Comments on: Too much of a good thing http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/07/30/too-much-of-a-good-thing/ A Bird Blog with Kate St. John Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:47:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kate St. John http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/07/30/too-much-of-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2502 Kate St. John Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:44:11 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=544#comment-2502 Sad to say those pigeon control methods won't really solve the problem and could hurt the birds. Especially beware of sticky stuff! Bad for the building and the birds. Food supply is the cause and it's the solution. I used to have pigeons at my backyard feeders who perched on my roof. I did two things to solve this: 1) I put screens over my chimney - they'd been nesting inside it. This didn't get rid of nests in my neighbors' chimneys but then... 2) I removed the food. No pigeons! They're nesting a few blocks away but they aren't in my yard any more even though I didn't control nesting sites in my neighbors' chimneys. Control the food & the pigeons go away. Sad to say those pigeon control methods won’t really solve the problem and could hurt the birds. Especially beware of sticky stuff! Bad for the building and the birds.

Food supply is the cause and it’s the solution.

I used to have pigeons at my backyard feeders who perched on my roof. I did two things to solve this:
1) I put screens over my chimney – they’d been nesting inside it. This didn’t get rid of nests in my neighbors’ chimneys but then…
2) I removed the food.

No pigeons! They’re nesting a few blocks away but they aren’t in my yard any more even though I didn’t control nesting sites in my neighbors’ chimneys.

Control the food & the pigeons go away.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/07/30/too-much-of-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2501 Sarah Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:27:22 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=544#comment-2501 www.AbsoluteBirdControl.com has all the answers to pigeon control and other bird pest problems. You can even buy online for those do-it-yourselfers. http://www.AbsoluteBirdControl.com has all the answers to pigeon control and other bird pest problems. You can even buy online for those do-it-yourselfers.

]]> By: Kate St. John http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/07/30/too-much-of-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2381 Kate St. John Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:18:51 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=544#comment-2381 I haven't pitched this to the city but I mentioned it yesterday to a friend in Public Works. Yes, it could be done - but I know that to really make it happen takes the dedication of volunteers and/or an organization who make it a priority and keep it alive. Examples of successes in this fashion, on topics other than pigeons, are the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest. I'm hoping some of my readers will be inspired! I haven’t pitched this to the city but I mentioned it yesterday to a friend in Public Works.

Yes, it could be done – but I know that to really make it happen takes the dedication of volunteers and/or an organization who make it a priority and keep it alive.

Examples of successes in this fashion, on topics other than pigeons, are the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest.

I’m hoping some of my readers will be inspired!

]]> By: Kristen http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/07/30/too-much-of-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2359 Kristen Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:11:15 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=544#comment-2359 I worked downtown for a number of years. It always killed me to see people sitting right under the "do not feed the pigeons" signs with a loaf of stale bread or a bag of bird seed. I can certainly understand the desire to feed birds (and have been guilty of occasionally tossing something to the seagulls at my usual rest stop on I-90) but, as you eloquently point out, pigeons are doing just fine without extra helpings! I do like the European idea, have you pitched this to the city? I'd be happy to sign on! I worked downtown for a number of years. It always killed me to see people sitting right under the “do not feed the pigeons” signs with a loaf of stale bread or a bag of bird seed. I can certainly understand the desire to feed birds (and have been guilty of occasionally tossing something to the seagulls at my usual rest stop on I-90) but, as you eloquently point out, pigeons are doing just fine without extra helpings! I do like the European idea, have you pitched this to the city? I’d be happy to sign on!

]]> By: Janice Andrews http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/07/30/too-much-of-a-good-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-2354 Janice Andrews Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:40:16 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=544#comment-2354 Thanks for another great blog post...I like how you not only bring up a current problem, but offer solutions...too many people just dwell on all the negatives which depresses me to the point that I feel helpless in changing the situation. Keep up the level-headed posts! Thanks for another great blog post…I like how you not only bring up a current problem, but offer solutions…too many people just dwell on all the negatives which depresses me to the point that I feel helpless in changing the situation. Keep up the level-headed posts!

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