” says Spearing, who sits in the corner of the 39-seat box, with the top seed’s 19 guests to his right and the lower seed’s 19 guests to his left.

“Being pleasant is easy.”

Based on wags, few enjoy their early morning rounds more than dogs tasked with sniffing potential explosives. A mix of spaniels and retrievers, they scamper up and down the walkways, peer under benches and poke into trash bins positively quivering with excitement over the prospect of finding something that warrants a prize. At Wimbledon, naturally, that prize is a fuzzy yellow tennis ball.

Dogs, however, are one of the few sights that unsettle Rufus. So handler Imogen Davis, whose parents and five siblings breed and train raptors for a living, does her best to steer the hawk clear of Wimbledon’s canines. It’s not always easy, given that Rufus’s vision is 10 times better than her own.

“If Rufus was at one end of a football pitch, and a newspaper was at the other end, Rufus could read the headline!” Davis says by way of illustration.

“If he could read.”

One could get the impression Rufus can indeed read from his Twitter account, @RufusTheHawk, which reveals a raptor of cracking wit and considerable ego. Among his recent tweets: “Chasing pigeons is an art form, like poetry or twerking. And I, Rufus, am an artist.”

And, “The reason Sharapova is so loud when she serves is because she wants to scare away pigeons to be more like me.”

Apart from the sight of dogs, nothing rattles Rufus. Not the sound of Wimbledon’s lawn mowers. Not the sound of leaf blowers. Not even the fire alarm that gets a full-song test each morning at 9.35am.

It’s followed at 9.45am by a call over the public-address system for all staff and contractors to remove all vehicles and carts from the grounds in preparation for the opening of the gates, 45 minutes away.

And the pace of activity picks up.

Gardeners deadhead petunias and pluck yellowed leaves from ferns and hydrangeas at Centre Court’s South Entrance, where guests of the Royal Box enter.

The 250 ball boys and girls start arriving at Gate 13. They form a single-file line and march up the steps of St. Mary’s Walk without uttering a word, the only sound the pad of 500 sneakers on the pavement.

Aged 14 to 18, the schoolchildren have trained for this duty since late January, schooled by gym teacher Sarah Goldson in how to properly roll tennis balls between points, how to raise their right hand before feeding the ball to the server and, above all, how to stay still during play.

“They can move their eyes, and they can wriggle their toes,” Goldson says.

“But that’s about it.”

They also must wear their uniform correctly. Shoelaces must be tied in double knots. Shirts must be tucked in; trousers worn at the waist, not sagging in any manner. Water bottles must be tucked on the right side of their backpacks. And for girls, long hair must be tied back.

“Make-up, chewing gum is a big no-no.” Goldson adds.

“Jewellery, definitely not!”

As the ticket holders mass at the gates, the strawberry-sorters’ hands are flying in a chilled catering room tucked behind the grounds’ largest food court. Wearing green fleeces for warmth, a staff of six sits around a table and inspects and hulls the berries. They’re picked at 5am daily at a farm an hour’s drive away and delivered to the grounds by refrigerated trucks.

No scales are needed for the portioning out; it’s 10 strawberries per little plastic bowl. And roughly 8600 bowls, or “punnets,” are consumed daily.

Outside the sun inches higher in sky. The clock shows 10.25am, the next cue for Wimbledon’s public-address announcer.

“Attention ladies and gentlemen, we will shortly be opening the gates,” he advises.

“In the interest of your own and others’ safety, please do not run.”

In five minutes’ time, everything is in its place. The dogs have exited with their minders. The ball boys and girls have assumed their posts. Two towels have been placed on each player’s chair on every court. The air smells of petunias in full bloom.

And Rufus, having secured his realm for another day, has slipped on the custom leather hood that signals naptime and a job well done to Wimbledon’s brave hawk.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Die-offs of band-tailed pigeons connected to newly discovered parasite

A new pathogen has been discovered by scientists investigating major die-offs of pigeons native to North America, according to studies led by the University of California, Davis, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.Scientists were able to implicate this new parasite, along with the ancient parasite Trichomonas gallinae, in the recent deaths of thousands of Pacific Coast band-tailed pigeons. The die-offs occurred during multiple epidemics in California’s Central Coast and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. Scientists named the new pathogen Trichomonas stableri.

Avian trichomonosis is an emerging and potentially fatal disease that creates severe lesions that can block the esophagus, ultimately preventing the bird from eating or drinking, or the trachea, leading to suffocation. The disease may date back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth, as lesions indicative of trichomonosis were found recently in T-Rex skeletons. The disease may also have contributed to the decline of the passenger pigeon, whose extinction occurred exactly 100 years ago.

Epidemics of the disease can result in the death of thousands of birds in a short amount of time. An outbreak in Carmel Valley killed an estimated 43,000 birds in 2007.

“The same parasite species that killed band-tailed pigeons during the outbreaks were also killing the birds when there weren’t outbreaks,” said lead author Yvette Girard, a postdoctoral scholar with the Wildlife Health Center in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine at the time of the studies. “This indicates there may be other factors at play in the die-offs.”

