PIGEONS roosting beneath a Redhill bridge have ruffled the feathers of residents and commuters.
Many birds have made their home under the bridge next to the town’s railway station, resulting in pigeon poo smattering the pavements and busy A25.
The Mirror was contacted about the issue by Reigate reader Sarah Ballingal.
She said: “It is usually bad enough, but when I walked under there on the morning of August 23 I couldn’t believe how bad it had become.
“The amount of feathers there was extraordinary.
“It was as though every pigeon in the town had been plucked there.
“It’s disgusting, a major health hazard and an appalling blot on Redhill’s already shaky reputation.”
She said new visitors to the town would not stay too long when they saw how bad things had become there. Other residents also feel aggrieved.
Gareth Hughes, who has lived for 20 years in nearby St Anne’s Drive, said: “It’s such an eyesore.
“There’s pigeons’ mess all over the footpath and road. It’s unhygienic as well as looking ugly.”
Mr Hughes said protective netting was needed to deter the birds.
Malcolm Collins, of Redstone Hill, said: “I’ve never yet been hit by pigeon droppings but its probably only a matter of time. There are up to 20 pigeons roosting under the bridge.
“I think some metal pigeon proofing strips were put up there in recent years, but things have got worse recently.”
Chris Denham, spokesman for Network Rail which owns the bridge, said: “Pigeons can be a menace.
“We usually schedule pigeon proofing for when other work is also planned as logistics like road closure orders are expensive and sometimes difficult to get.
“We tend to go for anti-pigeon mesh these days as it lasts longer and is more effective than the old nets.
“We will liaise with the local council and then decide on what measures, such as spikes and netting, will be implemented.”
Richard Dewar, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s outreach manager, said: “It is the responsibility of Network Rail to ensure pigeons do not colonise railway bridges and, as such, most bridges in the area have had pigeon proofing added.
“However, as the local authority, it is our role to report complaints about pigeon fouling to Network Rail.
“And where residents notice this problem under railway bridges, we would encourage them to report it to us online.”
Complaints can be recorded via the council’s website www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk. Alternatively call the authority on 01737 27600
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Foot deformities are ubiquitous in urban pigeons – why? As you’ll know if you’ve spent any time watching the pigeons of towns and cities, something like one in every ten (or more) has missing or partial toes, or swollen toes, or other pedal deformities of some sort. And then there are really extreme individuals – the ones that are missing feet altogether.
Poor footless urban pigeon, encountered close to Kew train station. The right foot is completely absent; the left one had at least one toe, curled round such that the bird was walking on the toe’s lateral side. Photo by Darren Naish.
I’m talking here about the domestic form of Columba livia, the so-called Rock pigeon or Rock dove. And, while I’ve only noticed deformed pigeons here in the UK, it certainly isn’t a UK-only thing, as continental European and North American [UPDATE: and South American] people will confirm.
The bird in the photos here was able to fly around and feed itself, and it might be broadly described as ‘healthy’. However, note that it’s in pretty poor condition. The feathers on its head and neck looked terrible and its rectrices (the big tail feathers) were frayed and shabby. I reckon this is partly due to an inability to groom and scratch itself: obviously, birds use their feet to reach parts that they can’t get to with the bill.
The impact of this is more than cosmetic, since birds with a poorly maintained or unrepaired plumage are disadvantaged in flight relative to tidier individuals, and less able to keep themselves warm and waterproofed. And a bird that isn’t able to groom parts of its plumage is also at risk of being unable to keep on top of parasites like ticks and feather mites (see the ‘pigeon’s eye view’ Tet Zoo article linked to below). And, as has been demonstrated through various experiments, birds with shabby-looking plumage are less attractive as mates (Clayton 1990), so a bad-looking pigeon is likely to be a non-breeding pigeon. It’s also worth noting that (like many animals), pigeons preferentially use one foot more than the other as goes the way they land and perch and sit and so on (Fisher 1957), so individuals that lose or damage their preferred foot might end up being doubly disadvantaged (imagine being right-handed, and then having to rely only on your left hand for evermore). I don’t know how concerned people are about the emotional well-being of animals like urban pigeons (or how far they’re prepared to go in admitting that non-human animals have feelings and states of mind), but I think we can be fairly confident that the most severely deformed of these birds are – at least at times – miserable, unhappy and frustrated.
Several ideas have been put forward to explain the many foot problems seen in urban pigeons. Some probably lose toes after getting them tangled in litter or anti-pigeon netting, or after they’ve injuries received from anti-pigeon spikes installed on signs and ledges. Fine wire, string, cotton thread and even human hair can all cause problems for birds when caught on or around digits, and some people say that interaction with fine thread and string and so on is the primary cause of pigeon foot damage. It’s also sometimes suggested that the deformities result from infections received after standing on excrement, and also that the birds become damaged through interaction with chemicals used on roofs and building stone. But the ‘chemical injury’ idea is unlikely to be correct, since (A) exactly what sort of chemicals are we talking about here, and why have they been used on buildings in the first place?, and (B) a chemical would basically have to be a powerful acid or alkaline agent (hydrochloric acid, or a very strong bleach) before it might damage a bird’s feet. For completeness, note that hereditary deformities like those reported for some captive populations of other pigeon species (Flach & Cooper 1991) might also explain some of the abnormalities observed in urban pigeons.
Other hazards that might affect an urban pigeon. At left: voracious park-dwelling pelicans! (photo: PA). At right: deceased Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) following encounter with motor vehicle; note ‘terror-moulted’ lack of rectrices. Photo by Darren Naish.
Pigeons are not, of course, the only birds that end up with damaged feet. You might recall the foot-lacking Rock pipit Anthus petrosus I featured here recently…
I’ve been photographing pigeons a lot lately, but pigeons of a different species from C. livia. More about that another time. For previous Tet Zoo articles relevant to some of the subjects covered here, see…
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
People who enjoy gambling have something in common with pigeons.
That is according to research, which suggests human gamblers and pigeons are 35% more likely to take greater risks when there is a chance of a big win.
Is it worth the gamble? Credit: Nel Pavletic/PIXSELL
Birds are distantly related to humans, yet we still share the same basic psychology that drives risk-taking. This may be due to a shared common ancestry or similar evolutionary pressures.
When people gamble, they often rely on past experiences with risk and rewards to make decisions. What we found in this study is that pigeons used these past experiences in very similar ways to guide their future gambling decisions. Any big wins we’ve had in the past are memorable and stand-out when we are making our decision to gamble again.
– DR ELLIOT LUDVIG, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK’S DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
The pigeons and human volunteers were testing with four options – two that led to high-value rewards and two that led to low-value rewards. Humans were rewarded with points and the birds were rewarded with food.
The study, published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters, was conducted in collaboration with the University of Alberta, Canada, and part-funded by the Alberta Gambling Research InstituteCredit: John Walton/EMPICS Sport
For each high or low reward level, one safe option resulted in a guaranteed fixed reward, and one risky option yielded a 50/50 chance of a better or worse outcome.
Both birds and humans were found to be 35% more likely to take a gamble on the high-value rewards.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Some employees at GM’s Delta plant sent us pictures of dead pigeons and their feathers scattered around the facility.They want to know what is killing the birds and what could be left behind.
6 News Nick Perreault talked with General Motors about the issue.
General Motors spokesperson Erin Davis confirmed a facilities manager did find a dead pigeon on the grounds and adds Rose Pest Solution has been brought in to address the problem.
Again a facilities manager found one pigeon not hundreds, but employees disagree.
6 News was told by a former Rose Pest employee there have been hundreds of pigeons in the past few years that collect around ceiling fans near the paint part of the plant.
The company would leave out material for the pigeons in hopes of preventing them from returning.
Though that former employee said that material is not intended to the kill the birds, but says General Motors has been a client for years addressing this problem.
Aside from the obvious health concerns to employees, being around feces and potential dead birds, Erin Davis says this could cause a delay in work.
If mechanical equipment is cover in bird feces, they’d have to wash down all their equipment and wait some time before they can resume working.
Rose Pest Solutions and General Motors along with environmental engineers are handling the issue and hope this doesn’t spread any more.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
A bird control spike, also called an anti-roosting spike or roost modification, is really a device composed of lengthy, needle-like rods employed for bird control. They may be mounted on building ledges, street lighting, and commercial signs to avoid wild or feral birds from perching or roosting. Birds can establish large amounts of unsightly and unclean feces, plus some birds have very noisy calls that may be bothersome for nearby citizens, especially during the night. Consequently, bird control spikes are utilized to deter these birds without leading to them harm or killing them.
Bird control deterrent spikes are usually around 1 feet (30 centimetres) lengthy, and work by reduction of the region readily available for birds to find. This forces bigger types of birds, for example seagulls, pigeons, crows and vultures, to land elsewhere. Because the birds don’t touch the spikes, the birds go unscathed.
Referred to as “the very best (kind of) stand-alone bird deterrent”, bird control spikes can be put along ledges, walls, on the top of business signs, closed circuit television cameras as well as in rain gutters, to be able to prevent birds from perching around the surfaces. Bird control spikes are most typical in city centers and seaside areas, where feral birds tend to be more common and more prone to enter into conflict with humans. In addition to being accustomed to control wild birds, bird control spikes see limited use within stopping bigger climbing creatures for example squirrels, raccoons and snakes from crossing a place.
