Pigeons on my window ledge
Discussion
What with the hot weather we've been enjoying recently, I've taken to leaving my windows open all the time. As I live on the second storey of a building, there's no risk of anyone getting in.
Pigeons, however, are a different story. A pair seem to have taken to sitting on the ledge outside my kitchen window. Are they likely to get bold enough to wander in? One gave me a start this morning when I wandered in to make a cuppa - sat there bold as brass eyeing me up!
I wouldn't want them to get in and proceed to poke around or s
t everywhere. Are they likely to investigate our are they more timid than that?
I'm wondering about spike strips to put on the ledge to discourage them from congregating...
Pigeons, however, are a different story. A pair seem to have taken to sitting on the ledge outside my kitchen window. Are they likely to get bold enough to wander in? One gave me a start this morning when I wandered in to make a cuppa - sat there bold as brass eyeing me up!
I wouldn't want them to get in and proceed to poke around or s
t everywhere. Are they likely to investigate our are they more timid than that?I'm wondering about spike strips to put on the ledge to discourage them from congregating...
Edited by Funk on Friday 9th July 13:34
Funk said:
Moved? What has this got to do with Homes, Gardens and DIY? I'm asking about pigeons, not how high my extension can be or how to plaster a wall.
Well, strictly speaking you are discussing a problem at your HOME, if they're on your window shelf they are possibly above a GARDEN and if you're going to take action you'll be Doing It Yourself?Are they streeters or wood pigeons? Wood pigeon tastes very nice and you are allowed, Street pigeons, not so good.
You're lucky, at least you can spot a pigeon.
I get frogs coming in the back door and the sneaky bds hide, hide in in my slippers, the dog bowl, behind the bin and I even had one jump out at me from the hifi cabinet when I opened the door.
It's not doing my ticker any good when the bastids jump out of my slippers as I pick them up and I don't even have a sodding pond.
I get frogs coming in the back door and the sneaky b
ds hide, hide in in my slippers, the dog bowl, behind the bin and I even had one jump out at me from the hifi cabinet when I opened the door.It's not doing my ticker any good when the bastids jump out of my slippers as I pick them up and I don't even have a sodding pond.
As I was informed the other day (after the "act" I may add)
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 said:
All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence, with certain exceptions (see below) intentionally to:
•Kill, injure or take any wild bird.
•Take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. See time for cutting hedges.
•Take or destroy the egg of any wild bird.
•Have in one's possession or control any wild bird (dead or alive) or any part of a wild bird which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954.
•Have in one's possession or control any egg or part of an egg which has been taken in contravention to the Act. This includes items taken or killed before the passing of the Act.
•Have in one's possession or control any live bird of prey of any species in the world (with the exception of vultures and condors) unless it is registered and ringed in.
•Have in one's possession or control any bird of a species occurring on Schedule 4 of the Act unless registered (and in some cases ringed) in accordance with the Secretary of State's regulations.
•Disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird.
Exceptions
The most notable exceptions to the above provisions are:
•There is no such thing in law as a 'pest species', but an authorised person (e.g. a landowner or occupier) may kill or take species which are listed on a general licence and destroy or take the nest or eggs of such a bird, for specified purposes only. This is permissible under the terms of general licenses issued by government departments. See Schedule 2 for more details of this and to see the current licences.
•A person charged with killing or attempting to kill a wild bird, other than one included on Schedule 1, shall not be guilty of an offence if he can show his action was necessary for the purpose of preserving public health or air safety, preventing spread of disease or preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber or fisheries (see licenses).
So it may be ok, but you would have to prove your exemption.•Kill, injure or take any wild bird.
•Take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. See time for cutting hedges.
•Take or destroy the egg of any wild bird.
•Have in one's possession or control any wild bird (dead or alive) or any part of a wild bird which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954.
•Have in one's possession or control any egg or part of an egg which has been taken in contravention to the Act. This includes items taken or killed before the passing of the Act.
•Have in one's possession or control any live bird of prey of any species in the world (with the exception of vultures and condors) unless it is registered and ringed in.
•Have in one's possession or control any bird of a species occurring on Schedule 4 of the Act unless registered (and in some cases ringed) in accordance with the Secretary of State's regulations.
•Disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird.
Exceptions
The most notable exceptions to the above provisions are:
•There is no such thing in law as a 'pest species', but an authorised person (e.g. a landowner or occupier) may kill or take species which are listed on a general licence and destroy or take the nest or eggs of such a bird, for specified purposes only. This is permissible under the terms of general licenses issued by government departments. See Schedule 2 for more details of this and to see the current licences.
•A person charged with killing or attempting to kill a wild bird, other than one included on Schedule 1, shall not be guilty of an offence if he can show his action was necessary for the purpose of preserving public health or air safety, preventing spread of disease or preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber or fisheries (see licenses).
All you have said is true, but every year DEFRA print a list of exceptions:
The Secretary of State for the Environment issues an official decree every two years which amounts to an exemption from the usual prohibitions placed on the killing of specific species of wild birds with Section 1 shotguns. The following thirteen species are at the moment included in this exemption:
Crow
Collared Dove
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Jackdaw
Jay
Magpie
Feral Pigeon
Rook
House Sparrow
Starling
Wood Pigeon
The Secretary of State for the Environment issues an official decree every two years which amounts to an exemption from the usual prohibitions placed on the killing of specific species of wild birds with Section 1 shotguns. The following thirteen species are at the moment included in this exemption:
Crow
Collared Dove
Great Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Jackdaw
Jay
Magpie
Feral Pigeon
Rook
House Sparrow
Starling
Wood Pigeon
Sorry, that was out of date! Current list:
Crow - Corvus corone
Collared Dove - Stretopelia decaocto
Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
Jackdaw - Corvus monedula
Jay - Garrulus glandarius
Magpie - Pica pica
Feral Pigeon - Columbia livia
Rook - Corvus frugilegus
Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
However, there are many restrictions, mostly to do with whether you're using a single shot weapon, and of course where you're shooting. You can for instance shoot an air weapon, at or below the legal muzzle limit within your own garden - as long as no pellets, cross your boundaries or you're within 15 ft of the centre of a public highway - it's very complicated - So probably far better off with the hanging CD advice!
Crow - Corvus corone
Collared Dove - Stretopelia decaocto
Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
Jackdaw - Corvus monedula
Jay - Garrulus glandarius
Magpie - Pica pica
Feral Pigeon - Columbia livia
Rook - Corvus frugilegus
Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
However, there are many restrictions, mostly to do with whether you're using a single shot weapon, and of course where you're shooting. You can for instance shoot an air weapon, at or below the legal muzzle limit within your own garden - as long as no pellets, cross your boundaries or you're within 15 ft of the centre of a public highway - it's very complicated - So probably far better off with the hanging CD advice!
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