Pigeons nesting under my panels

Mickey666

Catsacor said:

BUMP ......
Neighbours solar panels have become a pigeon coop 😣😣😣
These bl**dy things are creating a helluva mess everywhere - do the council have a department that deal with them ?
I liked one of the very first replies to this thread, suggesting a bullet - i think that's now illegal though 🙄

Air rifle . . . perfectly legal and no licence required if the muzzle power is below 12ft/lbs (perfectly adequate for pest control of vermin species, of which the feral pigeon is one).  Various regulations concerning carrying in a public place, minimum ages and supervision, but pretty much nothing restrictive for adult use on own land and no real danger if shooting upwards towards a roof.

Having said that, it will likely only be effective in the short term as if the location is attractive to one feral pigeon it'll be likely attractive to other ones as well, so unless you'd like a regular source of pigeon pie some form of measure or 'spikes' to discourage these squatters in the first place would probably be a preferable solution.

Exterminator

Mickey666 said:

Catsacor said:

BUMP ......
Neighbours solar panels have become a pigeon coop 😣😣😣
These bl**dy things are creating a helluva mess everywhere - do the council have a department that deal with them ?
I liked one of the very first replies to this thread, suggesting a bullet - i think that's now illegal though 🙄

Air rifle . . . perfectly legal and no licence required if the muzzle power is below 12ft/lbs (perfectly adequate for pest control of vermin species, of which the feral pigeon is one).  Various regulations concerning carrying in a public place, minimum ages and supervision, but pretty much nothing restrictive for adult use on own land and no real danger if shooting upwards towards a roof.

Having said that, it will likely only be effective in the short term as if the location is attractive to one feral pigeon it'll be likely attractive to other ones as well, so unless you'd like a regular source of pigeon pie some form of measure or 'spikes' to discourage these squatters in the first place would probably be a preferable solution.

That's the kind of advice that can get people into a lot of trouble!
First the Feral Pigeon is NOT classed as vermin, ALL birds are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1974. There are ways to legally cull pigeons and for details you can type 'DEFRA GL35' into Google, but if the authorities come knocking you need to know your stuff and have your answers ready. If you can't show that you've satisfied the requirements of the licence you can be prosecuted.
Now onto the air rifle, it's true that below 12 ft/lbs doesn't require a licence and you can shoot on your own land. However, if you're aiming over your roof where will a missed shot or a shot which travels through the target land? If a pellet travels across your boundary and enters your neighbours property you have broken the law unless you have permission to shoot on their land and I would always advise getting it in writing.

I earn my living doing this stuff and if you don't know your stuff and cover your back you can end up in an awful lot of trouble, it will only take one bird/nature loving spectator to make a phone call and you will be giving statements before you know it.

Cardew

I think this describes the 'muddled' position this year.

https://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/generallicences/

Mickey666

Cardew said:

I think this describes the 'muddled' position this year.

https://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/generallicences/

Indeed. Chris Packham has a lot to answer for.

Exterminator said:

Mickey666 said:

Catsacor said:

BUMP ......
Neighbours solar panels have become a pigeon coop 😣😣😣
These bl**dy things are creating a helluva mess everywhere - do the council have a department that deal with them ?
I liked one of the very first replies to this thread, suggesting a bullet - i think that's now illegal though 🙄

Air rifle . . . perfectly legal and no licence required if the muzzle power is below 12ft/lbs (perfectly adequate for pest control of vermin species, of which the feral pigeon is one).  Various regulations concerning carrying in a public place, minimum ages and supervision, but pretty much nothing restrictive for adult use on own land and no real danger if shooting upwards towards a roof.

Having said that, it will likely only be effective in the short term as if the location is attractive to one feral pigeon it'll be likely attractive to other ones as well, so unless you'd like a regular source of pigeon pie some form of measure or 'spikes' to discourage these squatters in the first place would probably be a preferable solution.

That's the kind of advice that can get people into a lot of trouble!
First the Feral Pigeon is NOT classed as vermin, ALL birds are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1974. There are ways to legally cull pigeons and for details you can type 'DEFRA GL35' into Google, but if the authorities come knocking you need to know your stuff and have your answers ready. If you can't show that you've satisfied the requirements of the licence you can be prosecuted.
Now onto the air rifle, it's true that below 12 ft/lbs doesn't require a licence and you can shoot on your own land. However, if you're aiming over your roof where will a missed shot or a shot which travels through the target land? If a pellet travels across your boundary and enters your neighbours property you have broken the law unless you have permission to shoot on their land and I would always advise getting it in writing.

