by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 14, 2023 | Bird Spike, Pigeon Droppings, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Predators, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons, Pigeons in the News
At this time of year (February and March) many lofts will be experiencing respiratory infection in some of their young birds. This usually presents as a few birds with one eye becoming red and watery.
Respiratory diseases are common in pigeons. They are a major cause of poor performance and pigeon loss during the race season. Young birds under stress are most at risk of developing respiratory diseases, although healthy old birds can fall ill when exposed to respiratory diseases in the race basket. For birds to give of their best it is vital that fanciers have an understanding of respiratory infection and how to correctly manage it.
Nature of the disease
Clinical respiratory infection in pigeons is the end result of the interplay of a number of factors, but the type of infective organisms involved and the vulnerability of the birds to infection are particularly important.
The usual organisms involved are Mycoplasma, Chlamydia and a range of bacteria (most commonly, E. coli). Whether or not these organisms actually cause disease in a pigeon, if it is exposed, essentially depends on how well the pigeon is at the time of exposure and also its age and level of immunity. Any factors that cause physiological stress can weaken the bird and make it more vulnerable to developing a respiratory infection. As a general rule, younger pigeons are more susceptible. However, in a bird that is otherwise healthy exposure to the agents that cause respiratory infection does not necessarily make it sick. Exposure to these organisms as the young pigeons grow and develop, rather than cause disease, stimulates immunity to form in a bird that is otherwise healthy.
Predisposing stress factors that can make pigeons more vulnerable to respiratory infection can take the form of:
1. Environmental triggers; e.g. dampness, overcrowding, low hygiene
2. Management triggers; e.g. poor feeding, excessive tossing, or
3. Concurrent disease, in particular parasitism. This includes wet canker. The combination of either worms or elevated trichomonad levels and respiratory disease is very common.
The fancier must establish a healthy loft environment; otherwise respiratory disease will continually recur, despite medication. A good example here is a fancier who was recently in our clinic. He had a group of young birds that had dropped about three flights; that is, were about ten weeks old. A few kept getting ‘eye colds’. He would treat them and they would become well but within two weeks there would be more birds with the same problem. In a 2m x 2m section, he had 40 youngsters, and the humidity reading (from a hygrometer placed on the wall of the loft overnight) was 85%. Reducing the number of birds to 25 per section, and installing an additional vent high on the back wall improved ventilation and reduced humidity. The birds were again treated, but this time the problem did not return.
This article discusses respiratory infection associated with Chlamydia.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia are one of the 2 common organisms that cause respiratory infections in pigeons. Chlamydia are an unusual group of organisms. They are what are called intracellular bacteria , ie they actually live inside the tissues of animals. Being bacteria they are antibiotic responsive. As a group, they can cause disease in a variety of animals. One species causes disease in koalas while another causes a venereal disease in humans. The species that infects pigeons is called Chlamydia psittaci. It essentially has two lifecycle stages – a reticulate body and an elementary body. The elementary body can survive in the environment. Pigeons become infected through contact with the elementary body. The elementary body typically attaches itself to the superficial lining cells of the eyelid, throat or upper respiratory tract. The elementary body then penetrates the cell membrane into the cell and becomes a reticulate body. The reticulate body then replicates itself until there are many reticulate bodies in the cell. As the reticulate bodies increase in number, they rupture into adjacent cells causing cell destruction and an advancing wall of inflammation. Alternatively, they rupture back out on to the surface of the cell, once again becoming elementary bodies and further contaminating the environment. Infected birds with active disease shed large numbers of these infective elementary bodies in their saliva, tears, respiratory discharges and droppings contaminating the loft. Poor loft hygiene enables a build-up of the organism in the loft. Combine this with birds that are a bit run-down and a disease outbreak occurs. However in well managed lofts disease is rare. In fact ,as mentioned above, it is thought that low grade exposure to these Chlamydia elementary bodies may not cause disease but, rather, trigger the development of an immune response in a pigeon that enables it to be more resistant to the disease. The typical situation in most racing lofts is that Chlamydia tends to cycle through the birds. Growing youngsters are passively exposed to the organism from other birds in the loft and their parents. Often this doesn’t cause disease. Most birds, by the time they are six months old, have had multiple low grade exposures and have developed a significant immunity. Disease occurs if the youngsters become ‘run down’ due to stress factors and are therefore unable to mount an immune response or, alternatively, their level of immunity is challenged by a particularly high exposure to the organism. An antibiotic called doxycycline is very effective at treating Chlamydia. If a pigeon is given a 45-day course it has a 98% chance of clearing Chlamydia totally from its system. One would think that it would make sense to treat all the birds for 45 days, eradicating the disease and then not worry about it in the future. The difficulty with this is that if we were to eradicate Chlamydia, it is known that any immunity that the pigeons have would gradually disappear. This would mean that if the birds were subsequently re-exposed, they would be a very vulnerable population and potentially severe disease could occur. Once racing starts, exposure to Chlamydia in the race units is virtually guaranteed. Although drugs can be used to treat Chlamydia again and again if it keeps reappearing in returning race birds this is obviously not desirable. The factor that principally protects the birds in the race unit is the immunity that they are able to form if they are well cared for in the loft while young and maturing . Chlamydia is therefore managed by caring for the birds well ( so that they can mount a good immune response), by allowing a controlled exposure to the disease ( to build up a strong immunity) through the maintenance of loft hygiene and by using medication if required during development in a way that keeps the birds healthy but still allows some exposure to the disease. How is this done?
