Feral Pigeon

The Feral Pigeon (Colenda Livia Var) is the most common nuisance urban bird. The Pigeon is a direct descendent of the Rock Dove. The ancient Egyptians domesticated the Pigeon, which has led to different domestic Pigeon strands spreading throughout the world. Pigeons are well adapted to survive in modern city environments where tall buildings, ledges and overhangs provide habitats very similar to the cliff homes of their ancestors. A typical Pigeon diet consists of seeds and grains. However, Pigeons easily learn to exploit large ranges of processed foods depending upon their environment. Pigeons are considered to be social birds, which will actively seek the company of other Pigeons in order to mate.

Pigeons develop a set pattern of daily activities based upon a defined set of feeding, resting and roosting sites. If Pigeons have an adequate food supply, Pigeons can breed throughout the year. Nesting sites typically consist of dark enclosures, which shield them from the environment.

Pigeons are a monogamus bird, meaning they have one mate for the remainder of their life. The male Pigeon cares for and guards the female, as well as the nest. Generally, between eight to twelve days after Pigeons mate, the female will usually lay one to two eggs. Shortly thereafter, generally eighteen days, the eggs hatch. The baby Pigeons, called Squabs, are fed a substance called Pigeon Milk. The Squabs usually leave the nest between four to six weeks of age. Typically, additional eggs are usually laid before the first broods are weaned and breeding occurs during all seasons but peak reproduction times generally fall between spring and fall. Pigeons can usually live to be from fifteen to thirty years of age. However, in urban populations, Pigeons generally live shorter lives more typically between three to four years. Pigeons are also opportunistic and will take advantage of food, water and shelter that are easily available to them and generally found in urban developments. All efforts should be made to remove these distractions.

The Pigeon is a living organism, which is able to adapt over time and space to circumvent most exclusion and repellent measures, the application of any single exclusion technique without reference to other factors such as the environment, the public, food sources and architectural factors will be doomed to fail. As with other biological organisms, exclusion requires the application of a continuing strategy of measures to exclude the target species, which targets their primary surrounding activities.

The elimination of all roosting and nesting areas of a structure is important for Urban Pest Bird Management. Feeding and watering of pigeons must be discouraged.

Feral Pigeons are not protected by Federal Law; most states do not offer them sanctuary. Local officials must be contacted before control measures are taken because some localities are designated as bird sanctuaries. Before NFZ performs any bird work, State and Local Laws are also researched and reviewed to ensure full compliance.

The House or English Sparrow (“Sparrow”)

The Sparrow “is a brown, chunky bird, about 5.75 inches long.” Sparrows are commonly found around human-made habitats. “The male has a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, a chestnut mantle around the gray crown and chestnut-colored feathers on the upper wings. The female and young have a plain, dingy-gray breast, a distinct buff eye stripe, and a streaked back.”

The Sparrow can be found in almost every habitat, except for dense forest, desert and alpine environments. Sparrows’ most common areas to live are human-altered habitats, for example: barns and houses. Livestock pastures and seeds provide plenty of food for Sparrows.

Reproduction can occur during any month, but is most common during the months of March through August. “The male usually selects a nest site and controls a territory centered around it. Nests are bulky, roofed affairs, built haphazardly and without good workmanship.” This is a common trait of the weaver finch group of birds. “Sparrows are loosely monogamous.” Both male and female take care of the young, even though the female does most of the brooding. Sparrows lay between 3 to 7 eggs. The eggs will hatch 10 to 14 days after incubation. The young leave the nest after 15 days, however the adults will continue to feed the young for two weeks after leaving the nest. House Sparrows are aggressive and social. Sparrows are not a migratory bird. Studies have shown that non-breeding adults and juveniles will only move in a 5-mile radius of its original nest; in search of new territories and feeding areas. “Mortality is the highest during the first year of life. The Sparrow’s success in the wild depends on its ability to adapt to new habitats, especially those that are made by humans.”

House Sparrows feed on grains in fields and in storage. Because they feed in large numbers in small areas, their damage is considerable. “Because Sparrows live in such close association with humans, they are a factor in the dissemination of diseases (chlamydiosis, cocidiosis, erysipeloid, Newcastle’s, parathypoid, pullorum, salmonellosis, transmissile gastroeneteritis, tuberculosis, various encphalitis viruses, vibriosis, and yersinosis), internal parasites (acariasis, taeniasis, schistosomiasis, toxoplosmosis, and trichomoniasis), and household pests (bed bugs, carpet beetles, clothes moths, fleas, lice, mites, and ticks.” Fecal contamination of grain storage facilities causes serious monetary damage as well as health risks and pest problems. “Sparrow droppings and feathers create janitorial problems as well as hazardous, unsanitary, and odoriferous situations inside and outside of buildings and sidewalks under roosting areas. Sparrows can cause structural damage by pecking at rigid foam insulation inside of buildings. “The bulky, flammable nests of Sparrows are a potential fire hazard.” Sparrows compete with Native American birds for favored nesting sites.

All openings 3/4″ or smaller must be closed off. Eliminate any possible areas that could be used to secure a nest or provide a haven for roosting.

