While pigeons seem harmless, they cause a lot of problems especially on high rise buildings, and these problems get worse as they increase in number, so you should not hesitate to get rid of them once you notice them on your roof or around your home. One big problem with pigeons is that they invade homes in groups.
If you notice just one pigeon at the top of your roof, the chances are that they are already many therein. Here are some of the problems caused by pigeons on a high rise.
Their droppings are acidic
Generally, bird droppings are acidic in nature, and as you already know, acid eats into materials gradually. If bird droppings remain on your roof for a long time, it will gradually eat into the material of your roof and may cause leaks. It is needless to remind you of the water damage that can be caused by a leaking roof.
In rare cases, bird droppings can reduce the lifespan of your roof by half. To underscore how powerful bird droppings are, in 2008, their accumulation caused the canopy of a gas station to collapse.
Pigeon nests block drains
These birds often build their nests in drains, rain gutters, and corners of roofs. The problem with this is that it could block the drainage system of your building. If this is not fixed, standing water can collapse your roof and cause serious damages.
Pigeons can damage your mechanical appliances
Bird droppings can damage your HVAC units, canopies, and water towers. They can also deface your balconies and ledges thereby reducing the value of the property. Most importantly, people who live in such apartments or work in such buildings are exposed to serious health risk.
Bird droppings have been linked to more than 60 diseases like Histoplasmosis, Candidiasis, Cryptococcosis, Salmonellosis, St. Louis Encephalitis, and many more.
Bird nesting materials can enhance the possibility of a fire
The fact that bird nests are made of flammable materials makes it dangerous on the roof. The nest is usually made of dried twigs and straws, and these two materials are very flammable. When a flying ember comes in contact with a nest, it can spark fire immediately. This is why most sign fires are caused by bird nests.
Nests can also block ventilation systems
When bird nests accumulate in any air flow channel, they can block air-flow and lead to serious health issues if not death. In mid-nineties, five people were killed in the same apartment in the United States. They were suffocated by carbon monoxide because the exhaust system of their fireplace was blocked by pigeon nests.
Pigeons can settle and build their nests in any part of your building. It is even better when their nests are built in open parts of your building. In some cases, they build their nests in hidden places. The nests would have caused serious damages before you find out that pigeons, as well as their nests, are in those areas.
Metal finishes can be damaged by bird droppings
Pigeon droppings eat into the protective coating and even the paint on any metallic object around your building. The longer the droppings are left on the objects, the more they will damage the finish.
You may need to paint your building
When pigeon droppings deface your building, you may need to paint it to avoid penalties from health officials and painting a building is not a small project. It requires a lot of financial resources. Remember, it is an expense that could have been avoided.
Pigeons can damage your ceilings
Pigeons can enter your ceiling through openings and remain there for a very long time. They will multiply in number, and that will lead to more droppings. It will get to a point when your ceiling will no longer be able to withstand their weight, and it will collapse.
Their droppings are slippery when they are or become wet
Their droppings can cause slip and fall accidents because it is slippery. It could be a double accident if someone is carrying a baby slips and fall. Most of all, as a landlord you will be held liable if any of your tenants slips and falls in your building. What if multiple tenants encounter the same accident? You already have an idea of how much you can cough out in compensation. So, you need to get rid of pigeons from your property before they cause any accident.
How to prevent pigeons from roosting in your building
Prevention is the best form of bird control and here are a few tips on how to ward off pigeons from your home.
1. Keep your surrounding trash and water free to reduce conducive conditions
Pigeons always look for trash around, so it is important to keep your surrounding trash free. If you need to place a trash can around, then it should be firmly covered. In addition, keep your surrounding very clean. Remove food debris or anything that can attract pigeons.
2. Use repellents
You can spray pigeon deterrents or repellents on all their landing areas regularly and if you can’t afford to buy one, you can spray chili and pepper powder solution on their landing areas as it irritates them.
3. Installing deterrent products
You can install bird spikes, bird tension wire, electrified shock track systems on the railings, ledges of your balcony and other landing areas. Pigeons enjoy landing where they are comfortable. These types of devices will deter the birds from landing on treated areas.
4. Install bird exclusion product
You can install heavy duty bird netting over the balconies and related areas like roof tops and HVAC equipment to exclude the birds from areas. You can install other ledge exclusion products as well to modify the structure to exclude the birds from desired areas.
4. Check for openings in and around your roof
Don’t wait until you discover a pigeon in your roof before you take some preventive measures. It is better to inspect your roof occasionally to be able to find out if their openings or not. You should detect and block openings around your roof before pigeons do.
In conclusion, apart from these pigeon prevention tips, there are several other effective ones. You should endeavor to ward them off as soon as possible. And if you already have pigeons in your roof or around your home, you need to hire a professional pigeon bird control company or pest exterminator (pco pest control operator) as quickly as possible.
If you have a bird problem, we can help. AviAway professionally installs bird control solutions for all bird species. We have 30+ years of experience in bird control and have performed work for companies like Amazon, Rite Aid, and the U.S. Postal Service. Click here or call 844-247-3373 to request a free bird control quote.
We also offer free bird control consultations. Click here to set up a free consultation and talk with one of our bird control experts about solving your bird problem.