Post-weaning management
In the post-weaning time Chlamydia cycles through the developing young birds. Some youngsters may have passive immunity acquired through the egg and from their parents in the crop milk. Further exposure in the young bird loft builds on this immunity. Some youngsters take longer to form a protective immunity than others, and these can show symptoms of clinical Chlamydia infection. If the birds are well otherwise, these symptoms are often described as a “one eye cold”. Symptoms are often mild and may include a dirty cere, sneezing, nasal discharge, a partially closed light sensitive eye, inflamed red eyelids, and also tears overflowing the eyelids and becoming air dried on the feathers around the eye. If the number of birds affected is low and the symptoms are mild, often no treatment is provided. With ongoing good care it is likely that the birds will fix themselves and will develop a stronger natural immunity this way. If the symptoms in an individual bird become more severe, particularly if the bird’s development is starting to be compromised, treatment should be provided. The usual treatment is doxycycline 10–25mg per pigeon once daily. If less than 5–10% of birds are affected, it is best to just treat these birds individually. There is no need to separate them from the rest as all birds are likely to have the organism in them. Also young birds tend to recover better if left with the flock in a familiar loft. If more than 10% of birds develop symptoms then a flock treatment should be given. The usual treatment is doxycycline in the water. However, if 10% or more are developing symptoms, this tells you that this group of young pigeons is having trouble developing their natural immunity. And if they are having trouble developing a natural immunity this means that something is stressing them. A review of their management, loft environment and a check for any other (particularly Circo virus and parasitic) disease should be done. In young birds the underlying stress is often overcrowding. In Victoria, Australia, January to May are the respiratory months. Most lofts contain large numbers of young birds having just had the stress of weaning and now having the stress of moulting, coupled with young bird training and establishing themselves in the loft. It is a time of high humidity and fluctuating temperature, conditions that favour respiratory disease. Between 1 December and 1 March (the usual time that the last youngsters are weaned in many lofts in Australia), fanciers must monitor the youngsters, in particular for signs of “one-eye cold”, dirty wattles or sneezing. However, green watery droppings, failure to thrive, shortness of breath and a reluctance to fly may also be indicative of the problem. After 1 March in Australia, as the youngsters get older, fanciers look for signs of poor loft flying, excessive panting after training, and sneezing within the loft. Even in the healthiest lofts, there can be occasional outbreaks of respiratory diseases. It is important to recognise that more than three sneezes within five minutes from 100 birds is a significant indicator of early respiratory disease. One would expect two to three sneezing outbreaks between January and May, even in the best managed loft.
Pre-race management
As racing approaches, the birds have been given as long as possible to develop their natural immunity. It is important, however, that there is no active Chlamydial respiratory infection in the birds when racing starts. The can lead to poor race results and potentially disastrous returns. Chlamydia tests can be done by your veterinarian to see if the disease is still active and if the birds have formed a good immunity. The usual tests available are the Chlamydia immunocomb test, or Chlamydia PCR test.
A team should only be treated for Chlamydial respiratory infection before racing if it fits into one of the following categories:
1. If testing shows that the disease is still active in the birds, even if they look normal.
2. If Chlamydial respiratory infection was a problem during the early part of the racing season the previous year and the loft parameters have not changed (i.e. same loft design, same genetics, etc.)
3. If there was a significant amount of respiratory disease in the post-weaning time.
4. If the birds have a current clinical respiratory infection.
If the loft fits into one of the above categories then it is usual to treat the birds for 7–20 days with doxycycline, finishing two to three weeks before racing starts. Just how long an individual team is treated depends on the severity of the problem and the response to treatment. If they do not fulfil one of these criteria then no treatment is required.
I have had several fanciers tell me that they have been advised by a vet that the best thing to do prior to racing is treat their birds regardless with doxycycline. They were told that if it makes their birds sick then they don’t need it. If it does not make them sick then they must have Chlamydia and a long course of the drug should be given. I find this advice hard to believe as coming from a vet . It would see potentially tens of thousands of pigeons given antibiotics they don’t need in an absolute bogus way of assessing Chlamydia status. Such a suggestion is nonsense.
