Best Deterrents for London Pigeons

If you had to pick out one pest, other than rats, that was a huge problem in London and other big cities, what would you choose? We’re going to hazard a guess that you almost immediately thought of pigeons. Even the most passionate animal lovers still find inner city pigeons to be a pain.

It’s not just the fact that they are there, scrounging your chips, or leaving their unattractive faeces as a calling card. It’s that they damage buildings and are carriers of some pretty unpleasant diseases and bacteria on top of that. Which is why they are often referred to as “flying rats”.

As this can be a persistent problem, you may be wondering – either as a homeowner or a business owner – what the best deterrents for London pigeons are. There are actually various options, some of which we are going to discuss in this post.

Sticky Bird Repellent Gel

Bird repellent gel is one of the best deterrents for London pigeons because it is non-toxic and easy to use. You basically apply the special gel over the places pigeons are known to land. Rather than working like traditional glue boards, it doesn’t trap them. It normally does the job even before the birds try to land.

It comes with a very nasty smell for pigeons. However, even if they don’t get pit off by the smell and try to land anywhere you’ve used the gel, they will be scared off thanks to the stick texture and how it gets in between their claws.

Sophisticated Ultrasonic Repellents

Another of the best deterrents for London birds has to be special ultrasonic repellents. These are equipped with highly sensitive infrared motion detectors. They emit high-frequency and very harsh sounding noises whenever a bird flies to close to them. This method can be just as effective as banging pots and pans together or using a water hose on them. It also means you don’t need to get wet or constantly on guard.

So effective are bird repellents, in fact, that the pigeons are often put off returning to the spot where they were spooked indefinitely. They are so in fear of it happening again, that it can work as a long term strategy.

Statues of  Menacing Predators

It may sound a little daft that birds would be so spooked by imitation predator statues. But, as is the case with crows, one of the safest and best deterrents for London pigeons has to be these ingenious creations.

Pigeons actively avoid crossing paths with falcons, owls and other predators. So, you can imagine their reaction if they are swooping down to land in your garden and see an owl sitting atop a plinth or fence. Although you don’t need anything too outrageous, some statues feature moving parts and will emit lifelike squawks to add an extra layer of believability.

Bird Spikes for London Pigeons

Okay, so we’re not going to lie – this does sound rather draconian. However, bird spikes an incredibly effective. If there is one thing that London pigeons do best, it is mess up the general area with their faeces. They enjoy landing on roofs, window ledges and just under eaves. They don’t just settle down on these and watch the world go by though. Pigeons like to make their homes in these parts of buildings.

One of the best ways to stop this kind of unwanted behaviour is by using something to deter pigeons from setting down onto these locations and roosting there. One of the best deterrents for London pigeons in these locations is to install the aforementioned spikes. These spikes are not designed to kill or even injure the birds. Rather, the long and pointed steel prongs are placed on ledges and edges to put them off landing at all.

As you can see, the best deterrents for London pigeons, as we’ve highlighted in this post, are very humane. If a pigeon problem gets too out of hand though, whether it’s in the capital or anywhere else in the country, it may be worth investing in the services of a pest control firm like Empire. For more information about our pigeon control services, get in contact with us today.