Bird control

Bird control or bird abatement involves the methods to eliminate or deter birds from landing, roosting and nesting.

Methods of bird control include physical deterrents, visual deterrents, multi-sensory deterrents, sonic devices, trained birds of prey (falconry), chemicals, contraceptives and active barriers, among others. Bird control is frequently used for birds like feral pigeons, common starlings, house sparrows, crows and gulls, depending on the area.

Birds usually adapt quickly to most bird control devices, as birds are nowadays even using anti-bird spikes as nesting material. A magpie nest found in Antwerp, Belgium, consisted of 1500 metal spikes, around 50 meters of anti-bird spike strips, which the birds themselves forcefully removed from the surrounding roofs. But nests like these are also reported from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Birds in the United States and Australia have been observed removing anti-bird spikes themselves as well.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recommends to reduce feeding gradually over several weeks, after which the flock will gradually disperse. To discourage pigeons from gathering, food attractants need to be cleaned up regularly, as often feeding occurs unintentionally.

On public health they claim: "there is little evidence linking pigeons directly to human infections". Pigeon-related diseases are rare, and people most at risk are those with a compromised immune system.