Pigeons and other Birds

Among the problems caused by urban birds are:

• Damage to Buildings. Bird droppings not only look unsightly but can damage buildings through direct chemical action. They can also block gutters and drains, leading to water damage.



• Threat to Human Health. Birds can be carriers of allergens, leading to Allergic Alveolitis, and disease organisms, including:
  • Ornithosis (Chlamydia psittaci - a condition passed directly from bird to man)
  • Cryptococcus neoformans and Histoplasma capsulatum (fungi which develop in droppings and can produce lethal diseases in susceptible humans)
  And the following food poisoning organisms which can be picked up by birds and then scattered around, contaminating water supplies, cattle pastures, and unprotected food:
  • Campylobacter spp
  • Eschericia coli 0157
  • Listeria spp
  • Vibrio cholerae
  
  
• Threat to Human Safety. Bird droppings can be extremely slippery, leading to problems in areas where there is public access. Bird nests can block chimneys and flues, which can lead to serious build-up of poisonous gases. They can also be the source of many unpleasant insects, for instance:
  • blood feeding insects such as fleas, mites, bugs, ticks, and lice
  • fabric-damaging insects such as carpet beetles and moths
  • stored-food pests such as spider / dermestid beetles and book lice
  • carrion-feeding insects such as house flies and blow flies


• Annoyance. Birds can cause distress through their noise and the unpleasant smell of their droppings. Some large birds, such as gulls, may even attack humans physically.

We employ solutions which are both humane and effective, providing you with the protection that you need while doing no harm to the wild-life.

The Feral Pigeon
Columba Livia

We all love pigeons, and we take our bread down to the park to feed them. However, this is the number one urban pest bird. These birds are descended from domesticated ones that were originally kept for food, but they have reverted to their wild state, although they continue to live in close proximity to man. They are responsible for most of the bird fouling of town buildings and the transmission to humans of bird diseases such as ornithosis.