Management during racing
Ongoing exposure to Chlamydia occurs during the racing season. The natural immunity the birds have formed through development should be high enough to protect them; however, because of the stress associated with racing and potentially high exposure to the organism it may not be. Fanciers should monitor their birds closely for symptoms and have their birds regularly checked by an avian vet. If the birds become unwell or race performance is compromised due to Chlamydia, then the team is treated as a single unit and a flock treatment of doxycycline is given. Birds return to health fairly quickly, but not to race form. Sometimes a race needs to be missed and then the level of work gradually increased as the birds regain their health and fitness. If Chlamydia is diagnosed through the racing season, what should the fancier do?
1. Conduct a health profile– i.e. examination of the saliva and droppings and sometimes other tests as suggested by your veterinarian to assess any concurrent disease that may need treatment. Provide general ongoing good care to ensure a good response to medication.
2. Return to exercise gradually. Always, with respiratory infection, there is an extended convalescence usually of 1–3 weeks. The birds must be given time to recover their fitness once medication has cleared the infection. They should not be forced to fly around the loft and once it is apparent that their vigour for flying has returned, short tosses only should be given (less than ½ – 1 hour) initially. Observe the birds closely for signs of breathlessness on landing from these tosses and only when they are handling these well should longer tosses be given. When managing tosses of 1–1½ hours well, it is usually safe to resume racing. In well-managed lofts with no other health problems, response to treatment can, however, be dramatic and I have had an interesting experience where two fliers both diagnosed with respiratory infection in their teams succeeded in gaining 1st and 2nd Federation (3000 birds) in an all-day 800km race 3 weeks after treatment.
3. Give good food, good care and an appropriate multivitamin supplement to speed recovery.
4. Give appropriate medication. The choice of drug is often dependent on the involvement of secondary organisms, but usually the antibiotics doxycycline and tylosin are given together, or a blend of doxycycline, tylosin and spiramycin. An initial course usually of 3–10 days is given, depending on the severity of the infection and response to treatment.
Symptoms of Chlamydial Respiratory Infection
In young birds, symptoms are usually confined to the upper respiratory tract and the most common signs observed are a dirty cere, nasal discharge and a red watery eye. In some birds, however, the organism can infect various internal organs including the liver and spleen and also deeper parts of the respiratory tract, particularly the air sacs. These birds may just be quiet, be reluctant to fly, lose weight and develop a green mucoid dropping. Birds with inflamed air sacs often become breathless after moderate exercise and are sometimes forced to land wherever they are. This may include buildings or trees near the loft. By the start of racing the birds are older, their natural immunity is higher and their response to disease is different. The signs observed are modified by these factors and are often very subtle. Older birds with respiratory infection have lost their zest for life, and this is reflected in their race results. Birds that are reluctant to fly, quiet in the loft and with dry feathers (no bloom) are suggestive of respiratory infection. Irritation to the upper airway usually shows itself as an increased rate of sneezing. Sneezing (more than three times in five minutes from 100 birds), scratching at the nose, yawning, repeated exaggerated swallowing, stretching the neck and wiping the nose on the wing butt all indicate irritation of the upper airways. On opening the beak, inflamed tonsils may be seen, a thick white mucus may be extending into the throat from the windpipe or from the ‘slot ‘in the roof of the mouth, which may be closed due to swollen edges, the top of the windpipe may be red and inflamed, the beak at the nostril opening may be wet, the cere may be slightly discoloured or there may be a slightly mucous component to the birds’ grunt. The lining of the throat or the muscles may be bluish. Chronically-infected birds show delayed recovery after a race and will develop green droppings after stress because of damage to the liver. Sometimes the only symptoms in race birds, however, are poor performance and increased losses. Birds with inflamed sinuses tend to cope particularly poorly on cold head-wind days. Presumably the cold winds buffeting the already inflamed sensitive sinuses across the face act a bit like an ‘ice cream freeze’ making the going hard. Chlamydia can be carried throughout the body in the bloodstream and in birds of any age severe systemic disease can occur. Here birds become severely unwell and, without prompt correct treatment, some will die. In some birds the gonads will be damaged. This can lead to decreased fertility in both cocks and hens. Hens with a Chlamydial infection of the ovary often have late or irregular ovulations or no ovulations at all. If an egg is produced, sometimes Chlamydia can be incorporated in the egg, where it can either kill the developing embryo or lead to the hatching of a weakened chick.
