Do you want to chase pigeons off your balcony? Try doing this with these non-aggressive solutions
In the city (and elsewhere) it is common to find yourself with many pigeons who choose the roofs or balconies of our houses as their favorite roosting place. Over the years these creatures have become completely accustomed to life in close contact with humans, so it is difficult to dissuade them from roosting around our homes without resorting to some kind of deterrent. Unfortunately, the longer these birds stay at a particular location, the more the dirt from them accumulates and with it, an elevated risk to people's health.
The question, therefore, becomes determining which deterrent methods are effective but also respectful for these winged pests. There are several that are worth trying when the problem becomes overwhelming, and we describe these below:
- Optical bird gel: it is an innovative and also eco-friendly remedy. In fact, it does not get dirty, it is not toxic to animals and it does not even spoil the aesthetics of buildings. It is a visual and olfactory deterrent: it has platelets inside that reflect ultraviolet light and therefore causes flashes that, to the bird's eye, appear to be flames and therefore frighten away the roosting (or incoming) birds. Furthermore, the platelets contain natural oils that are disliked by birds, which is why gels are also considered to be olfactory repellents. The drawback is that they must still be replaced periodically with fresh loads.
- Pointed spikes: if placed in the right places, these spikes prevent birds from alighting on the various surfaces that they usually prefer and where they like to make their nests. The problem with spikes, however, is that they are often very visible and ruin the aesthetics of the buildings or areas in which they are installed. Unlike the gel, however, they are much longer lasting.
- Nets: not infrequently nets are installed on balconies, especially if they are balconies which are located very high up on a building. They are used in hard-to-reach places, and generally don't have an appreciable negative visual impact from afar, so they don't spoil the appearance of a building that much.
- Ultrasonic devices: since birds have a very sensitive hearing sense for certain frequencies (that humans cannot even detect), these devices can be installed and they emit sound waves at frequencies that are imperceptible to us but very annoying for pigeons (and other birds).
- Repellant spray: also a DIY remedy, which however, must be applied frequently. These sprays are generally made from hot chili peppers. One recipe: Dried chillies are crushed, then simmered in hot water and vinegar in equal parts for a couple of hours with the lid closed. When done, and the mix is still very hot, you can pour the ingredients into a bottle to be kept closed and placed in the sun for several hours. Once the infusion process is finished, pour the liquid into a spray bottle to spray the product on all the surfaces where pigeons usually roost.
Have you ever tried any of these methods?