I earn my living doing this stuff and if you don't know your stuff and cover your back you can end up in an awful lot of trouble, it will only take one bird/nature loving spectator to make a phone call and you will be giving statements before you know it.

Fair points.  Suburbia and guns are probably not a good mix, hence my point about mesh or spikes being a preferable solution.  These sorts of things are so much easier and less contentious in the countryside

[Deleted User]

Exterminator said:

Not sure where you are Catsacor but I'd be amazed if your council showed any interest!
If you're really lucky a call to Environmental Health might get someone to have a word on your behalf but other than that you're probably going to have to complain to the neighbour yourself I'm afraid.

South West, and no, they explained that it's not their remit and it's up to us to sort it out between us.

[Deleted User]

mickyduck55 said:

[Deleted User] said:

BUMP ......
Neighbours solar panels have become a pigeon coop 😣😣😣
These bl**dy things are creating a helluva mess everywhere - do the council have a department that deal with them ?
I liked one of the very first replies to this thread, suggesting a bullet - i think that's now illegal though 🙄

Even if it was legal "bullet + Solar panels" not a good idea.... unless you are a very good shot

I am 😋

[Deleted User]

Cardew said:

It can't be that difficult to get a hose and a high pressure lance to wash away nest? Even pigeons, who Ken Livingstone described as rats without brains, will eventually get the message. 

Plural - there are at least 4 of them, the bl**dy birds have turned it into an estate up there 😣 
I can see that the hose and jet will need to be a regular occurrence, just to keep them at bay ....... 🙄😣

[Deleted User]

Mickey666 said:

Cardew said:

I think this describes the 'muddled' position this year.

https://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/generallicences/

Indeed. Chris Packham has a lot to answer for.

Exterminator said:

Mickey666 said:

Catsacor said:

BUMP ......
Neighbours solar panels have become a pigeon coop 😣😣😣
These bl**dy things are creating a helluva mess everywhere - do the council have a department that deal with them ?
I liked one of the very first replies to this thread, suggesting a bullet - i think that's now illegal though 🙄

Air rifle . . . perfectly legal and no licence required if the muzzle power is below 12ft/lbs (perfectly adequate for pest control of vermin species, of which the feral pigeon is one).  Various regulations concerning carrying in a public place, minimum ages and supervision, but pretty much nothing restrictive for adult use on own land and no real danger if shooting upwards towards a roof.

Having said that, it will likely only be effective in the short term as if the location is attractive to one feral pigeon it'll be likely attractive to other ones as well, so unless you'd like a regular source of pigeon pie some form of measure or 'spikes' to discourage these squatters in the first place would probably be a preferable solution.

That's the kind of advice that can get people into a lot of trouble!
First the Feral Pigeon is NOT classed as vermin, ALL birds are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1974. There are ways to legally cull pigeons and for details you can type 'DEFRA GL35' into Google, but if the authorities come knocking you need to know your stuff and have your answers ready. If you can't show that you've satisfied the requirements of the licence you can be prosecuted.
Now onto the air rifle, it's true that below 12 ft/lbs doesn't require a licence and you can shoot on your own land. However, if you're aiming over your roof where will a missed shot or a shot which travels through the target land? If a pellet travels across your boundary and enters your neighbours property you have broken the law unless you have permission to shoot on their land and I would always advise getting it in writing.

I earn my living doing this stuff and if you don't know your stuff and cover your back you can end up in an awful lot of trouble, it will only take one bird/nature loving spectator to make a phone call and you will be giving statements before you know it.

Fair points.  Suburbia and guns are probably not a good mix, hence my point about mesh or spikes being a preferable solution.  These sorts of things are so much easier and less contentious in the countryside

Hasn't he just 😣🙄 
And yes, the potential for the 'spectators' you mention, to butt-in to my actions i'm all too aware of.

theboylard

Ive been chasing quotes for meshing during lockdown, as we had over 14 pigeons on one count bobbing out from under our panels!

The mess they make has virtually turnded our patio into a an exclusion zone, with a number of broken eggs appearing on a weekly basis.

I've "persuaded" a few recently to never return, but as others have rightly pointed out, if its attractive for one, it's will always be attractive!

The problem is the quotes - the most expensive is for over £1600!, with others around the £780 and up mark. I've settled on a company that will travel and they have quoted a nats under £600.

Just waiting on a day, they are a proper pest control outfit so will use insecticide once they have cleared all the debris.

I will provide pics of when the deed is done!

todaytom578

Are you allowed to eat pigeons