Diagnosis
It is important not to confuse symptoms with a diagnosis. Many pigeon diseases have similar symptoms. The symptoms described earlier are all suggestive of the problem, but an accurate diagnosis can only be reached through testing. The tests used today provide a speed and accuracy not available to vets or fanciers in the past. The tests in common use are:
1. The Chlamydia Immunocomb test – a serology test, and therefore can only be done on whole blood. A drop of blood is collected. The veterinary technician then follows a series of steps. The test detects the presence of a particular immunoglobulin, IgG, in the blood, formed in response to Chlamydia exposure. Results are available in 4 hours.
2. Chlamydia PCR test – detects the presence of Chlamydial DNA. PCR tests are available for Chlamydia and also Mycoplasma. The test is usually done on a swab collected from the throat, slot and eye. Results are usually available in 2–4 days. A very accurate test.
Medication
Worldwide the medication of choice for Chlamydia is doxycycline ( for example, Doxyvet™). Some other antibiotics do have an affect against Chlamydia, notably enrofloxacin (Baytril™) but are not as effective as doxycycline. Baytril™ stops Chlamydia replicating, but fails to clear it from the pigeon’s system. It therefore reduces clinical symptoms and treated birds appear to get better, but relapses are common. Doxycycline actually stops the organism replicating and clears it from the pigeon’s system. In preparations made for racing pigeons, doxycycline is often combined with tylosin (commonly used to treat Mycoplasma); for example, Doxy-T™, and sometimes also spiramycin (also called suanovil); for example, Triple Vet™, that treats many of the bacteria involved with respiratory infection. These combinations aim at providing a broader respiratory treatment targeting all of the likely organisms involved. Doxycycline absorption from the bowel is compromised by concurrent use of calcium-based supplements and so it is best to remove grit, pink minerals and picking stones during treatment. Also, doxycycline is absorbed slightly better from the bowel in a weakly acidic environment. Adding citric acid (3g/6L water) during doxycycline administration is recommended by some vets. Drinkers made from non-glazed pottery or galvanised metal can also adversely affect doxycycline action. Drinkers should also be kept out of direct sunlight as UV light and heat can inactivate the antibiotic. Contamination with organic material such as droppings can also denature the doxycycline.
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Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or 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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
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by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 14, 2023 | Bird Spike, Pigeon Droppings, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Predators, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons, Pigeons in the News
For half a century after WWII ended, the Swiss army refused to decommission its carrier pigeons, even though they had long outlived their usefulness.
Certain species of pigeons have an uncanny ability to find their way home to their coops from any distance. That is why pigeons were widely used to carry messages from one military unit to another in World War I and II.
But only the Swiss army had kept its pigeons long after the war ended — until 1996. They have been on standby for decades in case of invasion— this time from the Soviet Union.
The birds “have been specially trained for homing and are used to flying long distances over all kinds of terrain,” Samuel Iselin, a spokesman for the Federal Office of Signal Troops in Bern, said just before the pigeon troops were disbanded.
But since the country had not been involved in either of the world wars, it is safe to assume that Swiss pigeons had never seen active combat duty or witnessed any frontline action.
There is also no record of any of them falling victim to enemy fire, unlike their French counterpart, Cher Ami, which was hit while delivering messages during the Battle of Verdun in 1916. She was awarded the posthumous Croix de Guerre medal for her bravery.
It is perhaps natural to think that pigeons carried messages in their beaks, like the olive branches. But in fact, messages were written on light paper, rolled into a small tube, and attached to the bird’s leg.
From 1919 until 1996, Switzerland owned 7,000 pigeons; another 23,000 were on standby to use in case of national emergency.
In the early 1990s, the Defense Ministry decided to save $476,000 a year by finally retiring the flock and focusing on more modern communication methods.
But in a truly Swiss fashion, a pro-pigeon group had collected 100,000 signatures for a referendum to enshrine the carrier pigeon service in the Swiss constitution.
In the end, however, bird enthusiasts and the army reached a compromise: a new foundation was established especially to care for the retired military pigeons in their new civilian life.
Thirty elite birds were pigeonholed, as it were, to live out their retirement in warmer climes.
They were sold to a private South African buyer, and they didn’t even have to fly to their new home themselves. “The pigeons were handed over in Zurich and put aboard a South African Airways flight,” Iselin explained.
Source
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or 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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
by Pigeon Patrol | Jun 14, 2023 | Bird Spike, Pigeon Predators, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons, Pigeons in the News, Raccoons, Sparrows, UltraSonic Bird Control
These were the words of Victor Newton as he wrote for the Aberdeen Press and Journal in 1943, describing ‘how pigeons play their part in war.’ And so, in this special blog, we will discover how pigeons were used in both the First World War and Second World War, unearthing stories of their great bravery through the pages of our newspapers.
As Leslie Saxthorpe wrote prior to the outbreak of the Second World War in the Nottingham Journal, ‘it is impossible to quote all the self-sacrificing deeds that stand to the ever-lasting honour of the birds,’ but this blog will go some way to celebrating the homing and carrier pigeons who helped to save lives, whilst putting themselves in extreme danger.
