[hollywood]

omnivorette, on Jul 8 2004, 07:08 PM, said:

Arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhh.

Ex cetera, ex cetera, ex cetera.

[Lippy]

I spent about 45 minutes today on my "balcony" cleaning up pigeon crap. Mind you, this was after paying professional pigeon control people four figures to do the same early in May. Okay, they also glued down some spikes. Tomorrow, R. and I will buy some big potted plants. Neighbors who have such gardens on their similar balconies seem not to have the flying rats.

[Ron Johnson]

Lippy, on Jul 9 2004, 02:59 PM, said:

I spent about 45 minutes today on my "balcony" cleaning up pigeon crap. Mind you, this was after paying professional pigeon control people four figures to do the same early in May. Okay, they also glued down some spikes. Tomorrow, R. and I will buy some big potted plants. Neighbors who have such gardens on their similar balconies seem not to have the flying rats.

For pigeons I like a a rather tightly choked 20 gauge. Its more sporting.

[Cathy]

I finally gave up and bought a heavy-duty plastic runner to lay over our deck. It's easier to hose down than the brick.

If the area around our garden weren't so densely populated, I'd buy an illegal BB gun.

[Lippy]

Please bring it with you on your next visit to NYC. I promise choucroute.

[Abbylovi]

Lippy, on Jul 9 2004, 03:59 PM, said:

I spent about 45 minutes today on my "balcony" cleaning up pigeon crap. Mind you, this was after paying professional pigeon control people four figures to do the same early in May. Okay, they also glued down some spikes. Tomorrow, R. and I will buy some big potted plants. Neighbors who have such gardens on their similar balconies seem not to have the flying rats.

I wonder if those fake owls work?

[Lippy]

I'm on the 9th floor and can't really hose down anything any more than I could use the BB gun or shotgun. The balcony is unusable. I'm hoping that the pigies don't like the plants. I've been tempted to put out some poisoned food, but I'm afraid they'll die right on the balcony. I've rarely felt so much hatred for any living creatures.

[Lippy]

The fake owl worked for about 10 minutes. Now it, too, is covered with pigeon crap.

[Cathy]

We tried the fake owl - Sybil actually sprang for one with a revolving head. :ph43r: The pigeons knocked it off her deck.

[Ron Johnson]

Here we are having a problem with Nightshade Herons, which leave half eaten fish all over people's patios and yards, along with copious amount of crap.

[Wilfrid1]

Oh yes, the fake owls. Of course, of course.

[hollywood]

What about the technique of using the piano (?) wire strung about 2 inches above the railings? Does that (perhaps with a fake owl or two) work? If not, you could take up falconry.

[Lippy]

Ron Johnson, on Jul 9 2004, 04:27 PM, said:

Here we are having a problem with Nightshade Herons, which leave half eaten fish all over people's patios and yards, along with copious amount of crap.

Ron, I think you are conflating night heron and deadly nightshade.

[Ron Johnson]

Lippy, on Jul 9 2004, 03:36 PM, said:

Ron Johnson, on Jul 9 2004, 04:27 PM, said:

Here we are having a problem with Nightshade Herons, which leave half eaten fish all over people's patios and yards, along with copious amount of crap.

Ron, I think you are conflating night heron and deadly nightshade.

Yes, you are correct. Its just Night Heron. still quite messy for this one neighborhood.

Here is the story.

I always see lots of Great Blue Herons down at our lake house. Lovely creatures.

[Lippy]

hollywood, on Jul 9 2004, 04:34 PM, said:

What about the technique of using the piano (?) wire strung about 2 inches above the railings? Does that (perhaps with a fake owl or two) work? If not, you could take up falconry.

Our balcony doesn't have railings, which is part of the problem. Instead, there is a solid brick wall that gives them the privacy and security they like for nesting. On top of the wall I now have two rows of heavy-duty pigeon spikes. Since they were installed, the pigeons no longer pace on the ledge, but fly directly down to the floor, clever and agile creatures that they are. Unfortunately, it is against the NYC fire code for the spikes to be placed on the floor of the balcony, so the pigeon control guys wouldn't do it even though I begged them to. I guess I could put them down myself, but the plants are more attractive, if they work. The configuration of balconies on the building does not make netting a workable solution.