This is a helpful thread. We have an increasing pigeons problem but it's only 2-3 and it's because my dad keeps putting bread for them. As a result, they keep pooing in the trays of the bird station I've set up for the smaller birds. I have asked him to stop, stating also the health hazards caused by pigeon excrement, but he won't listen (my dad, not the pigeon lol).
And we do also have a lawn with a lot of clover (hoping to get it treated soon) so if this is really a contributing factor to pigeons then this makes sense.
Bit like you, not sure what to do as I don't want to scare away the other birds and my dad won't listen about the bread!
Would lawn weedkiller work? Last time I put weed and feed on mine it killed everything.
I learnt my lesson with seagulls, one time I threw a whole loaf of bread out for the smaller birds and the next minute it was Alfred Hitchcock. There must have been around 70 seagulls swooping around my head.
Thanks for the input, Lou12 and Wakeshine. I don't like using toxic chemicals, so I would be looking for an organic clover killer. Personally, I'd never feed pigeons (or seagulls), no matter how cute the babies are - they are well able to source their own food and their population gets totally out of control if people start feeding them, and this poo problem is really too disgusting.
I sympathise, Dervila, and also congratulate you for not wanting to upset an elderly lady at an already difficult time in her life. I have about 7 wood pigeons calling regularly and chase them whenever I can, but that's not much use to you. Might I suggest that you contact a lawn maintenance company or two and ask what they could do about the clover? It's actually quite difficult to kill selectively if you want to be organic and/or safe, but professionals have access to a larger range of products than home gardeners and may suggest something that could help you.
Thanks Alina and everyone above. I now have a good sense of what to try: Put out a few windmills and streamers (although I think my three year old will just pull them up!), hang some reflective old cds on strings, download the Birdy app (hoping that it will just work against the pigeons and not scare the smaller birds, although I fear it probably will! - same for a fake owl silhouette or other fake predator on a stick, but I may try it), and call a few lawn maintenance companies to see what they say (to get rid of it organically and to keep it down in the future). I appreciate all your comments.
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Having looked up pictures of woodpigeons online I think they are woodpigeons (they have a white collar on them)
This is a helpful thread. We have an increasing pigeons problem but it's only 2-3 and it's because my dad keeps putting bread for them. As a result, they keep pooing in the trays of the bird station I've set up for the smaller birds. I have asked him to stop, stating also the health hazards caused by pigeon excrement, but he won't listen (my dad, not the pigeon lol).
And we do also have a lawn with a lot of clover (hoping to get it treated soon) so if this is really a contributing factor to pigeons then this makes sense.
Bit like you, not sure what to do as I don't want to scare away the other birds and my dad won't listen about the bread!
Would lawn weedkiller work? Last time I put weed and feed on mine it killed everything.
I learnt my lesson with seagulls, one time I threw a whole loaf of bread out for the smaller birds and the next minute it was Alfred Hitchcock. There must have been around 70 seagulls swooping around my head.
Thanks for the input, Lou12 and Wakeshine. I don't like using toxic chemicals, so I would be looking for an organic clover killer. Personally, I'd never feed pigeons (or seagulls), no matter how cute the babies are - they are well able to source their own food and their population gets totally out of control if people start feeding them, and this poo problem is really too disgusting.
I sympathise, Dervila, and also congratulate you for not wanting to upset an elderly lady at an already difficult time in her life. I have about 7 wood pigeons calling regularly and chase them whenever I can, but that's not much use to you. Might I suggest that you contact a lawn maintenance company or two and ask what they could do about the clover? It's actually quite difficult to kill selectively if you want to be organic and/or safe, but professionals have access to a larger range of products than home gardeners and may suggest something that could help you.
Thanks Alina and everyone above. I now have a good sense of what to try: Put out a few windmills and streamers (although I think my three year old will just pull them up!), hang some reflective old cds on strings, download the Birdy app (hoping that it will just work against the pigeons and not scare the smaller birds, although I fear it probably will! - same for a fake owl silhouette or other fake predator on a stick, but I may try it), and call a few lawn maintenance companies to see what they say (to get rid of it organically and to keep it down in the future). I appreciate all your comments.
Good luck!