If you are living in an urban area you already know all the benefits that it can have. Still, there is no doubt that pigeons are not one of them. Attracted by the food that people give them pigeons have become domestic species in almost every city. It is not a problem when they are located on the streets but it can become a challenge if you cannot get rid of them from your balcony. Not only that it can be frustrating having them around but they can spread disease to your household as well. For that reason, it is important to try to keep them away. One of the solutions would be to contact bird control professionals such as Peak Services. But also, you should know how to keep them away by yourself. Here are the reasons why pigeons keep coming to your balcony and how to get rid of them.
Biological reasons why do pigeons keep coming to your balcony
There is no doubt that it can be frustrating trying to get rid of the pigeons but they keep coming back to your balcony. Not only that they can carry diseases that can spread through your household but they can make a mess on your balcony.
For example, Las Vegas is a city that is known to have a large number of flocks of pigeons because of the tourists that feed them. If you are located in Las Vegas and you have pigeons that keep coming back there is only one thing that you should consider doing. And that is proper Las Vegas pigeon control. That is one of the best solutions in the attempt to get rid of them.
And if you are asking why they continue to nest in your balcony be aware that it is not only because of the things that can attract them but there are biological reasons as well. And because of these biological factors that influence their return sometimes, it might seem impossible to get rid of them.
Pigeons have a strong homing sense
Even if they are a hundred miles away pigeons will be able to find their way home. Scientists have proven that pigeons are able to sense magnetic fields that they use in order to return home. Because of that be aware that once you have pigeons nesting on your balcony it will be difficult to get rid of them.
And in case you don’t have a nest on your balcony but pigeons are returning to your home that is probably because they are situated somewhere nearby. They like to nest under places that are covered such as roofs or solar panels. For that reason, if you have solar panels make sure to contact experts that are in charge of solar panel bird proofing. Be assured that pigeons keep coming to your balcony because of their biological homing sense and only professionals can help you get rid of them.
Because they are raising their babies
Can you recall that you have ever seen a baby pigeon? Probably not. This is because they are protected and kept in the nest until their adulthood. So even if you manage to get rid of the pigeon parents you will still have babies in the nest. And this is one of the strongest reasons why pigeons would continue to come back to your balcony.
Unlike other bird species, pigeons can produce five broods in a year. And if the climate is warm they will continue breeding the whole year and this number can be even bigger. This is the main reason why it is difficult to get rid of the pigeons and why bird control services are having a hard time keeping them away from your balcony and your area. Baby pigeons are the main reason why you keep seeing pigeons on your balcony even when you think that you managed to eliminate them.
Pigeons keep coming to your balcony because of a strong sense of smell
Apart from using Earth’s magnetic fields, pigeons are able to navigate from hundreds of miles away to their home because of their strong sense of smell. Researchers have made discoveries that pigeons create odor maps that they use in order to orient in space. So even if you manage to get rid of them be assured that they will come back to your balcony because of the familiar smell that they will follow.
Also, they will not come back only because of the familiar smell of the nest. They will come back because of the smell of food as well. Moreover, they are able to smell the absence of predators. And because it is unlikely for their predators to be in the residential areas there is a bigger chance for them to be attracted to your home than in some other areas where they can smell danger.
Other factors that will lure the return of pigeons
Before you learn the ways to prevent birds from nesting on your balcony you should know what attracts them. Even though there are three biological reasons why pigeons keep coming to your balcony, there are other things that can attract them. And those are the things that you are partially responsible for and that you can do something about.
Plants on your balcony
One of the reasons why pigeons keep coming to your balcony is the presence of plants. In case you have cherries or lilac on your balcony be assured that pigeons will be attracted by them. This is because they especially like to eat the leaves of these plants. And if this becomes the main source of food for the pigeons don’t be surprised if you cannot get rid of them. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have plants on the balcony but it means that you should find some of the best bird deterrents that will keep them away. That way your plants will be safe and your balcony will most probably be free of pigeons.
Leftover food
Even if you don’t have plants on your balcony that pigeons could feed there will still come back if there is any leftover food. You have probably noticed that the biggest flocks of pigeons are on the squares. This is because people feed them and pigeons keep coming back for more food. For that reason, make sure to keep your balcony clean and free of any bread crumbles. Because this is something that will without any doubt attract pigeons. Other foods that pigeons eat and that will attract them include sunflower seeds, dried pies, sorghum, etc. Also, avoid keeping garbage on the balcony because pigeons love picking and searching the food there.
Absence of predators
As already mentioned above, pigeons have a strong sense of smell. This sense of smell will attract them to your area not only if you have food on your balcony but also if they smell that there is no danger around your home. So if you have done everything that is in your power and pigeons still keep coming back that is because they feel safe in your environment.
In that case, the best solution would be to contact bird experts to help you get rid of them. For example, if you are located in Henderson and birds are nesting under your solar panels because they know there are no predators around contact solar panel bird control Henderson and keep birds away from your balcony and your property.
How to get rid of the pigeons on your balcony?
Giving a call to professionals to get rid of pigeons is the best solution, but there are some methods and techniques that you can do by yourself as well. If you would like to get rid of pigeons from your balcony you should:
- Cover your balcony with netting as this is probably one of the most efficient methods
- Place spikes as this will prevent them from landing on your balcony
- Use reflective tapes as they will signalize to pigeons that there is danger nearby
- Place plastic owls or snakes as this will scare pigeons away
As you can see there are many reasons why pigeons keep coming to your balcony. There is almost nothing that you could do when it comes to biological reasons that attract them. Still, there are some techniques that you could use in order to keep them away from your balcony. And if you don’t have any luck hire professional bird services to get rid of the pigeons for you.