by johnnymarin | Jan 28, 2019 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
Two people died this month after contracting a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings.
According to The Guardian, investigators believe the individuals contracted the disease at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland. The patients—a child and an elderly man—were being treated for Cryptococcus, an airborne fungus that’s typically linked to wild bird feces. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the board that runs the hospital, confirmed that the senior man died from unrelated the causes, while the factors contributing to the child’s death are still under investigation.
NHS officials announced the hospital has taken “control measures” to ensure other patients aren’t infected. Though Cryptococcus is considered harmless to the majority of humans, the hospital has installed portable air filters to prevent further infections. A small group of child and adult patients who may be vulnerable to the infection been given preventative medication. Officials also said the likely source was found in a non-public hospital room that has since been cleaned.
“[…] Most people who are exposed to it never get sick from it,” Teresa Inkster of NHSGGC told The Guardian. “We are continuing to monitor the air quality and these results are being analyzed. It remains our priority to ensure a safe environment for patients and staff.”
The hospital has not identified any other Cryptococcus cases since the control measures were implemented.
The NHS said it could not provide any more details about the aforementioned deaths due to patient confidentiality.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jan 27, 2019 | Pigeon Spikes
Bengaluru: Mahalakshmi Layout police have arrested a 39-year-old inter-state thief who used to burgle houses during daytime on the pretext of searching for pigeons. Stolen valuables worth Rs 8 lakh have been recovered from him. The arrested is Manjunath alias Parivala Manja, a resident of Kurubarahalli and native of Vellore. Police sources said Manja has been operating in Bengaluru and other cities for the past 15 years and has been arrested several times in the past. On getting released from jail, he would continue to burgle houses. Police said Manja was into pigeon rearing and racing. He would go around different localities on the pretext of flying or racing birds and would identify locked houses. When questioned by neighbours or passersby, he would claim that he was searching for pigeons. Police said he would shift houses frequently to avoid the police dragnet. Duo held for stealing bikes Two men have been arrested for allegedly stealing high-end bikes. The arrested are Mohammed Umrez Pasha, a resident of Shivajinagar and Zaheer Alam, 35, a resident of RT Nagar. According to police, Pasha recently quit his job as a software professional in a multinational firm. He befriended Zaheer Alam and decided to steal bikes. The duo stole three KTM Duke bikes in 15 days. However, their luck ran out when cops swooped down on them in the guise of potential customers.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jan 26, 2019 | Bird Deterrent Products
Boomer has a new home and a flock to fly with.
The banded pigeon who had taken up temporary residence at the Silver Creek home of Debbie Marzoni in June is roosting and flying in Kamloops.
Arriving in Marzoni’s backyard in early summer, Boomer happily accepted food, settled into her greenhouse and followed her around as she worked in the garden, while keeping a wary eye out for her cats.
While the greenhouse was a suitable summer abode, in September Marzoni began worrying about how the pigeon would fare in winter. The band Boomer was wearing was outdated and untraceable.
As cooler weather approached, Marzoni acted on expert advice, including taking Boomer as far away as Vernon in the hopes the bird would file a new flight plan.
But Boomer found her way back to the Silver Creek greenhouse within a couple of days.
In late September, Marzoni began seeking more suitable accommodation and, following a story in the Observer, received offers of a new home.
The one Marzoni chose for Boomer, who turns out to be female, is Greg Wagner and his Doves Above Kamloops, located at his home near Thompson Rivers University.
Wagner and his pure white “doves” are released for special celebrations in the Kamloops area. Following their release, the birds fly back to their comfortable home.
“There are two types of doves; true doves don’t have a homing instinct,” he says, pointing out why he can’t actually use doves for his business. “These are pure white homing pigeons.”
Rather than feeling duped, Wagner says most people attending the celebrations are usually keenly interested in the birds.
Wagner, whose family lives in Salmon Arm, was made aware of Boomer’s need for a home in an email from his sister.
“Are you missing a bird? Do you want a bird?”
He met Boomer when he came home for Thanksgiving and has since introduced her to the flock.
“She’s doing fine; I kept her inside for almost two months,” he says, noting when he first let her out with another group of birds, Boomer flew up and looked around. “She stayed out for the first night, which is common; it has happened with other birds I’ve re-homed.”
