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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Pigeons

107 replies

rosielemonaddde · 14/06/2023 10:18

Aibu to try and remove nesting pigeons from a tree in my garden?

And how should I do it? I don't mean bash them over the head or shoot them, just move them along.

Do light reflectors work? Or a hawk model? 😂

They are shitting all all over the kids garden toys, they make that horrendous gobbly noise constantly and flap excessively everytime anyone goes near the tree. There's at least 4 large ones.

It's just a bloody nuisance and I'm sick of them!

OP posts:
FurryPelmet · 14/06/2023 20:16

Read this and then remind yourself that forcing birds out of trees and nests is absolute dick behaviour and not something you’d stoop to. https://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-pigeons-187216

In defence of pigeons

Pigeons simply don’t deserve the bad press they get.

https://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-pigeons-187216

Aworldofmyown · 14/06/2023 18:23

Cam22 alright then. I'm actually a sadist who boils kittens, because I hate one animal.

LoopyLoo1991 · 14/06/2023 18:21

Kellogscorncrakes · 14/06/2023 18:00

If the church are really doing that then they are breaking the law and should be ashamed of themselves. There are plenty of ways you can deter future nesting but you can't interfere with a nest that's already there.

The exterminators that do it have a special licence.
Droppings were damaging a listed building.
They kill pigeons at the GCHC place in London and various other important buildings.
Local councils here exterminate pigeons on regular basis.

rosielemonaddde · 14/06/2023 18:13

youcandanceifyouwanna · 14/06/2023 17:59

Contact pest control. Pigeon droppings can cause serious illness in humans and children are especially vulnerable. From reading this thread, there are loads of people who would positively embrace the idea of pigeon cr@p all over their garden so I don't think we need to worry about pigeon extinction any time soon.

They probably haven't had to deal with pigeon crap all over their property so they feel like they can be sanctimonious and smug about being animal lovers.

Wonder how they would feel about their washing line and whatever else is in their garden getting shit on, every single day.

OP posts:
FuckYouEzekiel · 14/06/2023 18:12

MonumentalLentil · 14/06/2023 10:53

Move the toys and leave the nest until November. Don't be like the assholes round here that want to kill everything they see, they have a right to live.

I like you.

jeffgoldblum · 14/06/2023 18:07

I'm not sure pidgeons are in the same classification as other nesting birds , we've got woodpidgeons in our garden and they don't behave that way , they are not that big either ( we get crows and ravens too!) , it sounds like op has common pidgeons and these are classified as pests .

Kellogscorncrakes · 14/06/2023 18:00

If the church are really doing that then they are breaking the law and should be ashamed of themselves. There are plenty of ways you can deter future nesting but you can't interfere with a nest that's already there.

youcandanceifyouwanna · 14/06/2023 17:59

Contact pest control. Pigeon droppings can cause serious illness in humans and children are especially vulnerable. From reading this thread, there are loads of people who would positively embrace the idea of pigeon cr@p all over their garden so I don't think we need to worry about pigeon extinction any time soon.

LoopyLoo1991 · 14/06/2023 17:48

Pigeons are the only birds stupid enough to build a nest on top of another dead pigeon...

Don't think local council or any wildlife group will object to you knocking nest out of the tree in middle of night.
They shoot nesting pigeons in roof of a local church with air rifles, so if the church of England have no problem with removing these flying rats, then don't worry yourself of ridding yourself of them.

TheHateIsNotGood · 14/06/2023 17:38

For those that can't imagine the impacts of Pigeon Dramas, may I please direct you to 'The Pigeon' written by Patrick Suskind.

As lent to me by my NB after a sickly pigeon decided to horrendously die on my wall over several days whilst being terribly bullied by it's fellow pigeons, knocking it about off fences, for it to clamber out again and again.
.
It finally died a quick death at the hands/jaws of my Jack Russell, which I discovered whilst working earnestly at my desk wondering what the kerfuffle at my feet was.

Little dog playing with a dead, diseased pigeon.

FlippyFloppyFlappy · 14/06/2023 17:37

Aww I love pigeons 🥺

HelpMeGetThrough · 14/06/2023 17:32

And how should I do it? I don't mean bash them over the head or shoot them, just move them along.

