DP wants to shoot pigeons nesting under our solar panels

[supersop60]

We have pigeons nesting under our solar panels. They are noisy and make a mess. DP will not listen to me about trying humane methods to get rid of them eg I bought a fake hawk, but he just rolled his eyes and cast it aside.
I saw him this morning putting his air rifle in the car and said he was taking it to have the sight aligned. He wants to shoot the pigeons!
My question is - what do I do now? Im not sure I’m tough enough to call the police on him.
He knows my feelings and opinions on the matter, but he just wants the pigeons gone.
WWYD?

He'd have to be one hell of a shot not to damage the solar panels...

If he must be rid of them then get them removed professionally and fit something to stop them returning.

What kind of pigeons?

The Core Rules

Valid Reasons Only: Lethal control is only allowed to prevent serious damage to crops, livestock, or foodstuffs, or to preserve public health and safety and prevent disease.

Non-Lethal First: You must first try reasonable non-lethal methods (such as deterrents or spikes) before turning to shooting

Homing Pigeons: It is illegal to shoot racing or homing pigeons, which often mix with feral flocks and are protected as personal property

Your partner is an idiot. Even if he manages to shoot one or two pigeons without hitting the panels/house and he doesn’t get arrested for using a firearm in a public place, does he really think there won’t be half a dozen more pigeons happy to take their place.

I had pigeons under my panels and know how noisy and messy they are but the only option is to get someone to clear them out (when all the chicks have gone) and fit secure netting around the panels.

He's not very bright is he?! For a start you can't just go round shooting birds and he's highly likely to damage the panels. Best solution is to look online at sensible ways of restricting the pigeons' access to your roof.

He wants to shoot at his own solar panels?

Is there not the anti-bird stuff around the edge of the panels?

Why can’t you install the hawk yourself?

What a nasty man your DP is Op. Do you really want to live with a man who shoots innocent birds just because he finds them annoying?

Yes, and if he did shoot them, some more will colonise the panels.

The panels need to have wire mesh fitted around them to prevent pigeons getting underneath. (I don't understand why this is always done when solar panels are fitted as it seems to be a common problem.)

What does he think will happen to the corpses assuming he manages to shoot them? I’d rather have some live pigeons that will move on soon than rotting corpses wedged under the solar panels.

I meant more, why can't she go ahead and get it installed by a professional. I can't imagine it's hugely expensive ie. something that necessitates a long discussion.

Agree. We bought a house with a pigeon problem. Got someone in to remove them and put mesh round. The droppping on the drive and on the cars drove us mad within a month.

Google humane bird removal services near you. Apart from killing the birds, unless I’m missing something and he’s a sure shot, your partner could seriously damage the solar panels. I mean, his logic is all in his pants. it’s like being locked outside and choosing to break your own window to get into the house because it’s cheaper than hiring a locksmith type of thinking, never mind replacing the glass. I was married to one of those thinkers who allowed their anger to take the lead on every decision.

You should let him

Darwin Award 🥇 Daily Mail sad face ‘I broke my own solar panels by shooting at them and the police arrested me’

Shooting pigeons against a really expensive mostly glass panel sounds like a really well thought through and logical plan that will only end well. I'm already keen to hear how it goes.

When we had ours put in And I was telling her class that my husband was boring on about it , one of the kids I teach said "Miss, don't forget to get netting round the otherwise you get birds onto them".

And surprisingly I took very good advice for the year 10.

Quite. It’s very high, and I dont know what I would attach it to or with. I managed to lodge it on the garage roof until a strong wing blew it over.

He's not the type of person that should own weapons of any kind. He's an irresponsible jackass.

You'll end up with dead pigeons rotting and drawing scavengers and broken solar panels and fines for shooting birds in a residential area and probably various other charges and very pissed off neighbours.

You really need to toughen up and call the authorities if your partner goes off half cocked like this.

He’s convinced that putting netting or spikes around the panels would necessitate scaffolding and it would cost hundreds of£.

Bit risky if he's shooting close to the solar panels. However, if he goes ahead and you're meat eaters, you could pluck, cook and eat them, assuming they're wood pigeons. No different from buying a chicken, instead - and less morally culpable than buying a non free range chicken.

Pigeon pie? 🥧🥧