Humane ways to minimise pigeons in my garden?

[SpainToday]

Next door have a bird feeder in their garden, their choice, but obviously we get more birds (particularly pigeons) in our garden as a result, and I hate them. They leave such a mess and spoil my enjoyment of the garden. We have a cat who is too elderly to provide much help!

Any suggestions? Short of hiring a sniper I’m not sure what we can do?

Posting here for traffic

Thread title edited by MNHQ on OP's request, to make it clear she was referring to pigeons specifically

Pigeons are great ! You're in their environment. Have you realised this?

Humans leave a mess wherrever they go. You're being stupid. Pigeons are intelligent. Unlike most humans I've encountered. They can recognise faces.

Are you my neighbour? We have a pair of wood pigeons who build about three or four nests per year, rotating between our trees and the neighbours'. As soon as one gets divebombed by crows, they move on to the next tree and have another futile attempt. It's pretty funny (though sad) when they build a wobbly nest in the willow tree, which they are too heavy to perch in.

Apart from that we have 10 million sparrows who like to hang out in our guttering.

That's why I said not helpful! But you can learn to look at something in a different light if you take the time to learn about it. Maybe op can find something to appreciate about wood pigeons 😂

BarnacleBeasley:

No, sadly I'm not, my neighbours both sides have dreadful gardens, mine is like an oasis of plants, real grass, flowers and trees, I don't think any birds ever go in theirs, although one side actually said they liked the pigeons as they are often on the joint fence kissing and necking and being very amorous.

I used to have lots of sparrows in my tree but so far this year I've only seen a few. I do hope they come back, I miss them.

The pigeons on the fence kissing and necking, not the neighbours in case I didn't write that very clearly 😂

Why on earth would anyone want to limit birds in the garden not to mention wanting their cat to kill them!!!

Some people, honestly, I despair!

This!

I love birds but I count pigeons as vermin

Then you do not, in fact, 'love birds'.

Dress up as bird of prey and every now and then go outside and do a lap of your garden, shouting, 'CAW! CAW!' as a deterrent to keep any of the birds trespassing in your garden. 🙄

Now there's an idea ......

We're lucky enough to have lots of birds and a beautiful tree at the top of our garden which sits directly above our patio area.

As you can imagine it's covered in bird poo at times. We've put a sail up to protect the garden furniture.

Could you do the same?

I often have a pair of fucking* pigeons on top of my arbour.

*description, not swearing at them.

Why are pigeons vermin?

They are literally doing what almost every other bird does.

How can you be offended by a pigeon?

They're not.

Oh ffs what is wrong with some people?!?! What a disappointing post to read. It's a privilege to have birds in the garden.

Pigeons are not officially classed as vermin but are considered to be because of the damage they do to buildings. Their poo causes a mess and can build up. They also carry diseases and pathogens that can be transmitted to humans.
I just googled all this.

From what I can see that’s just feral pigeons, not woodpigeons or any of the various doves.

Pigeons are just looking for food and living their lives like the rest of us.

We invade their territory.

I suppose you saw sparrows as vermin too before they started to get scarce

Get a fox?

No, it is just pigeons.

I work with animals and have touched thousands of pigeons. I’m still alive. No disease. Never been harmed by one, I find them very peaceful friendly birds.

We also have them in the garden and again have never had an issue. They do no harm at all. The hate for wildlife in the UK is shameful.

For god's sake.

Yes, but dogs and cats also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. So do animals that people eat. But we haven't labelled them as 'pests' because we see them as useful to us. Selfish. Humans have collectively decided that pigeons and rats are vermin. If you take proper precautions - handwashing and not disturbing their nests - there's almost no risk to you. Just let them live their lives!