Chainsaw, job done.

rosielemonaddde · 14/06/2023 17:09

Cam22 · 14/06/2023 17:05

You must know that is a ridiculous question. The birds are protected and you are being cruel even to think about this.🙄

Ok thanks for your input.

OP posts:
Cam22 · 14/06/2023 17:06

Aworldofmyown · 14/06/2023 17:02

I LOVE animals. Very pro wildlife ect ect
I FUCKING hate pigeons!!!!
I've lived in my house for 17 years, we started off with about 3 wood pigeons, we now have a whole bastard flock!
They steal ALL the wild bird food.
They scare and harrass the smaller birds.
They crap literally every where, all over the grass, patio, toys.
We've tried everything and nothing has worked except getting a dog 😆 she chases them off!!
I'm sorry OP!!

“I LOVE animals. Very pro wildlife ect ect”

No you don’t, actually, and no you are not. Etc. Etc.

Aworldofmyown · 14/06/2023 17:05

Also, ours are the size of turkeys!!!! Massive fuckers.

Cam22 · 14/06/2023 17:05

You must know that is a ridiculous question. The birds are protected and you are being cruel even to think about this.🙄

Aworldofmyown · 14/06/2023 17:02

I LOVE animals. Very pro wildlife ect ect
I FUCKING hate pigeons!!!!
I've lived in my house for 17 years, we started off with about 3 wood pigeons, we now have a whole bastard flock!
They steal ALL the wild bird food.
They scare and harrass the smaller birds.
They crap literally every where, all over the grass, patio, toys.
We've tried everything and nothing has worked except getting a dog 😆 she chases them off!!
I'm sorry OP!!

Pfpppl · 14/06/2023 16:59

I feel your pain. We had them under our solar panels a few years ago until we netted them off to stop access. The bloke over the road has just had panels installed and the fuckers are cooing constantly. Can't have my windows open over night and today while WFH they have not bloody stopped with their noise. I think there should be a law that all solar panel installations must include netting!

I love where I live as we have so many different birds chirping and singing, but pigeon noises are another matter. And like you say, they shit a LOT.

A couple of things that worked for us for a while were a fake raven on the roof and throwing a nerf aero howler near where they were resting! Apparently hanging old cds from the branches works as well due to the sun reflecting off them.

Good luck.

areyouhavinglaugh · 14/06/2023 16:56

Don't worry op my neighbour has finally got rid of the nesting pigeons outside our bedroom windows... thankfully o didn't. So I can be sanctimonious and award myself a special badge 🤣
But I'm so glad he got rid of them 🤫

EvilElsa · 14/06/2023 16:53

I'm not one to ask as I can hand feed the pigeons in my garden and love the messy little fuckers. I do acknowledge they do shit everywhere though. Buy a couple of owl decoys.

TheHateIsNotGood · 14/06/2023 16:48

I've had plenty of my own pigeon dramas thankyou very much 😁

rosielemonaddde · 14/06/2023 16:47

@TheHateIsNotGood

Now now let's not be cruel, you will have the pigeon mafia spitting feathers.

OP posts:
TheHateIsNotGood · 14/06/2023 16:46

rosielemonaddde · 14/06/2023 16:43

You don't understand! They're sweet little birdie wirdies worth than you, your house and child! MN is a madhouse sometimes.

Fuckers. I'd make pies out of the lot of them. Yadnbu


Fucking bonkers the lot of them ! If they want to live in a literal shower or shite they can.
I don't want to.

You don't want to eat town pigeon OP but a bit of marinated wood pigeon with tagliatelli is a very tasty dish indeed.

rosielemonaddde · 14/06/2023 16:44

TheHateIsNotGood · 14/06/2023 16:43

I'm sure you'll figure out something OP, loads of practical suggestions here.

Just to assuage my curiosity is it poss you can post a pic or 2 of the birds 'in tree' please?

I will have a go later, not home for a few hours now!

OP posts:
rosielemonaddde · 14/06/2023 16:43

You don't understand! They're sweet little birdie wirdies worth than you, your house and child! MN is a madhouse sometimes.

Fuckers. I'd make pies out of the lot of them. Yadnbu


Fucking bonkers the lot of them ! If they want to live in a literal shower or shite they can.
I don't want to.

OP posts: