In cities, it has become common for pigeons to occupy balconies, windows, and areas around air conditioners. Initially, you might notice one or two birds sitting on the balcony or above the air conditioner, but over time, these spots become permanent habitats. The birds get used to these locations and often start building nests there, spending all day in the area. This leads to feathers, droppings, and small twigs appearing on the balcony, making the space extremely dirty and causing significant inconvenience to residents.
If pigeons regularly appear in your home and you are tired of their mess, you do not have to run out every time to chase them away. There are simple methods that allow you to prevent them from approaching balconies and air conditioners, and these methods do not require harming the birds themselves. Such methods are presented below.
How to get rid of pigeons:
Firstly, if pigeons frequently enter the balcony, the simplest solution is to install a mesh screen (birdnet). The net completely covers the open area, preventing pigeons from entering to sit or build nests. When installing the net, it is crucial to ensure that there are no tiny uncovered sections at the edges, as even a small opening can become a path for the birds.
Secondly, if pigeons land directly on the air conditioner, you can use bird spikes. These can be installed along a wide strip around the air conditioner. This makes it difficult for the birds to perch on the unit, and they stop flying there. Similar spikes can be placed on balcony railings and window frames.
The third method is using old CDs or DVDs. Instead of throwing away old discs, they can be hung near the balcony or in areas where pigeons gather. When sunlight falls on them, the shine and movement of the discs can scare away the pigeons, preventing them from comfortably staying in that area. Aluminum foil or bright reflective tape can be used in a similar way.
Furthermore, it is necessary to eliminate food and water from the balcony. If pigeons regularly visit your balcony, it may be because food is available to them. Grains, food scraps, and open trash cans can encourage birds to return to the same place. Therefore, you should avoid leaving food on the balcony and immediately clean up any fallen grains or pieces of food. Trash containers nearby must be tightly closed.
It is also important to remove materials that can be used for nesting. Pigeons may return to certain corners if they find paper, fabric, cardboard, dry twigs, or other items for nest building. Consequently, you should not store useless items on the balcony, especially behind the air conditioner, in window corners, or in places where birds can easily hide.
Balcony cleaning cannot be neglected. Even after removing droppings, if dirt remains, the problem may recur. You need to thoroughly clean the railings, floor, window sills, and the area around the air conditioner daily. When cleaning dry excrement, it is better to slightly dampen it first instead of just sweeping it up to minimize dust raising. In case of a large amount of dirt or nests, cleaning should be done very carefully.
Finally, refrain from feeding pigeons. Many people leave them grain near balconies or windows. This causes the birds to constantly receive food in the same place and begin to consider that area their permanent habitat. To keep pigeons away from the balcony, it is better to avoid feeding them right near the house, as this will reduce the likelihood of their regular return.