Wagner says he thinks the reason the birds stay out for a night or so has to do with their homing instinct.
“Maybe they go away to reactivate the homing instinct,” he says. “but after a night out, I think she realized there was food and water here so she came back.”
Although she’s getting better at keeping up with the other birds, Wagner says he’s not sure Boomer has the greatest homing instinct.
“She’s a little bit off,” he says, noting homing pigeons can return home from 200 miles away or more. “A bird from Lethbridge was sold to a Vancouver owner but two or three days later turned up back in Lethbridge.”
While she may not become part of the flying business, Wagner has other plans for Boomer and a darker male pigeon in the flock.
He had no intentions of breeding the male – who had other ideas and has since bred with Boomer, so he plans to use them as surrogate parents.
He removed Boomer’s eggs, which she produced at the end of last week, and says, not only does he not plan to breed the amorous pair, this is not a good time to incubate eggs.
Laughingly Wagner notes, he removed Boomer’s eggs and replaced them with wooden ones he purchased on Amazon.
“After 10 or 12 days, they’ll abandon the wooden eggs.”
Next up for Wagner and Doves Above Kamloops is a bridal show at the end of January. He has previously been called upon to release birds at weddings, funerals and a special cross removal ceremony at a local church.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jan 25, 2019 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
Some children and adult patients with compromised immune systems have been transferred to another area of the hospital away from the source, which the health board said was a “non public area,” and the droppings were removed.
However, a separate issue was then found in the sealant in some of the hospital’s shower room.
Investigations are continuing and air quality tests are being carried out.
The infection is caused by inhaling spores, carried in the air, of the fungus Cryptococcus, which is found in pigeon droppings.
Most infections are mild and produce either no symptoms or a minor influenza- like illness.
However the disease can cause meningitis, high fever, blood abnormalities, pneumonia and even death.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said control measures were immediately put in place, including the installation of air filters and there has been no other cases.
A spokesman said: “We have found a likely source in a non-public area away from wards and the droppings were removed.
“The small number of paediatric and adult patients who are vulnerable to this infection are receiving medication to prevent potential infection. “This has proved effective.
“As an additional precaution, we have also installed portable HEPA filter units in specific areas. These HEPA machines filter the air continuously to give us reassurance for this vulnerable group of patients.
“During the detailed investigation, a separate issue has arisen with the sealant in some of the shower rooms.
“Repairs are underway and our maintenance team are working to remedy this issue as quickly as possible with the minimum disruption.
“As a further precaution, a specific group of patients are being moved within the hospital due to their clinical diagnosis and ongoing treatment.”
Teresa Inkster, Lead Consultant for Infection Control, said: “Cryptococcus lives in the environment throughout the world. It rarely causes infection in humans.
“People can become infected with it after breathing in the microscopic fungi, although most people who are exposed to it never get sick.
“There have been no further cases since the control measures were put in place.
“In the meantime we are continuing to monitor the air quality and these results are being analysed.
“It remains our priority to ensure a safe environment for patients and staff.”
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Jan 24, 2019 | Pigeon Patrol's Services
In a bizarre but sweet incident, Western Railways stopped services for 5-minutes to rescue a pigeon during peak morning rush hour on Wednesday.
A pigeon got caught in a kite thread and was stuck on an Overhead Equipment mast in Mumbai’s Goregaon railway station. One of the passengers saw it and informed the station master. The latter promptly alerted the Fire Brigade and other requisite authorities, Times of India reported.
After that, the OHE’s power supply was halted for five minutes from 10.28 am to 10.33 am and the bird extricated from its trap.
The authorities were aided by Goregaon’s Samkit Group that offers bird protection and rescue services in the city.
Following Makar Sankranti, social media and animal rights activists were embroiled in serious debate regarding the danger sports like kite flying can cause to birds. An image of a parrot hanging dead from ‘noose’ made of a kite string after the kite-flying festival left many shocked and disturbed.
But while the parrot met an unfortunate end, the pigeon fared better and managed to save its life, thanks to Western Railways.
A similar incident occurred last year in September when a train operator in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s newly inducted magenta line stopped the train on the tracks to save the life of a bird which had fallen on the tracks.
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.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
