Help me deal with the pigeons who have chosen my garage roof as their toilet spot

[FooFightersFan]

I’ve just cleared up (hosed away) a huge pile of pigeon poop from the passageway behind my garage. Again!

The pigeons (and it is pigeons specifically) like to sit up on the roof at the gable end of my garage and use it as their pooping perch. We also have a pergola type structure behind the garage, but they don’t seem to sit in that to poop, just the apex of the garage roof.

I’ve looked at some solutions online: I’m not sure how I would attach bird spikes on the edges of the apex, an owl decoy may deter other birds and they have mixed reviews as to how effective they are. I’m thinking of trying scare tape, which looks like those holographic Happy Birthday banners.

Before I part with any money, I wondered if the Mumsnet faithful could share any methods that they’ve used successfully.

Thanks

The pigeons like to sit up on the roof at the gable end of my garage and use it as their pooping perch.
Poopers gonna poop. If they are not pooping there, where will they poop instead? Be careful what you wish for!

We had spikes installed on the edge of the flat roof (whilst the roofer was up there, we didn't DIY) and the pigeons, instead of pooping whilst perching on the edge, would offload as they came in to land. Bleurgh.

@senua
lol. I see your point.

But I don’t mind if they poop from the fence nearby, as it would land in a flower bed.
There is a door into the back of the garage under the apex. I’ve not got pooped on whilst using it yet, which is lucky. And I wouldn’t want to, because their poops are huge! It must be a new pigeon in the area, because we’ve not had the problem for long and I’ve never noticed it before this summer.

How about this?

Woodside Large Realistic Owl Decoy With Rotating Head Bird/Pigeon/Crow Scarer amzn.eu/d/1d1Z9I1

Owl, or a big fake snake on the roof. Maybe try with an old bit of hose?
Or some MASSIVE eyes painted on?

I always wonder if these things only work temporarily however.

My experience of the pigeon tape was it did absolutely nothing to deter the little bastards. We've built a pergola over decking that until we gave in the made it look like alcatraz with spike was just an expensive pigeon toilet.
Sorry not what you wanted to hear!

@ohsuzannah
That owl is fab 😆
I think I might give it a try.

@Howdidthathappen1
That’s good to know though. I shan’t bother with it.
Also I’m worried it’ll look as though I’m getting geared up for Christmas far too early. And I don’t do Christmas until
well into December 😆

@TheSpottedZebra
Hmm the homemade snake sounds a bit too creative. But maybe I can give the owl a go.

Water pistol.

Two strips of copper tape and a 9v battery.
⚡

I was reading a thread yesterday about the difficulty of drying clothes in the winter - it's too wet/humid outside and too expensive to have electric airers etc inside. My neighbour has a plastic roof to the side of the house and she airs her washing there.
I was also thinking about suggesting a covering by your garage to keep off the bird poo.
Could you do some combination rain-proof, poo-proof thing, without it looking too dreadfully like a cheap lean-to?

Count your blessings. I’ve got a pair who like to ensure the continuation of the species on the roof outside the velux window in . my bedroom. Every morning, at dawn.