Bird Management Solutions

Urban Pest Birds

Pest birds are increasingly becoming a problem in urban areas, where large populations of certain species can cause serious problems such as the spread of disease, structural damage to buildings, the contamination of stored products and noise pollution.

Although there are 11 species identified as pest birds in the United Kingdom, only the following three are a serious problem in urban areas.

Feral Pigeon

The most common urban pest bird in the world, the feral pigeon (columba livia) is originally descended from the domesticated rock dove but have reverted to their wild form. They live in close proximity to man, building their nests on both modern and old buildings and inside the lofts of houses and commercial premises.

Feral Pigeons are scavengers, finding an easy source of food in town centers, where they are fed by the general public or by the scraps of food which are often found outside food premises.

Numbers of feral pigeons are increasing due to a lack of natural predators, the constant supply of food and the fact that they can breed all year round.

Gulls

Non Pest Birds

There are a number of birds that are not defined as pests under the Wildlife and Countryside 1981 Act which can still cause the same problems associated with the build up of fouling and nesting materials. It is an offense to "kill or take [any of these birds], to take, damage or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs." However, once these birds have left their nests it is possible to install physical proofing to prevent them from returning.

Starlings & Sparrows

Housemartins