Friends have suggested all kinds of things to get rid of those pigeons on our roof. Our good friend, Dave sent us a YouTube video of a fellow with the exact same pigeon poop/debris problem as us on and under his solar panels. This fellow showed how he'd rigged a hose and camera system on his roof so that whenever he spotted the pigeons on his video he could turn on the water from below.
Ummm... he'd only had it up for a week, so I'm dubious.
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We had those set up to scare the bulbuls and mynahs who attacked mom's orchids. It worked for maybe... maybe a week before mom said she could swear the birds were laughing at her.
Well, Art has been spraying the pigeons for a week and they keep coming back.
In fact, we really think they're so smart they're just landing on a part of the roof that he can't see from the ground. Yes, it's true. Birds can learn and figure out how to outwit you.
So OK... Art is now climbing to a lower part of the roof that is relatively safe. And Dave loaned him a stronger hose sprayer that can reach farther.
I also came up with an excellent idea (if I do say so myself). Uuummm... I am taking credit for spraying the birds too, by the way.
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Our daughter had bought these trays to make tiny ice pieces for her slim neck thermos which couldn't fit big ice cubes.
I figured these little pellets wouldn't hurt the solar panels but would startle the pigeons.
We have studied those pigeons and know they now like to come at dawn or dusk so Art got up on the lower roof and threw a few of those ice pellets in an area he thought they might be.
We had no idea there were THAT MANY pigeons on the roof. Where were they hiding?
Sheesh!
Art will be varying his startle weapons each morning and dusk to keep those birds on their toes... or wings, that is.
We're keeping our fingers crossed.
POSTSCRIPT:
After about a week of the ice pellet/water spray surprise attacks we didn't see as many pigeons in the evening. We'd counted about 28 pigeons who were calling our rooftop their home before.
HOWEVER: This morning we happened to look at our neighbor's roof and saw this.
Arrrgghhh...
And then.... about an hour later, guess where they went?
Arrrgghhhhhhh....
Making more ice pellets now.
What will you try next? You could move. 😀
ReplyDeleteAha.. That's what you did, right?
DeleteWhat a pain! Good luck with all this. We are fighting a new owner's gun range here. I am so stressed out.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness they certainly are survivors. They are trying to wear you down--be strong.
ReplyDeleteIf you got a cat would that scare the pigeons away? Do the neighbors all have the same problem?
ReplyDeleteNo... they wouldn't be afraid of a cat. Our roof is very high (over 2 stories), far away from any cat. Looks like our neighbor (a few houses down from us) is the new overnight perch for now, but they keep testing us by coming over when they think it's safe.
DeleteSince they come in a pretty tight time band, an automatic solution is called for though I'm not the best at designing such systems. Perhaps a compressed air blast every few minutes.
ReplyDeleteThat would be fun, if possible. Our roof is very high and pretty big actually. We'd have to call in someone to install something like that and I can just imagine what that would cost. Sigh...
Deletelol, lin says i have a new understanding of bird intelligence vs human kind....
ReplyDeletePlay music they hate. Actually. I'm sorry you're having this problem. Hope you figure it out. I'm wishing you all the best and hope Mom is doing well
ReplyDeleteUmmm... I can just imagine how our neighbors would love that. LOL Mom is doing fine. Thank you for thinking of her, Cloudia.
DeleteThat is so annoying, and the bird problems are taking up so much of your time and energy. I do like reading about your creative solutions and hope that you find one that works reliably and long term!
ReplyDeleteThey are definitely a nuisance. But your solutions are very ingenious, and something will work. Eventually.
ReplyDeleteI still say get a couple of cats, Kay...
ReplyDeleteOur roof is over 2 stories high. It would be cruel to put a cat up there in the hot Hawaiian sun. I don't know how it would be able to get down either. Uuummmm.... not too easy to catch a feral cat to put up there either.
DeleteImpossible problem
ReplyDeleteMy handyman said that pigeons are really smart and they only will go and roost where the feel safe. A cat is his only solution - they fly over to make sure all is safe and then they land. If they see a cat for a couple of days, they will give up on that location and find somewhere else to go. He suggested getting a long cage and putting it on the roof with a cat in it. After 2 days of scoping out your roof, they will think it is unsafe. Sounds pretty cruel for a cat though.
ReplyDeleteGracious! I don't know how we could possibly install a long cage in which to stick a cat. And it would be awfully cruel to the cat, don't you think?
DeleteI'm frustrated just reading about your pigeon problem. I don't have any better ideas. Poison?
ReplyDeleteIt is against the law to harm pigeons. Yup. It's a law. And yet, if you as the owner in Hawaii has a roof full of pigeons causing a lot of poop and garbage and nests, your neighbor could turn you in the the Department of Health.
DeleteReading of the cats reminds me stuffed cats are decorative accessories in Japan. I wonder if a stuffed cat would smell enough like a real cat to be a deterrent.
ReplyDeleteThe stuffed cats are merely toys, not real cats so I'm afraid they don't have a cat smell. I wonder how acute pigeon hearing is. Hmmm...
DeleteGood luck getting rid of pigeons. You almost have to trap them. But then what would you do with them.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same principle as a squirrel proof feeder- sooner or later the critter has it sorted.
ReplyDeleteGee this is really annoying! Can you get a paintball gun, and use clear water in them? Or maybe the guns only use pre-filled little balls. Wonder if the Health Dept has any ideas? Maybe install a raised net over the entire roof? Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI've been looking online to see what other ideas there are and it said spraying water will only work so long before they figure it out. Playing loud music is not a option. It would disturb the neighbors and how would I get a sound system up there anyway? We had the solar company install the critter guards on the side of the panels and netting on top of it. They don't walk on it much now, although some still do. They're very persistent. I don't think they're building nests up there now BUT because our roof is so high... I've read that it's a good vantage point from which they can locate the neighbors far away who might be feeding them. Arrrghhhh.....
DeleteWow, who woulda thunk you'd have this problem? Good luck in your pigeon wars!
ReplyDeleteWishing you continued good luck in your pigeon wars.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Sorry Kay, this isn't fun for you but I'm quite enjoying this saga of the pigeon war. I hope you win the war and I'm going to try the ice pellets to see if I can stop pigeons, nesting on the roof where I can't see them or get to them, but know they're there because they leave droppings on the patio.
ReplyDeleteSo so frustrating. Thank goodness we haven't had to deal with pigeons, but we have tried to outwit the squirrels who like to climb on our house, deck, etc. So sorry- pigeon poop is no fun!
ReplyDeleteA power washer? The water would be high pressure and you can get an extension wand. My husband suggests an air rifle, but I am sure you did not want to hear that.
ReplyDeleteToo funny! However, I did purchase a slingshot to shoot ice pellets.
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