“We are now investigating what triggers these die-offs, which may be caused by the congregation of infected and vulnerable birds during certain environmental conditions, or even spillover from another nearby species,” said principal investigator Christine Johnson, a professor with the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center.

Between winter 2011 and spring 2012, there were eight mortality events—defined as more than five dead birds found in the same geographic area during the same time frame. The study said trichomonosis was confirmed in 96 percent of dead, sick or dying birds examined at seven of the mortality events. This disease was also found in:

36 percent of band-tailed pigeons at wildlife rehabilitation centers
11 percent of hunter-killed band-tailed pigeons
4 percent of the birds caught live and released

“What makes this disease more troublesome for band-tailed pigeons is their low reproductive rate—about one chick per year—and also that these events are occurring in the wintertime,” said co-author Krysta Rogers, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “That means almost all the birds we’re losing during events are adult birds. They’re being killed before they have the ability to reproduce in the spring.”

Mortality events in band-tailed pigeons have been reported in California at least since 1945, but have increased during the last decade, with outbreaks reported in six of the last 10 years.

“Going into the study, we expected to find a single, highly virulent species of Trichomonas in birds sampled at outbreaks,” Girard said. “Having two species killing birds at these large-scale mortality events is surprising.”

Necropsies of the birds were conducted at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at UC Davis and the Wildlife Investigations Laboratory at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Both studies were funded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Pigeon poo a bridge too far in Coulsdon

PESKY pigeons are creating a stink in Coulsdon town centre because they’ve managed to find a way around the bird-proof rail bridge in the town.

Residents’ associations have had complaints from people about the problem, which means the pavement in the town centre is often covered in slimy pigeon droppings.

The bridge, over Brighton Road and next to the town’s station, has been plagued by the pests nesting and perching despite having anti-bird mesh fitted.

Charlie King, chairman of East Coulsdon Residents’ Association said the street used to be steam-cleaned regularly, but that was no longer the case.

“It’s getting worse and worse. It’s a health risk, it’s dirty and filthy and not good for kids.

“The bridge needs improved pigeon proofing. They’ve got some iron mesh but the pigeons can get through.”

Peter Appleford, from Coulsdon West Residents’ Association agreed.

“They make a hell of a mess on the pavement, especially when it rains, it’s really horrible. There’s slime right all over the pavement, it’s really slippery and if anyone was to fall on that and get it in their face or in a cut it would be quite nasty.

“The council used to clean it regularly but with cost cutting, they only seem to do that when it was reported. I must say that when we do report it they clean it very well, but when they do that the pigeons seem to react and make even more of a mess than they did before.

“The only long-term solution is to make it pigeon proof again.”

Mr Appleford added he had been in contact with Network Rail, the owner of the bridge, about the issue last Monday, August 11. It said it would look into it.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Outlaw Horrific Live Pigeon Shoots

It is currently legal to use live pigeons in what are known as “pigeon shoots” during target practice and shooting competitions in the state of Pennsylvania. Across the state pigeons are forced into spring-loaded boxes and launched into the air to be shot. And the barbaric practice is completely unnecessary. Participants can easily spare the suffering of these innocent creatures by using clay discs as a humane alternative.

Pennsylvania legislators have proposed a bill that would institute a statewide ban on live pigeon shoots. In addition the bill would outlaw the slaughter or sale of cats and dogs for human consumption. Officials with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals state that while this is a relatively rare occurrence, shockingly it remains legal in the state of Pennsylvania.

Companion animals belong in loving homes, not forced into the heartless meat trade to spend their short lives full of fear and cruelly confined until their brutal slaughter. Urge government officials to show compassion to pigeons and companion animals alike and vote in favor of this humane legislation.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Representative Smith,

As an animal welfare advocate I find it shocking that two horrific practices of animal abuse are currently legal in the state of Pennsylvania: live pigeon shoots and the slaughter and sale of cats and dogs for human consumption.

Thankfully legislators have proposed House Bill 1750 (H.B. 1750), which would ban both of these cruel practices in your state. Pigeons are fully capable of feeling distress, fear and pain and do not deserve the cruel fate of being used in live pigeon shoots. These barbaric events involve forcing pigeons into spring-loaded boxes and launching them into the air only to be shot down moments later. Live pigeon shoots are disturbingly a part of everyday target practice and shooting competitions throughout your state, despite readily available and humane alternatives such as clay discs.

While slaughtering and selling dogs and cats for human consumption is far less common, surprisingly, it is legal in Pennsylvania. These animals have been our companions for hundreds of years and rely on humans to protect them from unimaginable cruelty like this.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Ruffling pigeon feathers in Bathurst CBD

BATHURST Regional Council has not ruled out resorting to using birds of prey in an effort to control the pigeon problem in the central business district.

Council has had discussions with Dubbo City Council regarding its success in using falcons to encourage pest species to leave the main shopping precinct.

A report to tomorrow night’s ordinary monthly meeting updates council on how Bathurst’s pest bird management strategy has fared since it was adopted in 2012.

One of the recommendations of the plan was to introduce a co-ordinated pigeon control program involving council facilities and businesses in the CBD.