An Old Fashioned Post in Modern War
The outbreak of the First World War saw the tragic collision of antiquated military tactics with the latest advances in technology. As such, it also saw the introduction of modern methods of communication; however, these did not prove to be reliable, as one American correspondent noted in 1916, whilst stationed behind the German lines:
It is impossible to depend on telephonic communications…so often are the wires cut and so dangerous is it to repair them. This has led to the revival of carrier-pigeon communication, not for long distances, but as the only dependable medium of communication from the front to the rear.
Indeed, the British, French and German armies were all using carrier pigeons as a method of communication, as did the American army when they joined the conflict. Pigeons were employed to carry messages between the lines, and in 1915 the Illustrated London News pictures ‘The Pigeon-Express.’ Housed in a converted motor-bus, these pigeons were the ‘winged messengers’ of the French army.
Pigeons were also used by airmen, the Illustrated London News explaining how ‘every seaplane carries two birds, to send duplicate emergency messages…they replace wireless in small vessels, and some sea planes.’
And so it is no surprise that in 1918 the Boston Guardian carried this stern message:
Farmers who are in the habit of shooting pigeons should be careful to confine their attention only to wood-pigeons. They should remember that HM Government to-day employ large numbers of homing pigeons, which are to be met with all over the country. The destruction of these trained birds by thoughtless gunners may entrail serious consequences….Their work is a matter of life and death to our fighting men, and many a man alive to-day owes his life to the speed of the homing pigeon.
Heavy penalties were set to be issued to those who harmed any homing pigeons – for they were the heroes of the sky, and necessitated protection from those ‘thoughtless persons’ intent on a bit of sport.
Moreover, newspapers from the First World War abounded with stories relating to the pigeons who had been instrumental in saving lives – and here are just a selection of them.
Skipper Crisp – A Forlorn Hope
The Illustrated London News in March 1918 pictures the ‘forlorn-hope messenger’ that mortally wounded Skipper T Crisp RNR sent off, in a desperate attempt to seek assistance. His vessel, the ‘‘Nelson’ had been attacked by a U-boat. Dying, Crisp managed to affix a ‘hastily scribbled message’ to a pigeon, which read: ‘Nelson’ being attacked by submarine – Skipper killed – send assistance at once.’
The rest of the crew was saved, as relates the Boston Guardian, ‘but only through the timely arrival of their pigeon messenger.’ As for the heroic Crisp, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V.
Cher Ami – A Wartime Celebrity
Perhaps the most famous pigeon to emerge from the First World War was Cher Ami. In an article some twenty years later penned by Leslie Saxthorpe for the Nottingham Journal, Saxthorpe relates how English-born Cher Ami ‘by its marvelous courage saved an American battalion from being wiped out.’
The so-called ‘Lost Battalion,’ commanded by Major Charles Whittlesey, was ‘being subjected to fierce artillery fire; and the field telegraph had been cut.’ The only recourse was messenger pigeon. Saxthorpe relates how six pigeons were sent by the Major on this perilous rescue message, ‘one by one, only to see them fall.’
The seventh was Cher Ami, who ‘got away, although hit.’ Shrapnel had broken his breastbone, whilst his right leg had been shot away. But despite these devastating injuries, Cher Ami was able to fly the 25 miles needed to fetch help, and the battalion was saved. Thankfully, he recovered from his wounds and was taken to the United States, where he received a welcome ‘as if he had been General Lafayette come to life again.’
When Cher Ami eventually passed away, ‘full of years and honour,’ his body was placed in Washington’s Smithsonian Institute.
The Mine-Sweepers’ Hope
Less exalted than its feted American cousin, but still as brave, was a bird known as the ‘Mine Sweepers’ Hope.’ The Nottingham Journal tells of how this particular pigeon braved the ‘North Sea under all conditions,’ arriving ‘time after time from over the waters, landing at a spot in Essex, sometimes half-frozen, carrying messages.’ One of these message was news of a Zeppelin attack on mine-sweepers, the first of its kind, and ‘the news enabled planes to be sent and the airships were driven off.’
Another pigeon was responsible for saving lives at sea, after a ‘flying boat and hyrdoplane got into difficulties in stormy weather.’ With all lives on board threatened, the Boston Guardian tells of how a pigeon was released with a message requesting help. ‘In the teeth of a fierce wind the gallant bird fought its way home, only to die from exhaustion on its arrival.’ But the message was safely delivered; ‘assistance was sent with all speed, and the lives of both crews were saved.’
