Pigeon Nest Removal: Effective Solutions for Bird Control

Getting to grips with how pigeons construct their nests, their preferred nesting spots, and the legal aspects of removal can help you tackle your pigeon problems more effectively.

Here at Clark Pest Control, we are always eager to offer you a helping hand.

What Does a Pigeon Nest Look Like?

Pigeons aren’t particularly choosy or talented when it comes to building nests.

While many birds create elaborate, cup-shaped structures, pigeons put together rather messy nests without much skill. You’ll find pigeons gathering twigs, straw, leaves and sometimes bits of rubbish like paper or plastic to build their homes.

If you’ve spotted one, you’ll know what we mean.

Wood pigeons in the countryside might make slightly sturdier nests in trees and hedges, but the urban pigeons we commonly deal with typically create even simpler structures on buildings.

At Clark Pest Control Glasgow, we’ve seen some pretty poor efforts over the years.

Once pigeons settle on a spot, they’ll continuously add to and improve their nest for as long as they stay there. This ongoing construction work means small nests can grow into much larger, more noticeable structures as time passes, creating bigger headaches and eyesores for property owners.

Where Do Pigeons Prefer to Build Their Nests?

Pigeons have proven themselves to be remarkably adaptable birds, making themselves quite at home in our towns and cities. When looking for places to nest, pigeons have clear preferences that we’ve observed over many years of pest control work.

These birds love flat surfaces with a bit of overhead cover. They search for locations that keep them dry and safe from predators, while still allowing easy access to food and water sources.

Modern city buildings provide excellent substitutes for the cliff faces that wild rock doves, the ancestors of today’s pigeons, would naturally nest on. This clever adaptation has allowed pigeons to flourish in urban areas across the UK, much to the frustration of property owners.

These are just some of the many common areas we encounter nest building during our pest control services:

• Building ledges
• Roof eaves
• Balconies
• Window sills
• Under solar panels
• Train stations
• Warehouses
• Roofs and lofts

 

By understanding pigeons’ nesting habits, it becomes easier to spot the early signs of activity. This will prevent a whole flock from taking over your property.

The Pigeon Nesting Cycle

Getting to grips with the pigeon breeding cycle is essential for proper control.

Year Round Nesting

Unlike many birds that only nest during certain seasons, pigeons can nest throughout the year. This happens especially in urban environments where food is plentiful and temperatures stay milder.

However, we typically see the most nesting activity during spring and summer, when longer daylight hours get them in the mood for breeding.

Monogamous Partners

Pigeons are monogamous and typically mate for life.

Once paired up, they’re capable of producing multiple broods throughout the year. This contributes significantly to urban pigeon problems.

Laying Eggs and Child Care

After mating, female pigeons lay one or two eggs, usually about two days apart.

Both parents share incubation duties, taking turns to sit on the eggs for roughly 18 days until they hatch.

Baby pigeons, called squabs, develop quickly and normally leave the nest after 25-35 days. However, they often hang around the nesting area and remain dependent on their parents even after fledging.

Stay Close to the Nest

Perhaps the most important thing for you as a property owner to understand is that pigeons are creatures of habit, returning time and again to successful nesting sites.

Their strong attachment to familiar nesting locations means that once pigeons have settled on your property, they can be remarkably difficult to remove without professional help.

Property and Health Risks Associated with Pigeon Nests

Pigeon nests bring several health and property risks that make removal necessary in many situations.

Pigeon Dropping Damage

The droppings that accumulate quickly around nesting sites contain acids that gradually eat away at building materials, causing long-term damage to your property.

Pigeon Dropping Disease

Pigeon faeces can carry nasty pathogens like Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis, and E. coli, which pose serious health risks to people living or working in affected buildings.

Parasites

Pigeon nests frequently harbour parasites such as mites, ticks, and fleas that can make their way into buildings and cause additional problems.

Negative Impact on Mental Health

Droppings, nesting materials, feathers, and food remnants creates unhygienic conditions that negatively impact quality of life for building occupants.

Furthermore, pigeon coo sounds can disrupt sleep and lead to stress.

