Description
Information and advice on the control of pest birds
Feral pigeon, Columba livia var
Biology:
Descended from domesticated strains of the
rock dove, and found throughout Britain, the feral or town
pigeon is closely associated with humans and is common in
urban environments. Feral pigeons nest in or on buildings
or other structures, where they are usually found on ledges
or in hollows often under eaves or on girders. Peak nesting
time is between March and July, although pigeons are capable
of breeding throughout the year.
Public Health
Pigeons carry a range of diseases, some
of which may be transmitted to humans if droppings contaminate
foodstuffs. For this reason their presence cannot be tolerated
in and around food premises. They also carry mites that can
cause skin disease, and dust from their feathers can cause
respiratory problems.
Damage
Pigeon droppings are not only unsightly
but are acidic and can cause damage to buildings and machinery.
Nesting materials, droppings and feathers can block gutters
and air vents. Slippery droppings can compromise safety on
pavements and fire escapes.
Control
Pigeons can be effectively excluded from
buildings by the use of purpose-made, durable netting, but
this should be installed by professional pest controllers.
A relatively cheap, and highly effective alternative is to
use pigeon spikes, which make it impossible for pigeons to settle
on eaves and ledges, thus removing the problem of fouling
and nuisance.
Seagull, herring gull Larus argentatus
The Herring gull can be distinguished from
other gulls by its large size and grey upperparts, which earn
it the alternative names of 'silver back' and 'silvery gull'.
During summer, adults have white heads, but in autumn they
become streaked with brown. They have bright yellow bills
with a red tip, and pink legs. Juveniles are greyish-brown;
the grey upperparts do not develop until after the second
winter. A number of vocalisations are produced, including
the well-known raucous 'laughing' call.
The herring gull has a complex distribution
throughout the northern hemisphere, and consists of a number
of subspecies. The population occurring in Britain, Ireland,
France and Iceland belong to the subspecies Larus argentatus
argenteus. Herring gulls breed around most of Britain's
coasts; they are absent from some areas of eastern England,
but are widespread inland during the winter. This species
breeds in a range of habitats, including cliffs, beaches,
small islands, inland sites and even buildings. They also
exploit rubbish dumps, particularly during winter.
The herring gull is a supreme opportunist
and scavenger, feeding on discarded fish offal, refuse, bird
chicks, worms and other invertebrates. It breeds in colonies
and the nest is usually an untidy heap of grass, seaweed and
other vegetation. Two to six eggs, variable in colour and
patterning, are laid after April; incubation, which is carried
out largely by the female, takes between 25 and 27 days. Both
parents share paternal care of the downy chicks, which fledge
after around 30 days. Control
There is no instant solution to getting
rid of seagulls effectively and action is best focused on
prevention. There are limited public health grounds for seagull
control and surveys undertaken by various institutions have
shown culling is mainly unsuccessful and that shortly after
a cull the numbers increase back to the original optimum number.
We would therefore recommend the use of
deterrent devices such as seagull spikes, which prevent the
birds building their nests i.e. bird-proofing measures. Work
should be done outside the nesting season as interfering with
their nests may be considered illegal, and could be dangerous.
 Starling,
Sturnus vulgaris
Adults are about 21.5cm long. The plumage
is blackish with a green and purple iridescence, especially
in summer. Pale spots seen in winter fade away by spring.
Juveniles are dull brown in summer but moult in autumn to
adult plumage. Starlings are distinguishable from blackbirds
by their shorter tails and triangular shape of wings in flight.
Their chattering mimicking song often sounds like several
birds and can imitate other species. Damage results from both
the starlings' feeding and roosting habits, and consists mainly
of fouling and food removal. In rural roosts, which are usually
in dense thickets, the combined action of large quantities
of starling guano and the weight of birds on branches can
eventually kill the trees. In cities, droppings foul pavements,
disfigure buildings and monuments and erode stonework. Starlings
occasionally take grain from winter cereal stores, and at
intensive animal husbandry units they may take a considerable
proportion of animal feed. In addition to these problems,
there is the possibility that starlings may act as vectors
of disease. Control
We
recommend deterrent strategies for these smaller nuisance birds. New on
the market, try stainless steel pigeon, starling and sparrow spikes.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
The House Sparrow is primarily a grain eater,
feeding on ripening grain in fields, however, in urban situations
the sparrow has learned to exploit food stores, especially
of soft groceries such as cakes, where they will feed directly
or after penetrating thin packaging. As a result of these
feeding habits, sparrows can cause fouling of foodstuffs,
with associated breakdown of hygiene. In gardens, house sparrows
may peck at the soft spring growth of vegetables, and also
disbud fruit trees. Control
We
recommend deterrent strategies for these smaller nuisance birds. New on
the market, try stainless steel pigeon, starling and sparrow spikes.
Important:
The UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
protects all wild birds. It is an offence to kill or injure
any birds or their nests or eggs unless acting under a licence
and only in compliance with the conditions of that licence.
Noise from birds, that they leave droppings or the fact that
they open rubbish bags are not reasons under
the Act and, therefore, killing or injuring birds for these
reasons is an offence and offenders can be prosecuted. More
detailed information on this is available expert advice on
current legislation from DEFRA (Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs) 0207 904 6000 or on their web pages
at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/gen-licence.htm
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