Council conducted a successful program during 2012-2013, when 1089 pigeons were removed from council and private properties.

According to the report, council’s environmental staff have discussed with staff from Dubbo City Council that city’s recent trial using native birds of prey.

“Dubbo has a problem with starlings nesting in trees in the main street, causing $12,000 of annual clean-up costs,” the report states.

“They engaged a falconry company to conduct a trial using four different predator bird species that would fly in the area with the intention of moving the starlings on.

The program was moderately successful for two of the birds used though more trials are needed to determine if the program would work on an ongoing basis.

“This may or may not work in the Bathurst context in relation to pigeons as they are impacting across a broader area and moving the birds from one place to another may not reduce the issue.

“Council staff will continue to receive updates regarding the Dubbo trial to determine if a similar program could be conducted locally.”

The report also notes that pigeon control efforts have also continued in 2013-14 with a targeted trapping program in Machattie Park.

However, this was largely unsuccessful as pigeons are attracted to the high volumes of artificial food supply at the duck ponds and therefore could not be enticed to the trapping area.

“Since then, council has recently commenced a trapping program at the Post Office building, the TAFE complex and at one private building in the CBD,” the report states. “These three sites have the highest populations and therefore have been targeted first before the program moves onto activities at other CBD properties.”

In other pest bird initiatives, council hosted a community Indian Myna workshop, attended by local and regional residents as well as staff from Bathurst and Orange councils.

Presentations were given by the Clarence Valley Indian Myna group and the Pest Cooperative Research Centre’s Mynascan project coordinator.

Thirty Indian myna traps were distributed on the day (for a small cost) so that interested community members could remove these pest birds from their area.

Council staff will continue to implement the Pest Bird Management Plan as required and as funding and resources permit.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

NETTING ‘POSES RISK TO WILDLIFE’

Members of the public are being urged to tidy away loose netting after a charity warned it poses a danger to wildlife.

The RSPCA says discarded fishing nets, unkempt bird-deterrent nets and goal nets could injure birds and other wildlife during the summer months.

RSPCA wildlife scientific officer Llewelyn Lowen said: “Netting that is not maintained, repaired and tended to regularly enough poses a serious threat to wildlife.

“The same also stands for sports nets that are not tidied away when they are not in use. Netting is of a nature that when it is blown away it can quickly entangle animals, particularly wildlife, causing them distress and injury.”

The RSPCA receives around 2,000 reports of birds and other wildlife being trapped by netting each year.

Llewelyn said: “Netting such as goal nets pose a real hazard to our wildlife and sadly we get too many calls to injured wild animals that are trapped in them.

“There is a really simple way to prevent this from happening and that is for nets to be removed after use and safely stored away.

“We would ask people who use deterrent netting on buildings to ensure that it is maintained and that netting in goals or elsewhere is rolled away properly when not in use.

“Members of the public can also help by safely disposing of litter such as netting that they find littering both rural and urban areas.

“Garden netting or chicken wire should never be used as building deterrent netting and owners could consider enclosures using weld-mesh around pens and enclosures as this is harder for foxes to get into and is less likely to entangle them or other wild animals such as hedgehogs.”

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Peacehaven garden….. pigeons are discovered shot

A CAT has been decapitated and pigeons shot in a series of animal cruelty incidents across Sussex this week.

A domestic cat found with no head in a Peacehaven garden has been reported to Sussex Police by a horrified vet.

A force spokeswoman said police had no idea how the cat – which also had a missing leg and tail – had been injured.

The RSCPA is separately investigating violent thugs shooting pigeons in Hove.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: “A decapitated cat was found in the back garden of a house in Capel Avenue, Peacehaven, by the home owner on Monday at 8.20am.

“The cat was also missing its front leg and its tail. It is not known who the cat belonged to and it was not microchipped.

“The incident was reported to the police wildlife officer for the area.”

Three shot birds were found in Sackville Road near the railway bridge on Tuesday. It follows an incident a few weeks ago in which three other birds were found dead.

Two pigeons were found in the alleyway behind a back garden, already dead, and a third injured bird was found inside the garden. They were taken to the vet who found a bullet in the body of the injured bird, which had to be put down.

RSPCA inspector Tony Pritchard said: “There are too many coincidences here for this to have been a one off occurrence or an accident – we are seriously concerned someone is intentionally shooting birds and may continue to do so unless they are stopped.

“It is likely that all the birds were left to suffer a long lingering death – as would have happened to the injured bird had these kind people not called us.

“We would like to remind people it is an offence to intentionally injure wild animals in this way and urge anyone who knows anything about the shootings to let us know.”

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, killing or injuring a bird can result in a six-month prison sentence or a £5,000 fine.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Town losing battle with vultures at water tower

LAKE ALFRED, Fla. (AP) — Every evening they come.

After a day of circling the skies, scanning the ground for the dead and dying, they make their way back home — an inhospitable home, to be sure, but home.

During the past couple years, it has been turned into a fake bird cemetery; it has reverberated with loud, scary noises; it has sent electric jolts through their bodies; and most recently, it has flashed blinding light into their eyes.

But still, black vultures settle down each evening on the Lake Alfred water tower.

“We are kind of in the final attempts (to get rid of the vultures),” City Manager Ryan Leavengood told the City Commission last Monday. “You wouldn’t think these things are as resilient as they are, but I’ll give them credit where credit is due.”

Leavengood’s comment sparked laughter from the commissioners and audience, but the city has had about $24,000 worth of work done to try to persuade the vultures to settle somewhere else.

The city has tried using a buzzer to frighten them — which worked until they got used to the noise. Fake dead vultures didn’t work, either. Those attempted solutions cost about $2,000.

Commissioners accepted a $20,332 bid in November for Terminix to install bird spikes and low-voltage electric tracks on the tower. The tracks were supposed to give the birds an uncomfortable, but harmless, shock. The spikes were supposed to make the surface uncomfortable to perch on.

Public Works Director John Deaton said the electric track works but doesn’t cover the whole tower, leaving plenty of space to sit comfortably. The spikes don’t seem to do anything, he said.

Leavengood said Monday the city will pay only part of that cost because it failed to deter the birds.

“Ultimately, we paid for a solution, and we didn’t get a solution,” he said.

In an attempt to hold on to hope, the city bought two Eagle Eyes for about $1,600 in May.

Eagle Eyes are bird deterrents that reflect sunlight or artificial light, limiting birds’ vision and causing them to steer away and find somewhere else to land.

It doesn’t seem to work for vultures, though.

“It looks pretty flashing around out there,” said Public Works Director John Deaton. “But the vultures are not annoyed by it at all.”

Leavengood said the city has another last-ditch effort idea: putting up cables and wires to impede their ability to land.

“That’s about the last thing we can think of,” he said. “We were hesitant because we didn’t want them to get caught up” in the wires.

City staff members have said they want the scavengers to find a new place to perch because they are worried about damage to the tower. Vultures’ urine and regurgitated fluids are highly corrosive.

So far, the only damage has been to the paint. The vultures have no access to the water, so the water quality isn’t in danger.

But cleaning and painting the tower is costly. Staff and residents don’t find the sight of the birds particularly appealing, either.

Vultures are a protected species, and the city cannot do anything to remove the birds that would harm them.

“You know what it is?” Deaton said, with a laugh. “Lake Alfred is a great place to live, and the birds have figured it out, and they don’t want to move.”

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Readers ask about city street work

The following questions were asked recently on the Wonderline:

Q: The Lincoln Avenue underpass has been recently painted by city employees. How much was budgeted for this project and what was actually spent, including the city employees’ labor? Also, the pigeons are still roosting in the underpass — how much was spent attempting to stop the pigeons from roosting where they have been for many years?

A: Mitch Doht, the city’s public works director, says “$165,000 was in this year’s budget for painting the underpass. Informal contractor estimates for the project were around $250,000. I don’t have final numbers on what the city spent because the project is not yet complete and because not all of the expenses have been invoiced, but my feeling is that we should be around $80,000, including all wages, equipment and materials. We only spent half of our budget, and not even one-third of what it would have cost for a contractor to do it. City government at its best, if you ask me. I’m really proud of our employees for the quality job they did and the money they saved taxpayers.”

As far as the pigeon issue, Doht had this informative and yet entertaining message, directed to the pigeons themselves:

“A personal message to all you freeloading pigeons in York. I realize you have been living in the same place for many years, following the same boring routine, into the underpass, out of the underpass, into the underpass, out of the underpass, etc., but today is a new day! Change is a good thing. Spread your wings and find a new place to live. Maybe Seward has an underpass? I realize that York’s city property tax levy is way lower than Seward’s, but you will be so much closer to Lincoln. Imagine the possibilities! By the way, consider this your eviction notice! I mistakenly left you a couple little spots at the underpass for you and your buddies to fight over, but alas, those too will soon be gone. Good luck and Godspeed!”

And he added, regarding the cost of pigeon proofing, that it “wasn’t much.”

Q: Every summer the City street department repairs and fills cracks in streets, however this year this job has not been done yet. Will this project be completed yet this summer or did the Lincoln Avenue underpass project take away the workers from other necessary street repair projects?

A: Doht responds, “They tell me that it has actually been many years since pavement crack sealing has been done in York. The city’s tar machine is a piece of crap and it wasn’t working for several years. So I borrowed a pavement router (Thanks Tom and Harv!), leased a tar machine, and we are back at it this year, and will be every year while I’m in charge.

“I totally agree that this type of work is necessary. A formal pavement preservation program is one of my goals for the street department. Well-timed, routine maintenance strategies can save us so much money over the life of a pavement.

“You are also correct, in that every project we do takes away from every other project on the list. Does that make sense? I’m not sure that people understand that we have a much longer list of needs than what will ever get done with our current resources. We do our best to prioritize projects and really try to make a difference. Thankfully, crack seal and underpass painting both made the cut this year. Crack sealing work has already started at several locations in town. Those areas will be finished in the next few weeks. A much larger pavement preservation project will happen this fall or next spring, depending upon how the new budget is finalized.”