Health and Safety

For commercial properties, these conditions might put you in breach of health and safety regulations, leading to potential legal issues alongside the existing pest problem. The same can be said for other health concerning pests, like rats.

Legal Considerations for Pigeon Nest Removal

Although you can remove a pigeon nest yourself, you must do so in complete compliance of the law. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides protection for wild birds, their nests, and eggs.

Feral pigeons are considered pest species and have fewer protections than native birds, but there are still important restrictions on control methods.

Removing a nest containing eggs or a dependent young is generally prohibited unless carried out under specific licence conditions. This means once eggs are laid, pigeon control can become far more difficult. This challenge mirrors other common pests, such as dealing with hidden moth eggs.

Wood pigeons, which are more common in rural areas, have more protections during breeding season.

Ignoring the law can result in hefty fines.

Luckily, at Clark Pest Control, we have helped many clients avoid legal pitfalls while dealing with their pigeon problems. Our professional pest controllers stay up to date with these regulations. We can advise you on the most appropriate, effective and legal way to help your specific situation.

Effective Pigeon Nest Removal Strategies

For safe, legal and effective removal of pigeon nests, make sure to call in the professionals.

Our team at Clark Pest Control boasts a comprehensive approach which produces the best results for our clients.

Removal of Pigeon Nests

Our bird control experts use purpose-built equipment to safely remove nests.

Once the nest is removed, we thoroughly clean affected areas to prevent any human health risk.

Pigeon Nest Prevention

After the area is cleaned, we install preventative measures to stop pigeons returning to nest again. These might include bird spikes, netting, wire systems, or using visual deterrents can make the area unsuitable for nesting.

Each situation is unique, and we tailor our approach to suit your building situation and needs.

Management to Ensure No Return

For properties with severe infestations and commercial properties, we often recommend ongoing management. This might include population control methods implemented by our licensed professionals.

The exact approach we suggest will depend on:

• How bad the problem is
• Building structure
• Local regulations
• Property type (i.e. domestic or commercial)

For our commercial clients, we offer professional bird control services with ongoing maintenance plans to ensure continued protection against pigeons. This gives you one less thing to worry about.

Preventing Pigeons from Nesting

We always tell our clients that taking proactive measures to prevent pigeons from establishing nests is much easier than dealing with an established fleet that’s made itself at home.

Physical Barriers

Installing physical barriers such as bird netting, spikes, or wire systems on ledges and other tempting nesting sites can stop potential nesting.

Reduce Food Source

Pigeons love an easy meal.

Proper waste management and discouraging well-meaning people from feeding the local pigeons can make your property less attractive to these birds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pigeon Nests

How quickly can pigeons build a nest?

Based on our observations, pigeons can put together a basic nest in just 1-2 days. They don’t stop there though, continuously adding to and improving their nests over time. This is precisely why early intervention matters when you first notice nesting activity on your property.

How many times a year do pigeons nest?

In urban environments where food is plentiful, pigeons can breed throughout the year, producing up to 6-8 broods annually. We’ve seen this prolific breeding habit create rapidly growing pigeon populations, which is why ongoing control measures become necessary for effective management.

Will pigeons abandon their nest if disturbed?

Unfortunately, pigeons are remarkably stubborn and will often return to nesting sites even after being disturbed. We’ve found that amateur deterrent attempts rarely work long-term, which is why professional methods are usually required to permanently discourage nesting behaviour.

How long does it take for pigeon eggs to hatch?

Pigeon eggs typically hatch after around 18 days of incubation. Both parent birds share incubation responsibilities, taking turns keeping the eggs warm until hatching. This shared parenting continues after hatching, with both parents feeding and caring for the young.

For All Your Pigeon Concerns, Contact Clark Pest Control Glasgow

If you’re struggling with problem pigeon nests on your property in Glasgow, get in touch with our friendly team at Clark Pest Control for safe, effective, and legally compliant pigeon control services.

No pest problem is too big or small, and our expert team is always more than happy to offer help or advice to solve all your pest concerns.

We can remove existing nests and put preventative measures in place to keep your property pigeon-free and stress-free. Give our Glasgow office a call on 0141 280 0339 today.