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Wood Pigeons on power lines

welshcakewelshcake Posts: 118
in Problem solving
We have a problem with wood pigeons who sit on the power line above our patio after eating the purple berries from the nearby laurel tree.  Not only does this create large blobs of purple bird poo on our patio but it can be a bit of a risk when you're quietly enjoying a cup of tea!  They spend a lot of time in a particular tree in the garden and sometimes perch on the garage roof but is there anything we can do to stop them sitting on the power lines?  Is it worth speaking to our local power company about fitting bird inhibitors or is there anything we can do ourselves?  
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Get yourselves a large toy water gun and spray them whenever they land on the wires.  They'll soon learn.   Better still, get one each and have a prize for most shots on target.

    It won't harm the birds but it will act as a deterrent on the lines of the water scarecrow system used to keep ground level critters such as cats, foxes and herons out of gardens.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • ColinAColinA Posts: 392
    Squirt water at power lines????
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    They are rainproof aren't they?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • welshcakewelshcake Posts: 118
    Obelixx said:
    Get yourselves a large toy water gun and spray them whenever they land on the wires.  They'll soon learn.   Better still, get one each and have a prize for most shots on target.

    It won't harm the birds but it will act as a deterrent on the lines of the water scarecrow system used to keep ground level critters such as cats, foxes and herons out of gardens.
    Aww it seems so mean.....but if they keep pooing on my patio and potentially me, it will have to be done!
  • Pauline 7Pauline 7 Posts: 2,246
    You beat me to it. That was going to be my comment too. 😁
    West Yorkshire
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Move the patio?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Trim the laurel  ... remove the berries ... at least the poop won’t be purple and hopefully the woodies will move on to look for a different place to dine. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • welshcakewelshcake Posts: 118
    philippasmith2 said:
    Perhaps you should consider getting rid of the Laurel and replace it with something less appealing  ( or colourful ) ?
    Were the power lines in place prior to you purchasing your house or siting your patio ? If so, it's always a safe bet that birds will use them to perch on and, inevitably, drop a dollop on the ground below.
    I doubt the Power company will be worried unless the Wood Pigeons cause them a problem re supply or maintenance. 
     
    It wouldn't be possible to replace the laurel - it's huge and in a really difficult to access boundary area.  The power lines were there when we bought the house.  We've just created a patio in this area, in front of a new extension, and found the problem once those work were done.  Previously their perching spot on the power line was above some small trees and a wall :)
  • welshcakewelshcake Posts: 118
    Fire said:
    Move the patio?
    Unfortunately not - we've just had it built in front of bi-fold doors from a new extension.  Previously their perching spot was above some small trees and a wall so we didn't know it was an issue :) 
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