Meanwhile, former cricketer Harold Gilligan got into difficulties whilst flying over the German Fleet, his aircraft having been struck by a piece of shrapnel. The aircraft made a crash landing in the sea, and four pigeons were sent to cover the enormous distance home – some 400 miles. The Nottigham Journal reports how ‘only one of the birds got through,’ the distance being so great, and the weather condition being so awful. Finally, the exhausted pigeon landed on the coast of Norfolk, and was found by the coastguard. The airmen were eventually rescued after three days.
With over 100,000 birds attached to both the Allied and the German forces, these stories represent a fraction of the bravery shown by the feathered battalions during the First World War. And with the advent of the Second World War, would their services again be required?
More Homing Pigeons Than Ever
The answer to this was a clear yes; pigeons were in more demand than ever. The Aberdeen Press and Journal in 1943 relates how ‘despite modern scientific instruments the homing pigeon still finds employment. There are now more homing pigeons than there ever were.’
Used by the RAF on their ‘bombing raids,’ pigeons accompanied an aircraft in case it was shot down, bringing ‘word of the exact location of the crew.’ Meanwhile, in North Africa, pigeons were being used with great effect in desert warfare.
The Illustrated London News reports how the Royal Corps of Signals ‘is using carrier-pigeons in the Western Desert as a valuable alternative method of communication when telephone wires are cut and it is impossible to use wireless,’ just like the armies of the First World War. Touchingly, the pigeon handlers were picked from men ‘who were pigeon fanciers in civil life.’
The Illustrated London News reports on the success of the endeavor, and pictures two particular pigeons, Crusader and The Blue, ‘who carried the first battle pictures in the Western desert.’
The Dickin Medal – ‘We Also Serve’
The Dickin Medal was established by PDSA founder Maria Dickin in 1943 to honour the work of animals in the Second World War, and it is little wonder that pigeons have received the most Dickin Awards, totaling 32 between 1943 and 1949 – dogs having received 18.
Here we celebrate a handful of these feathered winners from the Second World War.
Take Winkie, who received the Dickin Medal for saving an air crew. According to the Illustrated London News, after her plane crashed, she ‘fell into the oil-covered sea.’ Freeing herself, she flew the 120 miles back to base, and ‘the search for the crew was then successfully redirected.’
There was also a royal winner of the award, King George VI’s own racing pigeon Royal Blue. As reported in the Liverpool Echo in 1945, Royal Blue had been ‘sent on war service in 1940,’ and had since displayed ‘outstanding achievement.’
Commando, and seven other pigeons, were on display at the ‘To Victory with the RAF‘ exhibition in London. Commando was particularly notable, for he ‘made ninety operational trips over enemy territory,’ and had been presented with the Dickin Medal for his valiant efforts.
Meanwhile in June 1945, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle reports on the exploits of two more brave pigeons, who also received the Dickin Medal. William of Orange was honoured for his role in the ‘airborne operations at Arnhem,’ whilst his contemporary Ruhr Express was dropped ‘by parachute within enemy lines 300 miles from base and brought back valuable information in record time.’
Tommy, a carrier-pigeon, had a slightly circuitous route to his award. Injured, he had strayed to the Netherlands in 1942, where Mr D Dryver nursed him back to health. When Tommy had recovered, Mr Dryver sent him ‘back to England with valuable information.’ The Illustrated London News reports how Tommy received the Dickin Medal for his services, whilst his Dutch saviour was given ‘two RAF pigeons in token of his good services, and his courage and presence of mind.’
Rounding of our roster of brave pigeons are the two ‘D-Day Pigeons.’ The Daily Mirror in January 1947 reports how they were awarded the Dickin Medal ‘for flying from France with early news of the invasion.’ One of the brave pigeons died soon afterwards, ‘on another operational flight.’
There are of course many other pigeons who made the ultimate sacrifice; these mentioned here represent a fraction of those who displayed bravery in testing conditions.
Source
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or 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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
by Pigeon Patrol | May 30, 2023 | Bird Spike, Pigeon Droppings, Pigeon Patrol's Services, Pigeon Predators, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons, Pigeons in the News
Some people enjoy spending time around pigeons in parks or sidewalks and feeding them seeds or bread crumbs, while others see pigeons as pests that harbor dangerous diseases. No matter whether you love pigeons or hate them, they do spread diseases that can infect humans. Psittacosis is one of these diseases. Occasionally being around pigeons is unlikely to lead to infection. But certain circumstances surrounding homes and businesses can put people at risk of becoming infected. So it’s important to learn about the symptoms and how pigeons spread psittacosis.
What Is Psittacosis?
Psittacosis is a respiratory illness that humans obtain from a type of bacteria (Chlamydia psittaci ) shed by birds. Sometimes called parrot fever or ornithosis, the disease can affect many different species of birds. Infected birds can become very sick or show no symptoms at all, making it difficult to know if surrounding people are at risk. Whether birds have symptoms or not, they can still pass the disease to people and other mammals.
