<div dir="ltr">Good day Heidi<div><br></div><div> There are numerous ways to solve this - some more effective than others, it depends on how much are they really an issue, and/or how much you can invest into this well-known problem.</div><div><br></div><div> - Window spikes come in many varieties. Old/historic buildings used to have large window spikes, more for an anti-burglary purpose, and these are actually attractive to large birds since they provide a "cosy" nesting area. </div><div>For pigeons, and if you do have wide window sills, you need specific spikes and not just one row but perhaps double rows - or instead of spikes you can have wire-springs. </div><div>If these are not correctly installed AND maintained (periodical cleaning of debris) then birds will find them attractive and start nesting on them.</div><div><br></div><div> - Sound> there are numerous pest deterrents that use sonic devices to keep pests, such as birds away - as per above you need the right device for whatever animal you are targeting. </div><div><br></div><div> these are the "humane" prevention measures you can take, however, others exist</div><div><br></div><div> - Pigeons have predators, especially other birds such as the Peregrine Falcon, which, since you also have a mice+rat problem, could definitely come in handy. They are used extensively in several cities and monuments in Europe - they naturally capture what we see as vermins and they are amazing birds to look at. </div><div><br></div><div> - Finally, you have Pests/Vermin control, companies and individuals (depends on where you are) that will periodically visit your institution and a)remove nests and eggs b)actively hunt existing pigeons removing the problem immediately. </div><div><br></div><div> </div><div>Depending on your case you may apply one or more measures; preventative, active or a mix. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> Hope this helps</div><div> Cheers</div><div> P</div><div> </div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);border-collapse:separate"><span style="border-collapse:separate"><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><span style="border-collapse:separate"><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><span style="border-collapse:separate"><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><span style="border-collapse:separate"><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><span style="border-collapse:separate"><div style="word-wrap:break-word"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium"><div>Pedro A Viegas</div><div><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:20px">Natural History Curator & Conservator</span><br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="mailto:paleomail@gmail.com" target="_blank">paleomail@gmail.com</a></div><div><a value="+447587051425" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">+61 0 435 637 474</a></div><div><div><br></div><div><div><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_PedroAViegas&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=Lg59gx7a5Yk1den1WSmbwP-7xizO7pCuaP186Z1-27Y&s=78Qc0UAbKUp4Ff1x7EOVZh3wsywGXlNaDqFB91oVojk&e=" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">Follow me on Twitter</a> - @PedroAViegas</div></div></div></div></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 11:01 AM, Heidi Fourie <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:hfourie@ditsong.org.za" target="_blank">hfourie@ditsong.org.za</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div lang="EN-ZA" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="m_4742456990094956646WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Dear everyone,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Ditsong: National Museum of Natural History is an old building with wide window ledges. Recently we have noticed that the pigeons will nest, roost and sit on the ledges making a huge mess. Some of the ledges have spikes, but this is an even bigger attraction for the pigeons. The mess has become a problem as the pigeons now flock to this specific building. Our resident cats we think have enough mice and rats to contend with and the pigeons mostly stay up on the fourth floor roof or window ledges.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Is there a solution for this problem, please any advice will do.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Regards,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Heidi<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dr H. Fourie (Curator)<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Karoo Section<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Vertebrate Department<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Ditsong: NMNH<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>P.O. Box 413, Pta, 0001<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div></div><br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
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