Some bird control deterrent spikes are electrified, utilizing the same principle being an electric fence to improve effectiveness, and also the distress call from the shocked bird can scare others in the region. However, such products cause unnecessary injury to birds, and therefore are therefore illegal in certain areas, like the Uk. Sharp-expected bird control spikes are illegal in a lot of the relaxation around the globe, and therefore are unacceptable for areas that are regularly available for humans. Consequently, some companies manufacture special blunted spikes to be used where sharp spikes are harmful or illegal. However, the blunt spikes are less efficient at removing birds, and can’t block climbing creatures.
Pigeon spikes have totally changed the. Those are the best, safe preventives from roosting pigeons. After first bursting to the scene in 1995, these amazing pigeon spikes are actually the standard.
Pigeon control is indeed a problem for a lot of companies and home owners. Pigeon waste can cause any adverse health hazard and nesting pigeons could affect your company as well as your home value. Though you should control pigeon nesting, it’s essential to get it done inside a safe, humane way.
Nearly invisible once installed, the incredible pigeon spikes deter pigeons from nesting in your roof, ledge, and fence or elsewhere they’re installed. Pigeon spikes really are a strip of dense spikes constructed of stainless that prevent pigeons from nesting in your yard without doing harm to them.
Pigeon spikes are economical and the very best protection readily available for pigeon control. Pigeons can transport a variety of illnesses varying from salmonellosis, t . b etc. Pigeons, apart from their threat to humans and domestic creatures through disease, their waste, nesting materials and dead carcasses may cause mite and insect contaminations which create further hazards for humans and animals.
Building proprietors are too acquainted with the harm that pigeon waste may cause for their structures along with other property. The waste, nesting materials and pigeon down also block gutters and rain pipes and can result in harm to your building consequently.
The nuisance and dangers natural in almost any area where pigeons are nesting is apparent and real and that’s why many property proprietors are utilizing pigeon spikes to manage the issue without doing harm to the pigeons. This humane method of pigeon control may be the only effective way of relieving your condition without downloading copyrighted movies or harming the pigeons physically.
Many large structures and complexes have used pigeon spikes for quite some time, formerly, they weren’t designed for home owners. The pigeon spikes offers highly economical, simple to install pigeon spikes for companies and home owners alike.
Now you can safeguard your home, your employees, your family, buddies and business contacts with these pigeon spikes and freeing yourself from the health problems and also the damage to property connected with nesting pigeons. These pigeon spikes are simple to install and can securely finish your condition with undesirable pigeons along with other nesting birds.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Posters urging people not to feed pigeons have been placed on trees
INCREASING complaints about pigeon fouling has led councillors to try to stamp out bird feeding in Maida Vale.
Posters urging people not to feed pigeons have been placed on trees around Wymering Road by Westminster Council in an attempt to drive down the bird population.
Cllr Thomas Crockett, who is backing the scheme, said: “I think trying not to encourage them into the area is probably half the battle and if they don’t find it as easy to find a ready supply of food, they’re not going to breed as easily”
Cllr Crockett said he had received a number of complaints about pigeon fouling since he was elected in May, adding: “Somebody said his car ended up looking like a Jackson Pollock painting, which I thought was a nice way of putting it, although rather him than I.”
In 2007 the council introduced a byelaw that banned pigeon-feeding in the north terrace of Trafalgar Square to reduce the population.
The former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone had earlier introduced a ban on feeding in the main square in an attempt make the area “more pleasant for public use”.
At the time, animal welfare groups said the ban was inhumane and would starve the birds to death.
Cllr Crockett said they had no plans to introduce a ban in Maida Vale, adding: “Strictly speaking it’s littering, but it would be bonkers to enforce that, as it’s well-intentioned.
People leave their leftover or stale bread around the base of trees. They do it, I’m sure, because they love animals and think they’d rather feed it to the birds than just throw it in the rubbish bin, but perhaps without realising that they’re not much fun.”
He added: “It’s just a question of not encouraging them in the area and thinking maybe it’s not particularly nice for them either, because you see these horrible mangy things flapping about.”
Council street cleaners have been using high-pressure water hoses to blast away the build-up from pavements beneath trees.
Cllr Crockett believes the pigeon problem is racking up an ever-increasing bill and said: “Not only are they dirty, they make mess themselves. And this costs all council tax payers’ money
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
She said new visitors to the town would not stay too long when they saw how bad things had become there. Other residents also feel aggrieved.
t in to address the problem.