The Sparrows are not protected by Federal Law because they are an introduced species to America. Some states in the United States do offer them protection, and require a permit for the removal or eradication of Sparrows. Consult with your local government before applying a method of treatment. Before NFZ performs any bird work, State and Local Laws are also researched and reviewed to ensure full compliance.

European Starling

European Starlings weigh approximately 3.2 ounces; an average Starling is about the size of a Robin. The adult Starling has dark feathers with speckles. Starling bills (both male and female) are yellow during reproductive season (January to June), the rest of the year Starling bills are dark. Juvenile Starlings have pale brown to gray bills. “Starlings are chunky and hump-backed in appearance, with a shape similar to that of a Meadowlark. The tail is short, and the wings have a triangular shape when outstretched in flight.” Starling flight paths tend to be direct and swift.

The European Starling can be found in various types of habitats “including cities, towns, farms, ranches, open woodlands, fields, and lawns.” Perfect nesting habitats would include areas with trees or other structures that have openings that are “suitable for nesting and short grass areas or grazed pastures for foraging. During the winter, starlings live in areas where nesting, roosting, and foraging for food and water is possible.”

European Starlings were brought into the United States from Europe. They were released in New York City in 1890 and 1891 by an individual who wanted to introduce to the United States all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s works. Since that time, they have increased in numbers and spread across the country. The starling population is estimated at 140 million.” Starlings will nest in any cavity of a structure, trees, birdhouses, or cliff faces.” The female lays about 4 to 7 eggs, which hatch 11 to 13 days after incubation. Young starlings will leave the nest at about 21 days old. “Both parents help build the nest, incubate the eggs, and feed the young.” Starlings are not necessarily migratory, but some will migrate up to several hundred miles, while others will remain in the same general area. “Hatching-year Starlings are more likely to migrate than adults, and they tend to migrate farther.” With the exception of breeding season, Starlings generally feed and roost together in flocks. Research has shown that Starlings can and will feed miles away from their nests. “Starling and Blackbird flocks often roost together in urban landscape trees or in small dense woodlots or overcrowded tree groves. These birds will choose trees that have plenty of perches so that the whole flock can roost together. During the winter seasons, Starlings will move into dense vegetation or structures such as barns, urban structures, and homes. Starlings always look for protection from the climate.”

Starlings are considered pests due to all the problems they cause, especially around livestock facilities and near urban roosts. Starlings are responsible for “transferring disease from one livestock facility to another. Tests have shown that the Transmissible Gastroenteritis virus (“TGE”) can pass through the digestive tract of a Starling and be infectious in the Starling feces. TGE can be transmitted on boots, vehicles, stray animals, or already infected livestock. Starlings cause other types of damage such as consuming cultivated fruits and seeds from a recently planted field. “Large roosts that occur in buildings, industrial structures, or, along with Blackbird species in trees near homes are a problem in both rural and urban sites because of health concerns, filth, noise, and odor. In addition, slippery accumulations of droppings pose safety hazards at industrial structures, and the acidity of droppings is corrosive.” Starlings that roost near airports create a safety problem, with the possibility of the bird getting sucked into the aircraft engines. One of the more serious health concerns that Starlings have is the “fungal respiratory disease histoplasmosis. The fungus Histoplasma capsulatum can grow in soils under bird roosts, and spores become airborne in dry weather, especially when the site is disturbed. Histoplasmosis, in its most extreme state can cause blindness and/or death. Another problem starlings have created is that they are in competition with “native cavity-nesting birds such as Bluebirds, Flickers, Woodpeckers and Purple Martins.

Openings larger than 1 inch must be closed off on buildings and other structures. Netting and hardware-cloth are two ways of closing off cavities in buildings. Eliminate food and water sources.

European Starlings are not protected by Federal Law and in most cases State Law does not offer them protection. Local Fish and Wildlife should be consulted before any methods of treatment are applied. Before NFZ performs any bird work, State and Local Laws are also researched and reviewed to ensure full compliance.

Seagulls

Seagulls are generally larger birds that are primarily white in color with varying patterns of gray and black over the back, wings, and head. Young Seagulls are typically gray and take a few years to receive their white feathers. Both male and female Seagulls are similar in appearance. They have webbed feet, long wings and a slightly hooked beak. Seagulls have exceptional flying ability in the way that they can maneuver. Sometimes Seagulls will swim and even dive underwater.

Generally, Seagulls are most commonly found wherever an abundant food and water source exists. Seagulls nest in colonies on sandy/gravel types of soil, which said conditions normally exist around beach community areas. As such, because these conditions exist around beach communities, Seagulls are a nuisance to people in these areas.

Seagulls can cause damage to agricultural crops, food supplies and water sources and threaten human safety at and near airports. Moreover, their nesting and roosting sites also allow for the transmission of common bird diseases and ectoparasites.

Seagulls are “classified as a migratory species and are protected by Federal Law, in most cases State and Local Laws also protect Seagulls. Consult with the local officials prior to the eradication of the Seagulls.” Before NFZ performs any bird work, State and Local Laws are also researched and reviewed to ensure full compliance.