Infected birds with and without symptoms shed the bacteria in respiratory secretions and droppings. When these secretions and droppings dry, they form dust that spreads through the air and can be inhaled into human respiratory systems. People get the disease by breathing in dried dust particles — that’s how pigeons spread psittacosis. However, it can be spread through bites or beak-to-mouth contact.
People of any age can contract psittacosis, but it’s most common among bird owners or people who work in bird-related occupations. However, psittacosis in pigeons can present additional points of infection. The illness has a rapid transmission rate among birds and thrives in overcrowded areas, like roosting spaces and nests. So it’s likely that massive flock outbreaks occur among pigeons.
Psittacosis Symptoms
Most often, psittacosis symptoms are similar to flu symptoms. However, symptoms can become severe and include pneumonia. If you suspect you’ve been infected with psittacosis, it’s necessary to seek medical attention since antibiotic treatment is required. Symptoms may include:
- • Dry cough
- • Fever
- • Chills
- • Headache
- • Muscle aches
- • Nausea/vomiting
- • Sore throat
- • Difficulty breathing in severe cases
- • Chest pain in severe cases
- • Pneumonia in severe cases
- • Nosebleeds in severe cases
- • Swelling of organs in severe cases
Treatment
Psittacosis is considered rare in humans since only 50 to 200 cases each year are reported. However, many researchers think the illness is under-reported; the symptoms mimic common illnesses like the flu, and the point of infection often goes unnoticed. Severe cases of psittacosis require medical treatment for recovery. Antibiotic therapy is the primary treatment for individuals with psittacosis (typically tetracycline or doxycycline).
How Pigeons Spread Psittacosis
While people also call psittacosis ‘parrot disease,’ any bird susceptible to the bacteria can spread infection. Since pigeons travel and roost in large flocks, it’s likely that the disease spreads readily among pigeons in crowded areas. Sick birds can exhibit symptoms like red, watery eyes, nasal discharge, lethargy, ruffled feathers, diarrhea, and a poor appetite. Alternatively, they can exhibit no symptoms at all. It’s suspected that pigeons have genetic resistance that makes them more likely to show no symptoms and, consequently, become carriers.
In many cities, workspaces, and areas around homes, pigeons roost in large groups and leave piles of feces that must be cleaned away regularly. These areas create potential infection points for people. Once you know how pigeons spread psittacosis, you can focus on maintenance tasks that minimize the risks.
Psittacosis Dangers for Homeowners
Pigeons are common in both urban and rural areas. Unfortunately, when they decide to infest the space around your home, you might find them roosting over your patio, on your children’s play equipment, or even in your attic. If you have pigeons roosting around your home, they leave piles of droppings anywhere they flock. After what you’ve learned about how pigeons spread psittacosis, imagine sweeping piles of dried droppings from your patio — or worse, your attic. When pigeons spend their nights or evenings on playhouses or swing sets, they put your children at risk of getting psittacosis when they go outside to play.
Short of avoiding the spaces you enjoy outdoors, it’s nearly impossible to completely eliminate the risk of psittacoses exposure when you have a pigeon infestation. The solution is deterrence. Visual bird deterrents include lights, holographic devices, and decoy owls or other decoy predators that can be used to frighten pigeons away from your home and yard. Audio bird deterrents work best for residences without pets. They use distress calls and frightening noise to scare birds away.
Psittacosis in Commercial Settings
Commercial properties are even more likely than homes to attract flocking pigeons. If you’ve dealt with pigeons at your business property, you know all the spaces where they leave piles of droppings (and the damage they can cause). As a business owner, you know bird droppings and the health risks of psittacosis present a variety of worries. Droppings on storefronts, trash cans, streetlights, sidewalks, parking lots, railings, and any of the other places pigeons roost have the potential to endanger your customers and employees, as well as your own health. Even worse, when pigeons get inside your commercial building, they can pose additional threats by accessing your storage.
As a business owner, you have a responsibility to keep your landscape and business clean. But cleaning away bird droppings can present risks. OSHA recommends precautions to protect workers from contracting the disease through inhalation. However, deterrence can help you avoid all the problems associated with pigeons and their effect on commercial spaces. While visual and audio deterrents are useful in commercial settings, other measures might also be required. Bird spikes and optical gel are both popular solutions for deterring pigeons in commercial spaces.
Learning about how pigeons spread psittacosis and the dangers caused by pigeon droppings can help you understand the disease’s symptoms and ways you can avoid infection. Safely and humanely deterring pigeon flocks is the best way to avoid dangers from their droppings and the damage they cause around your home or business. To learn more about psittacosis and other diseases that can be spread in pigeon droppings, get in touch with our bird control experts.
