To hate pigeons with every bone in my body?

[MargoLivebetter]

I live in a flat and we have outdoor space and the pigeons have moved in and I cannot get rid of them. I made a huge mistake in lockdown of letting two pigeons rear a baby pigeon on the deck. I hadn't realised that they'd laid an egg and when I found it, it had hatched and I couldn't bring myself to lob it over the balcony.

Oh what a price I have paid for my kindness / weakness. I now have a colony of the fuckers living on my decking. I am constantly on pigeon patrol collecting up their sad twig nests and endlessly lobbing their bloody eggs over the balcony. I have pigeon shit everywhere and on days I WFH, I listen to their endless mating noises.

I have tried everything (bar shooting them). I have vile sticky stuff all over the edges of things, which is supposed to deter them but doesn't. I had a bird startler noise thing, which they got used to after about 2 days. I have festooned the place in bird scarers and silvery things, all of which they completely ignore.

I am so fed up with them. Does anyone know a way of getting rid of these bastard birds?

Well don’t leave stuff like that out then? Especially under a tree, not sure what you expected. It’s your fault, not the pigeons’. They’re just doing what birds do. And you can’t expect wild animals to care about your decking.

it’s no wonder there are so many endangered species across the world with attitudes like those in this thread. We should share space with animals, not monopolise it leaving them with nowhere to go.

Maybe try to attract seagulls? The seagulls here in Bristol do an excellent job of reducing the pigeon population. I can barely ever go out without seeing a seagulls eating a pigeon on the street. Not entirely sure why they're here instead of missing off to Weston Super Mare or somewhere with actual sea.

Negatives may include picking up half eaten dead pigeons and listening to the constant squawking that starts at 3am. They're also a protected species so much as I'd like to borrow my dad's air rifle I cannot.

@IamaRevenant

Not entirely sure why they're here instead of missing off to Weston Super Mare or somewhere with actual sea.

They’re* *in urban areas because it’s easier for them to scavenge for food humans discard than to find food in the sea. Which is really unhealthy for them.

@IamaRevenant I want a seagull! (Although I am wondering if the police will prosecute them too for disrupting nesting feral pigeons?)

Thats why the police have a dedicated wildlife crime unit, so get of your high horse.

Wildlife crime unit wont investigate your silly bike. 🙄

I do realise 😅

😆

Trust me, you don't. They're arseholes. I wish the police would arrest all of the ones around here.

Oh no! Don't wish for a seagull they are even worse

Our local council flies a Peregrine Falcon thro' the station a couple of times a year to rid it of pigeons AND seagulls

Maybe wish for one of those?

Maybe hire one for the same purposes

No you don’t! It’s like trading in pickpockets for the Mob.

Pigeons are assholes. Gulls are downright evil.

I find it incredibly difficult to understand how a person can hate a species with so much venom when they are not threatened, only mildly affected by them. They are wildlife, I don't think your deeds or rental agreement count for wildlife. Its a lot of energy to waste on something that makes you come across as a not very good person.

Put some fake eggs in the nest, don't smash them

I have wood pigeons so not quite as bad.. the magpies help keep numbers down!
But don't get me started on the effing seagulls. I'm considering moving house.
Op you are not unreasonable. Send the pigeons to the above people who hadn't had to deal with their noisy shitting ways.

Hire someone with a hawk-I saw a chap today in B &Q car park, employed to deter the pigeons.

You've got to be joking; they're even worse, and though I've learned some species of gull are apparently endangered, surely nobody's going to tell me the pigeon is!!

I am indeed joking! Sorry if it wasn't obvious

People would justifiably not want human or any other shit all over their balcony.

I think this is the most polarising thread I've ever seen on Mumsnet.

The most polarising thread you've ever seen on Mumsnet so far. There's always room for more. Until it gets deleted and/or the user banned.

Christ, all my life I've been told they were dirty but I didn't know they were that bad!!!! Disgusting 😫

https://gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/uncategorised/pigeon-fanciers-lung

Pigeons can actually kill you, and not just by making you go a bit mad with their incessant cooking, shagging and shitting.

Spikes are useful, deterrent floppy bird things can help, net what you can, and consider spending some money on a man from the council....

I can honestly say I don't blame you, OP.

I hate their cooking.
They are particularly bad at lasagne.

😵@Mumaway holy moly! When the weather has been dry and the pigeon poo is like cement, I do wear an old covid mask to try and prevent breathing it in when I clean it. (I realise some of the posters will probably be hoping I get Pigeon Fanciers Lung 😂)

Not really relevant tho is it given op isn't spending hours a day in an enclosed space with a large number of them.

Bit like saying fire can kill you so never go near a lighter.