Pigeon Problem

[jayzie1]

Lately, our feeders are attracting more pigeons than birds.  Not to the feeders themselves of course, but it's not unusual to have almost a dozen pigeons on the ground pecking for seed the birds have dropped.

The most obvious solution is to remove the food source, which I'm reluctant to do, but realize may be my only option for a week or two.  The other is to attach seed catchers.  Unfortunately, seed catchers don't attach to the two Brome squirrel buster feeders we're using.

We use super soaker water guns to chase them off when we're home, but it doesn't seem to deter them much as they always comes right back.

Has anyone had experience with eliminating pigeons?

[cathief]

I am also interested in people's thought as I have not had any pigeons until this year.  One showed up a couple of weeks ago and last week he brought a friend.  I am also reluctant to remove my feeders although the half dozen squirrels that hang around might go away, too.

[Rob'in'To]

If you only have one or two Pigeons right now...  my advice is to immediately take down your feeders.  At least for a week or more until the Pigeons leave.  And when you bring them out again, keep an eye out for their return, and if they do...  repeat this process.

Speaking from my own personal experience here.  I never paid much attention to the Pigeons, new to the backyard bird feeding 5 or 6 years ago.  Then suddenly I was having, at highest count some afternoons, being 27 Pigeons!

I have had to change some feeders because they became more aggressive when I changed my seed to something less likely to be dropped to the ground.  They would fly up to the cheap $5 gazebo feeders I got from Walmart, hang on the side, and swing and shake the seed out of those feeders to the ground from them and their Pigeon friends.  I have some small Squirrel proof feeders about and they can't grab onto those.  I don't buy seed mixes as many contain crap the song birds don't like and throw to the ground for them.  I use pure Black Oil Sunflower in one feeder, nyjer in another, Safflower in yet another, and a pure suet for my visiting Woodpeckers.  These things have helped but Pigeons still remain, just not in such high numbers.  I am cutting back on the amount of seed in the feeders as well through the warmer months.

And in the winter, when the snow comes, then the Hawks move in, and make a meal out of any remaining.  By late February I see no more than a couple walking amidst the remains of their friends.  But by May their numbers increase and the whole process repeats itself.

So, with having Pigeons here, I do get some great Hawk action and feeding right outside my kitchen window.  One definite plus side.  Eat all the Pigeons they want!  Some weeks 3 or 4 get chomped here.

I know to truly get rid of them I will have to remove all the feeders for months.  And after that, it would be serious monitoring if they ever sneak back in.  I am content with things right now, super soakers are another tool in the summer.

[cathief]

Thanks for your thoughts - I will try it.  My 10 year old son will get a blast out of using his super soaker gun, too (no pun intended)!

[Rob'in'To]

I used to pay my niece a quarter for everytime she chased them away from the property.  She could fill her piggy bank in a weekend here and empty my coffee change tin.