The old adage of, if it does not work, then try and try again cannot go along with controlling Arizona’s pigeon population.  There are dozens of failed attempts to rid homeowners and commercial properties of the annoying birds.  Many of the most common tools used to remove pigeons will never prove effective.  We have all seen the fake owls mounted to a roof, only to be covered with layers of pigeon feces.  You can be sure that when you purchase your fake owl, it does not include a guarantee of performance!

Pigeon control in Arizona is a very specialized field of service and requires absolute know how in order to solve a pigeon problem.  Only a professional bird and wildlife management expert has the experience and the available tools to solve residential and commercial pigeon problems.  Many insect control companies and handyman will make claims in attempting rid pigeons from a home or building, but their efforts will almost always fall short.  Do it yourself homeowners will also make futile efforts at Arizona pigeon control only to fall short after spending endless dollars at their favorite local hardware store.

Pigeons are not stupid or slow moving creatures.  It should go with out saying that they have wings and can readily go into flight, which makes them all the more difficult to contain.  It would appear that most handymen and many pest control companies believe the opposite: that pigeons are somehow less intelligent and adaptable then they really are.  Most homeowners would be shocked to know that pigeons can fly over fifty miles per hour, and can travel upwards of 600 miles in a single day.  A pigeon’s life span in the wild is between four and six years.  This means once a pigeon has made a home, it will often stay until otherwise removed.

Here are some very common failed strategies in eliminating Arizona’s pigeons:

•    The plastic owl- This is a great idea, but the pigeons will often use these a new perching places instead of showing any fear of these useless owls.

•    Shooting- First thing here is that it is illegal to discharge a firearm in city limits, as well as illegal shoot pigeons with a firearm in the city of Phoenix.  Once a bird is dead and removed from its perching place a new bird will quickly take its place.

•    Feeding Rice- This is a classic wives tale and will never hurt a pigeon, as the rice requires boiling to expand.

•    Alka Seltzer- Another myth in controlling Arizona’s pigeon population.  A pigeon’s digestive system can easily handle the gas created by the Alka Seltzer.

•    Noise- There are both ultra sonic (loud) and sonic (quiet) scare devices marketed to remove unwanted pigeons.  They just don’t do much good and in the case of the ultra sonic devices, you are just likely to annoy your neighbors.

•    Poisons & Hallucinogens- Poisoning animals is against the law in the Arizona.  When using poisons it is possible to hurt neighborhood cats, dogs, and other birds as well.  In the case of using hallucinogens having disoriented birds flying all over and into windows and buildings is not a good idea.  Often the disoriented birds are then dying around homes where they can spread disease.

•    Scents- Bleach products, the use of peppers, and even mothballs will have very little effect on a Pigeon.

•    Dead Birds- Pigeons will simply over look the rooting bird and will continue to nest and go on with their lives. Unlike elephants, pigeons do not mourn their dead.  But if your had an elephant on your roof you may have entirely different problems.

•    Throwing Rocks- Thrown rocks and other objects will most will most likely result in a broken window, or with cracked or damaged roof tiles.  Thrown objects may annoy the birds and make them fly away, but they will always come back.

•    Chicken Wire- A handyman’s favorite technique.  Unless the screening is properly fastened, a pigeon can walk right behind the temporary barrier, or even pull the wire down.

•    Stacked Rocks- Another handyman special that only adds new perching points and places what could be considered an art-like feature on your home.

•    Cats- It is bad enough when a cat drags small mouse. Can you only imagine what the mess would look like if your house cat began presenting you with dead and bloody pigeons?  Cats also do not care for heights much and could get stuck on a hot roof.

•    Falcons- While this could work, how many homeowners will become expert falconers in order to eliminate an Arizona pigeon problem?

While there are always going to be new and interesting attempts at controlling Arizona’s pigeon populations, it is recommended that an expert bird and wildlife management company be used to handle all pigeon problems.