Natural History

Pigeons tend to live in groups or pairs. Pigeons come in a variety of colors. Pigeons in urban settings can nest year round. Pigeons build flimsy nests on flat surfaces, usually under eaves.

Deterring Devices

Eliminating the flat surfaces that pigeons can roost and nest on is the key to deterring pigeons. Wire mesh can be used to exclude pigeons from areas under eves.
Electricity can be used to enhance the effectiveness of a wire barrier. A bird alighting on a cable completes an electrical circuit and the bird receives a mild shock, which is irritating but otherwise harmless.
Netting (or plastic strips) can also be used to secure loading dock doors and other entryways that must remain open. The netting is installed in overlapping strips so as to form a protective curtain which parts to allow the passage of personnel and vehicles and then falls back into place to seal out pigeons.

Frightening Devices

These are only short-term solutions, not long term.

• Models of owls, hawks and snakes scare away pigeons temporarily. They must resemble their living counterpart and must be positioned in a manner that is natural for the actual predator. It is helpful to relocate them frequently.
• Mylar tape/streamers: Shiny tape that reflects light is used to hang at roost site. Twist tape and secure top and bottom loosely. (See figure 3, below.)
• Balloons filled with helium and have an "eye spot" (black dot) painted on one side (to emphasize movement) can be tied near the roost side. (See figure 4, below.)
• Kid's pinwheels may also deter pigeons.

Noise making, with firecrackers, wind chimes or radios is effective as long as the noise is loud and sudden. Noise repellents must be used frequently to be effective.

Visual and audio repellents work best when they are combined.

The types that move or are even motorized stand a better chance of achieving a result, but pigeons quickly get used to these devices.