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Adrian Beltre takes control during pigeon delay in Toronto

While the Toronto Blue Jays were supposedly violating the unwritten rules of baseball in their 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday, a pair of rogue pigeons found their way on to the field at Rogers Centre despite the roof being closed and caused a temporary delay in the action.

The delay happened in the eighth inning, long after Colby Lewis left the field, which is very good news for the pigeons. They basically marched right up to the pitcher’s mound, and had they walked on the mound, it would have been a violation of one of baseball’s most famous unwritten rules.

Remember the Dallas Braden-Alex Rodriguez fiasco from a few years ago?

There was no repeat of that, but the pigeons did seem to overstay their welcome rather quickly, at least in the eyes of Rangers players. Pitcher Roman Mendez appeared poised to bombard them with the rosin bag, and then third baseman Adrian Beltre took charge and shooed them away much the same way he chases off teammate Elvis Andrus when he tries to touch his head.crowd didn’t really appreciate Beltre ending the impromptu entertainment, but at least the game was able to continue as the pigeons reluctantly relocated into foul territory on the first base line. They would remain in that general vicinity for most of the final inning, and thankfully neither of them met their maker like the unfortunate bird who once crossed Randy Johnson’s fastball.

See, Beltre was just taking the best interest of the pigeons to heart. You might even call him a hero to the pigeon community.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Man punches friend to death over pigeon

Mike Tyson may have found peace in the company of pigeons but in Howrah, a dispute over possession of a bird spurred a 48-year-old man to punch his best friend to death on Sunday evening.

Nageswar Rai kept punching his long-time friend and neighbour Navraj Singh, 50, in the face and body till he collapsed on the pavement in Round Tank Lane, say police.

Singh was taken to hospital where he died early on Monday. Doctors suspect the barrage of punches damaged his vital organs. Rai is absconding.

Singh was an employee in the conservancy department of Howrah Municipal Corporation. On Sunday evening, he returned to home clutching a ‘lotan’ pigeon (known in Bengali as ‘noton payra’). Everyone knew that Singh has a soft corner for animals and birds.

The first thing he did was to call out to his old buddy Rai. The two began to admire the bird’s qualities. After a while, Rai asked Singh to give the pigeon to him, saying it would be better off in his care.

Rai also warned Singh that stray cats may get to the bird if he insisted on keeping it. An argument ensued after which Rai allegedly attempted to snatch the bird from Singh’s hands.

In the scuffle that followed, the pigeon flew off. An enraged Singh turned on Rai, accusing him for the loss.

Within minutes, the two men were at each other’s throats, say police. Rai, a hawker, threw a flurry of punches and fled as Singh slumped to the ground. Singh’s family members helped him inside the house.

Later in the evening, he started complaining of discomfort and was moved to Howrah district hospital where he died early in the morning. The body has been sent for autopsy.

But what was so unique about this pigeon?

“The uniqueness of this bird is that if shaken slightly and kept on the ground, it starts doing rolls. The only way to stop the rolling is to pick up the bird and blow into its mouth. These birds cost Rs 2,000-2,500 each,” said Joydip Chatterjee of Chatterjee Pet House in Ashoknagar.

The neighbourhood is shocked by Singh’s death. His wife Saro Devi lodged a complaint with police, accusing Rai, following which he was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, said Howrah OC Tathagata Pande.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Birdman will fly free

John Wilkinson, who was jailed for six weeks for breaching an ASBO restricting his habit of feeding pigeons, is expected to be released before the weekend after serving half his sentence.

The Visitor campaigned to ‘Free the Morecambe Birdman’ believing his punishment did not fit the crime.

We also said sending a man to prison for feeding birds was an unnecessary waste of taxpayers’ money and unlikely to make a difference to his long-term behaviour.

We also called for active and meaningful support for those in Morecambe who have suffered years of misery as a direct result of his bird feeding activities.

Neighbours have complained for years about the noise, nuisance and smell caused by Wilkinson’s habit of feeding pigeons at his home on Cavendish Road in the West End of Morecambe.

Our campaign was sparked after angry Visitor readers bombarded social media with messages calling for Wilkinson, who is being held in HM Preston prison, to be released.

Rita Patton, a friend of Wilkinson’s who started her own campaign on Facebook and organised a public bird feeding in Morecambe to show support, said: “I’m proud of The Visitor. You’ve done things in the right way.

“Apparently John is doing really well although he’s a little nervous by all the attention, because he’s seen all the press and TV coverage.

“I’m going to have a meeting with him and (charity) West End Impact when he gets out, to explain to him why we started the campaign.

“I hope he will go back to feeding the birds, but a little more responsibly.”

Mrs Patton has collected £100 in donations, which she will hand over to Wilkinson once he is freed.

Meanwhile David Morris MP has written to the Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling, to ask if procedures were followed correctly in the case of Wilkinson.

“This is a really sad case,” said Mr Morris.

“I pass Mr. Wilkinson’s house regularly and I am sure it must be frustrating for neighbours to have so many pigeons flying past all of the time.”

Wilkinson was sent to jail after feeding pigeons approximately 40kg of bird seed each day, along with vast quantities of food such as pizzas, pasta, apples and processed ready-meals, which he was forbidden from doing under the terms of his ASBO.

He will be released under legal guidelines which allow people jailed for less than a year to be freed after serving just half their sentence.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Pigeons and dog owners have it bad in Vienna, Austria

It can be pretty hard to be a pigeon anywhere in the world, but it turns out that the charming and iconic city of Vienna just got to be one of the worst locations for the pesky birds. Dog owners, however, are facing even bigger problems.

It seems authorities are trying to clean up the city and they have implemented a couple of new plans to do just that.

Pick up that poop or pay

First it was the dog owners. City authorities organized “Waste Watchers” (cute name, huh?) to keep an eagle eye on dog owners in the streets and parks. Any errant bit of poop then earned the appropriate dog owner a huge fine of up to 470 euros for their crime.

Pigeons attract rats, ergo get rid of pigeons

Now, the city is saying that people must cease and desist from feeding the pigeons. They say that when that elderly gent or lady sitting in the park chucks bread crumbs at the pigeons, they must cough up a 36 euro fine. Not as bad as dog poop I suppose, but still.

What officials are saying is that feeding the birds with bread is “not good for them” plus the left-overs (pigeons leave left-overs?) then apparently attract the rats.

Vienna city councilor Ulrike Sima pronounced that, “whoever feeds pigeons, feeds rats,” adding that feeding the pigeons is “misunderstood animal welfare” as by eating human food “they get sick and suffer.”

Referring to limited green space in the city, Sima also said this should not be “rendered unusable due to the pigeons.”

Pigeon prison camps

So that the birds do not “suffer” and the parks are not “rendered unusable,” city officials have other sinister plans afoot.

Experts in the field have come up with an idea for good old population-reduction. They want to set up a special nesting site for the birds, which will apparently attract them using what they term “pigeon psychology.”

This wonderful pigeon residential estate will house up to 400 of the pesky birds, which will be fed a much more appropriate diet. In return for this life of sheer luxury, their eggs will be removed from their nests and replaced with dummies, thus preventing them from breeding.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Ultrasonic pigeon & bird scarer

Ultrasonic pigeon & bird scarers are electronic devices that produce high pitch emissions known as ultrasound. Ultrasonic pigeon & bird scaring systems have been introduced into the pest control marketplace due to the fact that ultrasound is too high-pitched for human hearing but falls within the hearing range of most species of birds. Most sonic bird scaring devices produce a sound that is audible to the human ear and therefore may cause human disturbance if used in an area of human habitation.

Ultrasonic systems can be used in a wide variety of locations without causing human interference making them an ideal choice for areas where noise-related scaring is not an option. The exception to this rule may be where women and young children are concerned. With age, the human ear looses the ability to hear ultrasound but in some women and particularly in the young, ultrasound falls within hearing ranges and can cause considerable discomfort and headaches. This may have the effect of restricting the use of ultrasonic pigeon & bird scarers when used for pigeon control and gull control in urban areas and on industrial sites.

A constant 15-25 KHz setting (15 KHz for external model)

A variable setting allowing the user to modulate the frequency between 15 and 30 KHz with different speeds or ‘warbles’ (15-25 KHz for external model)
A high/medium/low frequency setting
A combination mode which alternates the ‘constant’ frequency and the ‘warble’ output in timed bursts
Up to 6500 sq feet coverage (3600 sq feet for external model)
Power consumption: approx 10 watts (depending on brand)

Most ultrasonic pigeon & bird scarers are powered by mains electricity in an effort to provide the user with a maintenance-free option. Some manufacturers offer their range with a mains adaptor giving 12 volts DC as standard but will provide a unit with connections to a wholly DC power source (normally car/leisure battery) on request. Two manufacturers also offer an environmentally friendly solar panel option allowing the battery to be ‘topped up’ when exposed to daylight or direct sunlight.

Due to the fact that ultrasound travels in straight lines and will not pass through solid objects, a system providing multiple speaker options will provide the most comprehensive coverage. Some units also offer the option of installing extension speakers for use in areas that are architecturally complex. Due to the nature of ultra high frequency sound-waves that spread out in circular waves from the source, a multi-speaker unit with 4-speakers ensures that the sound waves overlap, providing total coverage.

The ultrasonic pigeon & bird scarers that combine ultrasound with distress calls,strobe lights and predator calls are undoubtedly an ‘all-singing-all-dancing’ product that may be ideal for certain sites, but the stroboscopic and sonic elements may result in the unit being considerably less versatile in an urban application. As a roost inhibitor, for areas rarely frequented by humans (for example the underside of a railway or river bridge), the multi-faceted device would be entirely appropriate and may offer high levels of protection. However, the lack of an AC power supply in this type of environment will inevitably make the product more labour intensive. It is clear that the combo units are species-specific and based on their potential to create human disturbance, these products must also be considered to be highly context-specific.

Also commonly known as:

Bird wailer, sonic scarers, ultrasound bird scarers, quadblaster, wailer, silent bird scarer, electronic bird scarer, maxi wailer, midi wailer

Sonic System

Sonic bird control systems are becoming more common in the bird control sector and broadly speaking fall into three distinct categories; ultrasonic systems, sonic systems and bio-acoustic systems. For information on ultrasonic systems please see our ‘Ultrasonic Systems’ product review. Sonic systems produce a variety of electronically-generated sounds normally emitting noise levels up to 120 dB (A) and are designed to frighten birds with loud and unpleasant noises. Sonic noise is sound that is audible to the human ear – ultrasonic sound is normally not audible to the human ear but in some cases can be heard by women or young children. Bio-acoustic systems use natural alarm and distress calls as well as predator calls in order to create a hostile environment for the target species. Alarm calls are made when the bird perceives itself to be in danger, distress calls are made when the bird is in pain or has been attacked by a predator and predator calls are cries made by a predatory bird. Distress calls, alarm calls and predator calls are audible to the human ear.

Pure sonic systems are not widely available for the purpose of bird control with a majority of sonic devices being provided as part of a 2/3/4-way or even a 5-way system. These systems may include any of the following; distress calls, alarm calls, predator calls, ultrasonic sounds and sonic sounds. In some cases these systems are complimented by strobe lights providing a visual scaring element to the system. Most systems are available for internal or external use and a majority of the combo systems have multi-speaker options for ‘surround-sound’ scaring.

The most effective sonic systems appear to be those that are programmable and which offer sonic, ultrasonic and bio-acoustic options. For the purposes of this review it is these systems that we will concentrate upon. A majority of these systems are static systems with multi-speaker options that would normally be used for the protection of larger areas such as football stadiums or large industrial warehouses. For smaller more intimate areas the single-speaker units may be more appropriate but many of these units are only available with single-voice options such as distress calls or predator calls. Where sonic systems are installed in areas in areas of human habitation it must be understood that noise will be generated which may be intrusive, unpleasant and anti-social. For any type of urban application a thorough survey of the area must first be undertaken to assess the potential for human disturbance. If a sonic system is to be considered for an internal application such as a factory unit where people are working, care must be taken to ensure that workers do not suffer sonic disturbance (or visual disturbance if a combo unit with a strobe is used).

Most sonic systems are powered by mains electricity (AC current) for ease of use and in an effort to reduce the need for human interaction, but a majority of systems also offer a battery-powered option (DC current) and in some cases a solar panel option as well.

Ultrasonic frequency range: 15-25 KHz
Sonic frequency range: 3-5 KHz
Ultrasonic sound pressure: 95-102 dB (per speaker) at 1 metre
Sonic sound pressure: 105-110 dB (per speaker) at 1 metre
Switchable sound options: Distress calls, Predator sounds, Sonic sounds

Constant sounds: Ultrasonic sounds play constantly
Ultrasonic modes: High frequency, Medium frequency, Low frequency
Operation modes: Delay period (time between playing calls), Time of operation, Random mode
Delay period settings: Short/Medium/Long/Extra Long
Timed operations: Day only/24 hour/Night only
Random settings: Mode on, Mode off

Another major consideration when siting a sonic device is proximity to human habitation. The benefit of a fully programmable device is that the various sounds and calls (and lights if applicable) can be switched off at times when the device may be liable to cause disturbance, but the more basic units may need to be manually switched requiring regular human interaction. In the case of all sonic systems the transmission of sound will be effected by wind, temperature and the deflection of sound waves from surrounding buildings and therefore finding the optimum site may be time consuming. It is also the case that when the speakers need to be re-located due to the risk of habituation, the process of risk assessment must be undertaken all over again to ensure that the reflected sounds not only continue to be effective as a deterrent but also do not disturb people living or working in the vicinity.

The sonic bird scarer is a relatively inexpensive product based on the sheer number of scaring options provided together in one unit, certainly in the case of the multi-function scarers, but the issue of habituation is an ongoing concern for users. Most experts believe that sonic products, be they bio-acoustic, ultrasonic, sonic or a combination of all three can only ever play a part in an overall control strategy combining other deterrents and anti-perching products. Although the product may appear to be reasonably priced based on the various options available to the user and relative to some of the more cost-prohibitive exclusion products such as bird netting, when provided as part of an overall control system the product does not seem quite so cost-effective. Many users will purchase this product because they are simply looking for a maintenance-free option that is clean, cheap to run and which has numerous operating options. It is possible, however, that the product will not quite live up to their expectations when the necessity to regularly re-site the product and/or the speakers to reduce habituation is taken into consideration, combined with the probable need to complement the system with deterrents.

Also commonly known as:

Bird wailer, sonic scarers, ultrasound bird scarers, quadblaster, wailer, silent bird scarer, electronic bird scarer, maxi wailer, midi wailer, broadband pro, billboard pro, ultrasonic scarers, sonic deterrents, ultrasound deterrents, bird xpeller pro, super bird xpeller pro, distress call system, sonic distress system

Relevance to pigeon control:

Sonic systems are used to scare a wide variety of birds, predominantly in the agricultural sector, but the product is also commonly marketed as a pigeon-scaring device

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

The information on this blog is for personal use only. Content for this blog obtained from other websites is not being used for any commercial reasons whatsoever as per the copyright statement on the Pigeon Control Resource Centre’s website. http://www.pigeoncontrolresourcecentre.org/ Special thanks for the people and companies that helped gather this information. This information is to be used for reference only.

Strobe Light

Strobe lights are not commonly associated with bird control but manufacturers and suppliers often recommend the installation of strobe lights as a complementary control particularly for indoor areas where overnight roosting is the issue. Strobe lights are also available with a high-frequency sonic device in a single unit providing bothsonic and visual disturbance to roosting birds. According to manufacturers’ claims strobe lights can be an effective bird control product with a wide variety of birds including pigeons, swallows, starlings, crows, waterfowl and blackbirds making the product extremely versatile.

The main application for the use of strobe lights would be warehouses, the undersides of bridges or roof voids where light is restricted or where the area is in complete darkness. In these environments the pulsing light will have the most disorientating effect on the target species. If a strobe light is combined with anoise-generating device or an ultrasonic device the effect will be even more disturbing for roosting birds. Based on the environments in which the strobe light will be most effective, it is the feral pigeon that the device will be most commonly used to deter. A conventional stand-alone strobe light unit designed for bird control usage will typically cover an area of up to 10,000 square feet sending out intense white, red and blue light at 75 flashes per minute. The 1 million-candlepower light pulses provided at these frequencies will be intolerable to most species of birds disorientating them and resulting in an immediate desire to escape the area, according to one manufacturer of the product. Most strobe lights will be provided with a timing device to reduce the potential for habituation. If a strobe light is constantly powered the target species will almost certainly habituate to it.

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Predator Balloon

Inflatable bird scaring products to help rid pigeons and other birds are becoming a more common sight in both agricultural and urban environments. ‘Terror Eyes’ is a predator balloon which is inflated via either foot or electric pump and once inflated, ‘Terror Eyes’ is installed on a pole or hung from a vantage point overlooking the area to be protected. ‘Terror Eyes’ will then be in the correct position to have the maximum impact on the pest species of bird concerned. ‘Terror Eyes’ is suspended by an optional spring, helping to ensure that the balloon moves erratically, and this, combined with movement of air currents, further gives the impression that this is a ‘live bird’ rather than a static device.

Balloon on Pole

The product is only inflated up to 85% for maximum impact
To increase the random motion of Terror-Eyes, use the coil spring provided, and enforce it with a piece of strong twine slightly longer. This should prevent it from distorting the spring
When suspending Terror-Eyes from a rope, it is helpful, especially in windy areas, to anchor the unit to something below it. Use the loop on the bottom of Terror-Eyes
In order to rid pigeons, locate Terror-Eyes close to the roosting birds, with good line of sight to the infested areas
When installing 2 or more units, hang them each at a different height (a minimum of 1 unit diameter apart)
To prevent birds becoming used to Terror-Eyes, occasionally relocate units
Punctures can easily be repaired with a vinyl bonding agent About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

The information on this blog is for personal use only. Content for this blog obtained from other websites is not being used for any commercial reasons whatsoever as per the copyright statement on the Pigeon Control Resource Centre’s website. http://www.pigeoncontrolresourcecentre.org/ Special thanks for the people and companies that helped gather this information. This information is to be used for reference only.

Kite thread a death trap for birds

Shaken by the death of scores of birds and pigeons, their throats or wings slit by ‘manjha’, the sharp thread used for flying kites, bird lovers have taken up an extensive crusade to create awareness in rural and urban areas.

They are appealing to kite fliers to spare a thought for safety of pigeons and other birds perched on trees or in flight struck by the tang of the thread that is made sharp by anointing a ‘masala’ comprising crushed glass.

Officials of forest department have joined hands to create awareness among masses after realising the threat. Conservator A K Acharya told TOI “we have identified pockets where strength of birds/pigeons are in a sizeable number and decided to depute teams to create awareness over the issue.” He added “teams have been assigned to remove ‘manjha’ entangled in branches of trees and create extensive awareness so that lives of pets could be saved”.

An ardent birdwatcher Ramji Goswami says “many pigeons and other birds died after they were trapped or their throats were silt by the kite thread in the city”. He added “apart from pets, many humans get seriously injured too when they come in contact with the ‘manjha'”.

District forest officer Manoj Khare told TOI “the department has decided to launch awareness campaign in identified pockets specially where kite flying is common and volunteers would be appealing to kite fliers to avoid ‘manjha’.”

In Gujarat state, officials of the forest department had formed a rescue operation centre with the help of local non-government organisations and volunteers and the drive yielded successful results.

Ramji says “if you visit old Katra area, dead birds and pigeons hanging from trees trapped in ‘manjha’ are a common sight.” He added “it’s difficult to ascertain the exact number of birds killed by kite thread but stress should be on rescuing the injured ones and safety of other birds.”

About Pigeon Patrol:

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)