Columba livia

Conflicts between pigeons and humans have increased as the populations of both have grown. The feral pigeon is the species most often blamed for causing problems in urban areas throughout the world with their droppings that deface buildings and increase the cost of maintenance.

However, towns and cities throughout the world provide excellent nesting sites for the birds.  The ledges of buildings and support structures of bridges and highway systems resemble the rocky outcroppings of cliffs, which are the natural habitat of wild pigeons.  Access to garbage in and around food establishments and extensive public feeding also contributes to their rising populations.

Most complaints about pigeons are nuisance in nature, owing to the birds' roosting habits and droppings.  But undoubtedly, pigeons bring life and add ambience to a city.  Often, pigeons are the only form of life in otherwise bleak urban landscapes.  Places like Venice, the Vatican Square and Paris would not have the same appeal or charm without pigeons.

Traditionally, pigeon control programs throughout the world have relied extensively on lethal methods like shooting, poisoning, trap and kill operations and the use of deterrents.  With the exception of some deterrents, all these methods have failed to reduce bird numbers.

Although lethal methods have been shown to offer temporary relief where removals have occurred, it only treats the symptoms and not the underlying cause, which makes it impractical as a permanent solution. Moreover, lethal methods can actually exacerbate the situation because pigeon numbers have been shown to increase in response to lethal population control (Daniel Haag-Wackernagel, June 1992). 

Many older, non-breeding birds are removed during these operations, increasing the chances for survival in the younger breeding stock that remains.  Another consideration is that the public has expressed a strong distaste for lethal methods, and their continued use will inevitably prove to be a public relations nightmare for communities.

Most pest control companies still advise clients that lethal pigeon control is an option to consider. It would seem that pest control companies have a vested commercial interest in recommending lethal control because it will inevitably result in an indefinite contract, due to the fact that pigeon numbers can increase above pre-cull figures in a matter of a few weeks subsequent to the initial cull.

Little Blue Society designed a customized program for the City of San Jose in 2005, by request from the City Council.

A Brief Description of the Feral Pigeon Control Program:

1. Site Inspection
LBS works with city officials, and other interested parties to assess the pigeon situation.  LBS will then draft a detailed plan of action, including identification of which measures to undertake, where to focus efforts, and which personnel to engage.  Select deterrents (Not all deterrents are humane) and exclusion devices will be used to prevent roosting in problem areas. 

2. Installation of Artificial Breeding Facilities
Will be installed, if needed, to concentrate pigeon populations in select areas and divert them from sensitive sites, such as buildings and public access areas.

3. Birth Control
In densely populated areas, a completely reverseable birth control bait would be used to gradually reduce the population to managable levels.

If you would like us to design a program specific to your area:  

I would like to see this program expanded into other communities, where lethal management programs are still being used. I am ready to  Join and Donate