Jackson Heights Life

Changing topics to garbage not derived from people - what about the garbage that comes from above, courtesy of our feathered friends?  :laugh:   When I walk down 74th in the early morning to the subway, I have to dodge the dreaded pigeon zones- the particular trees that they use as their lofty restrooms.   I hate pigeons and I especially hate that they remain loyal to their locations, day after day, because people keep feeding them.   There is so much foot traffic down this block that I'm sure a number of people get "hit" each day.  Is there something that can be done about this?  I saw an old lady tossing out feed to these birds once down the entire block and I almost said something to her but decided not to at the last minute.   I regret it now each time I have to creak my neck up to watch out for birds among the trees.

Judibean, it's interesting that you bring this up.  I've seen many people littering the streets with bread crumbs, rice, seeds, etc. intended for the pigeons.  Needless to say, people who do this don't like being told that their actions may also be attracting all sorts of vermin because as much as the pigeons do eat the crumbs, there is always the remaining residue.  Top that off with the pigeons hovering around and creating a further mess with their droppings, and it can get quite ugly.

I recently read an entry from the New York Times City Room Blog addressing a situation where a DOE Fund employee came across a poster offering a reward to anyone that spots a pigeon poacher.  Apparently, the employee did come across a man that was tossing bird seed in the street and as the pigeons gathered to eat, he would capture them by tossing a net.  The story goes on to say that there's money to be made by poaching pigeons because they're taken over state lines and used for sport and food.  As much as I am affected by pigeons and the mess they create, it also bothers me to know that they may be used as someone's target practice.  Who has the right answer on how to solve this problem?

A Tip-Off, a Reward, an Arrest for Pigeon Poaching

Speaking of pigeons, where can one buy an owl?  Those fake ones that are supposed to keep the birds away?  I need one for my fire escape and A/C; the pigeons are just TOO comfy!

Speaking of pigeons, where can one buy an owl?  Those fake ones that are supposed to keep the birds away?  I need one for my fire escape and A/C; the pigeons are just TOO comfy!

I'm not sure where to buy them but I saw a real estate posting with pictures of an apartment in Roosevelt Terrace and there were two owls on the railing of the terrace so i think they might actually work.

hoodsy, tell the truth: you're that wack pigeon lady aren't you? 

Listen Dr. Doolittle, pigeons may be pretty to look at and may very well have had their moment in history but now they are flying rats  and one did shit on my head this Saturday and no I don't believe that that is good luck... it's just pigeon shit.  Nothing lucky about that.

Something tells me you get along better with animals than people.  Poor thing.

Buddy..I laughed so hard reading your post to hoodsy.

Even though currently I don't have anything on the railing on my terrace because of construction, I do put up the bird spikes that prevent the pigeons from perching on the railing.   The site below offers many solutions for pests.  Buddy..sorry I don't think there is one for pesty sidewalk bird feeders.  You might have to go to www.waterballoons.com for that.

http://www.bird-x.com/

Now isn't that funny.  I have no problem eating chicken but pigeon pie..... nope.  But I don't like "gamey" food.  Never liked rabbit or venison either. 

Friends in Conn. have bird feeders and the most beautiful Cardinals and Blue jays feed off them.  Pigeons seems to be a city bird.  Wonder why?

Even though I don't want the pigeons on my terrace, I would not hurt them ( maybe ).   Years ago without my knowledge, one nested behind a large plant that I had.  When I discovered it, there were two eggs in the nest.  I couldn't bring myself to get rid of the eggs.  I let the mother sit on the eggs.  When the baby pigeons were born, the mother would bring them food.  I placed two aluminum foil pans by the nest.  One with water and one with bird seed.   The baby pigeons grew and would move around the terrace behind the plant.  If they moved too far away from the plant I would place them back in the nest.  I let them stay but with my rules!  LOL!!  Eventually they flew away and I felt sad that they had left.  I've had the Bird Spikes for three years now and never did I see a pigeon on the terrace again since usually a pigeon will fly onto the railing first before it flies into the terrace.  This year around March during storms I noticed one white pigeon resting atop one of my hanging basket at the back of the terrace.  I felt bad because of the weather and left it alone.  One day I noticed the white pigeon across the street perched on top of the Astoria bank with other pigeons.  The other pigeons seemed to be ignoring him and flying away from him.  I guess pigeons can be racists also !  LOL!.  The white pigeon continued to come to my terrace and I left him alone.  I knew it was a male because I would see him going to another pigeon and fluffing up his feathers to impress the female, but the females would fly away from him.  Then one day I realized that he hadn't come to the terrace and saw him one day with another pigeon gathering twigs for a nest.  I guess there is always a pigeon that will fall for the outcast.  I still see him around and I'm hoping he won't be one of the victims to the Seagulls.  The Seagulls when hungry will attack the pigeons and kill them for food.  I have witnessed this numerous times on the Astoria Bank's rooftop.  It's not a pretty site.