Source
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or 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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
by Pigeon Patrol | May 30, 2023 | Bird Spike, Pigeon Predators, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons, Pigeons in the News, Raccoons, Sparrows, UltraSonic Bird Control
The simple truth is the danger varies depending on the specific infestation. However, if you have a pigeon infestation of any size on your home or property, there is a real risk of contracting an illness from their droppings. The safe bet is to deal with your pigeon infestation as soon as possible to remove any risk of illness.
Pigeons can contract and carry many diseases and parasites which do end up in their droppings. When pigeons find a place on your roof or property to call home, they will quickly create a large mess of their own poop.
Typically at least one of two things are going to eventually happen with pigeons living on your property:
1. Pigeons will poop on your roof and mother nature will make sure that waste ends up on the ground, or in your bushes, trees, and plants. This has the danger of possibly getting tracked into your home by you, your family and even pets. This will cause any disease or even parasites in those droppings to end up right in your home.
2. The pigeons will find a comfortable place to nest and usually will just poop in one place. Those droppings will pile up on your roof or a ledge and will cause direct property damage. Droppings are very acidic and can destroy roofing materials and even damage solar panels. If you get a roof leak, rainwater can soak the droppings causing even more property damage. That tainted water will bring everything in their droppings right into your attic and anywhere the leak travels.
Disease or not, I think can we agree that having a bunch of bird poop on your property is just plain gross!
Speaking of diseases and parasites caused by pigeons, here’s the most common ones you should be concerned with…
by Pigeon Patrol | May 23, 2023 | Bird Spike, Pigeon Predators, Pigeon Spikes, Pigeons, Pigeons in the News, Raccoons, Sparrows, UltraSonic Bird Control
Animals can be entertaining and educational. But children, especially children under 5 years of age, are more likely to get sick from germs animals can sometimes carry. Children can learn a lot from animals, and it’s important to make sure they stay safe and healthy while they’re learning. If you plan to have an animal in your classroom, whether it’s a class pet or for a hands-on learning experience, be aware of the risks and how to prevent illness. You can help kids enjoy and learn from animals while staying healthy.
Animals can sometimes spread germs
Animals can sometimes carry germs that can make people sick, even if they look clean and healthy. You don’t have to touch an animal to get sick – the germs can spread to cages, bedding, and wherever animals roam.
There have been disease outbreaks from hatching eggs and chicks in the classroom and from contaminated animal products used for hands-on learning, such as owl pellets for dissection. Salmonella and E. coli are common germs spread by animals.
How to prevent germs from spreading in the classroom
- Do not bring reptiles, amphibians, poultry, rodents, or ferrets into schools, daycare centers, or other settings with children under 5 years of age.
- Adults should always supervise children’s contact with animals. Never allow children to put their hands or objects (including pacifiers) in their mouth while around animals.
- Create specific areas for interaction with animals. Do not allow animals to roam freely around the classroom, especially in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or eaten.
- Do not dissect animals or other animal products where food for people is prepared, served, or eaten. Thoroughly clean and disinfect surfaces used for dissection.
- Consult with parents to determine special considerations for children who have allergies, asthma, or other illnesses.
- Students should wash their hands with water and soap right after handling animals, their food, or their habitats (for example, cages, terrariums, aquariums, water bowls, and toys).
- When around animals, also wash hands after removing dirty clothes or shoes, before eating and drinking, and before preparing food or drinks.
- Adults, including teachers, should always supervise handwashing for young children.
- Use hand sanitizer if running water and soap are not available. If you only use hand sanitizer, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible.
- Clean and disinfect all areas where animals have been.
- Do not clean tanks, feeders, water containers, and other equipment in sinks or areas where food is prepared, served, or eaten.
Check that animals are healthy before bringing them into school
- Animals can look clean and healthy and still spread germs. Make sure all animals have appropriate and regular veterinary care, and proof of rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, according to local or state requirements.
- If the animal comes from a different state or country, it may need a health certificateexternal icon issued by a veterinarian to travel across state lines or to enter the United States.
- Check local regulations, as well as school policies, before bringing animals into schools.
- If the animal becomes sick or dies:
- Contact your veterinarian.
- Take extra precaution when handling a sick animal because a sick or stressed animal is more likely be shedding harmful germs that can make people sick or to bite which can cause injury or spread germs.
- Inform the pet store or breeder about the animal’s illness or death as soon as possible. Consider waiting before purchasing another pet from the same source.
- Clean and disinfect the cage before reusing with another animal.
- If the animal bites someone:
- Wash wounds with warm soapy water immediately.
- Seek medical attention if:
- The animal appears sick.
- You don’t know if the animal has been vaccinated against rabies.
- The wound is serious.
- The wound becomes red, painful, warm or swollen.
- It has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot.
Source
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or 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 Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row.
Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca
Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard
