pigeon scarer

[The Natural Philosopher]

LA has the greatest density of guns per individual anywhere in the world I shouldn't wonder.

Surprised the wols are there,let alone pidgins. ;-)

[The Natural Philosopher]

Eat the egg, then eat the pigeon that laid it. Then eat the pigeon that laid the pigeon that laid the egg.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

They've come back from their holidays.

[Nigel Molesworth]

So they are going to keep coming back, you won't be able to scare them away now.

If a gun is not practical, trap them, preferably with a twin-chamber trap. Failing that, get a washing up bowl, prop it up on a stick tied to a string, and wait ...

Don't try to release them, they will come back. See here:

Don't bother to pluck them, just skin the breasts.

[Andy Hall]

Does this ultimately imply eating God?

[Matt]

Yes, but not in Korea where there is a character inversion.

[Owain]

What about paving the patio with veroboard with alternate tracks connected to an electric fence impulser?

Owain

[The Medway Handyman]

If you are seeing pigeons grinning at you, I'd leave off the ale for a while.

[Mike Halmarack]

PIR triggered cat noises?

[Dave Stanton]

LOL nice one !!!

Dave

[tim (back at home)]

I had feared this.

They don't fly away as soon as they see me through the window any more. I now have to bang on the window.

Actually, they look quite cute looking after their egg.

Pity they are pigeons.

tim

[Andrew Gabriel]

We had one at work just outside the window. Actually, the nest was on top of one of the security floodlamps, which probably helped with the egg. We setup a webcam on it, and people from all round the world were watching our pigeon. The pigeons left the nest and didn't reuse it after the chick had gone. As nests go, it was rather pathetic anyway -- very little in the way of any nesting materials.

[fred]

In article , tim (back at home) writes

tim (back from Sweden?)

A quick google suggests pigeons are susceptible to ultrasound attack so that might me an avenue to explore. Looks like catty ultrasound deterrents are cheaper than birdy deterrents so may be a cheaper source. DIY cheaper still if you're of the veroboard & solder fraternity.

[Nigel Molesworth]

Don't be fooled. They are pests and spread diseases. It's like rabbits (and foxes) if they had scales they would be been wiped out by now.

[tim (back at home)]

Yep, it was about three dozen loose sticks until I cleared it away yesterday.

They came back with 5 or 6 sticks and laid their egg on that.

tim

[tim (back at home)]

Yup, I like to keep some continuity.

(I used to post here a lot 6 ISP accounts ago, but much less frequently since I started the trips abroad)

tim

[John Cartmell]

They're pigeons. They're there. Observe them and preserve them whilst they raise their chick. If they won't fly away then you should be able to get some decent high quality photos and try and flog them. Note that you need to make your balcony inaccessible next spring so as to give your neighbour the chance to partake in such a privilege.

[John Cartmell]

They're birds. They do have scales. You need to take more interest in the wild-life around you.

[VisionSet]

Wood or Feral?

-- Mike W

[Dave]

Who cares. Stick doves on the list too. Cutout of hawks etc DO NOT WORK. I've tried several designs placed in various places. The pigeon is such a completely STUPID FILTHY creature that even if it going to get attacked still pecks away and spreads filth everywhere if lands. As you can guess I hate the damn things. My elderly (fit and alert but stupendously inconsiderate) neighbour has multiple bird feeders and spends all of 1 hour per day watching them. She then retires to the other end of house and spies of the passers-by for the rest of the day. Thing is I work nights and the bird noise in the early hours from this overfeeding wakes me at 05:30 most mornings. So I get maybe 3 hours sleep on a good night. Oh yes, the PIGeons. The small birds throw seed up in the air and it lands on what's left of the lawn. There. the pigeons go for it. AFAIK you cannot (in law) just go firing an airgun within certain distance of anothers property. Also poisoning is probably illegal - and in the present time of bird flu risk rather silly as it may cause unnecessary worry. Wish I had a solution for you - but haven't found one myself.

A small improvement for me recently though. The clouds of sparrows that feed off this artificial feast were slowed up recently when a WONDERFUL Sparrow Hawk barrelled into the sods. It grabbed a sparrow and ripped it to shreds on my lawn. It was at least, quick. At least there is some natural justice and I hope the Hawk sticks around. Pity the real cause isn't prey for it!

ps Actually maybe there ought to be some emergency legislation to stop over-feeding of wild birds - that's the last thing we need now with high risk bird-flu possibility.