People often wonder whereabouts pigeons nest on properties. This is indeed a useful information to have if you are trying to get rid of these pest birds. By knowing where they are likely to want to live, you’ll be better equipped to find them and deal with the problem, especially if you run a large commercial premises. You’ll also know where to place deterrents such as bird spikes.
A few places pigeons might nest on your property
When living in and around a building, pigeons are looking for two things. They want a sheltered spot where it’s possible to build their nest, and also somewhere they can land and take off from. Here are some examples of the type of places where pigeons nest from our London pest control experts.
1. Gutters
This is a favourite nesting place for pigeons. Gutters provide them with shelter and a convenient place to land. The problem is, that it can also cause massive damage to your property. When it rains, gutters cannot function because they are blocked with pigeon detritus. This may cause flooding, which will cause water damage to your property.
2. Chimneys
Another place where pigeons nest is your chimney. Once again, chimneys also provide shelter for pigeons. This can actually be quite dangerous, however. In some cases, your chimney may eventually become blocked by these nests. This is why it’s a good idea to cover your chimney with a steel grate. This way pigeons cannot get in.
3. Solar panels
Pigeons nesting around and under solar panels can be a serious and expensive problem. These pests enjoy building their nests near solar panels mostly because of the warmth. One issue is that this blocks the sun’s rays, and this makes the panels less effective. Pigeon faeces will also damage the panels and this will lead to costly repairs.
4. Vents and air conditioning units
Pigeons may also build their nests in front of vents and on top of air conditioning units. The issue here is their feathers. Pigeons shed an enormous amount of feathers during their lifetime. These are easily sucked into vents, which then become blocked. You will need to scare pigeons away fast before they can damage your vents. This issue may even lead to fires.
5. Overhangs
One of the most common places where pigeons nest involves parts of your roof which overhang others. Pigeons are often found beneath these areas. The reason why pigeons choose these spots is simply because they provide shelter from the elements, such as wind and rain or the hot glare of direct sunshine.
6. Ledges
Birds will also nest on any ledge they can find. Most of the time, this means the ledges along the edge of the roof, but pigeons will also live on window ledges. The issue in this case is that these places overhang the ground or other parts of the building. This means that corrosive pigeon faeces are often dropped onto the building walls or to the ground below where they become messy and a slip hazard.
7. Balconies
This can be extremely irritating. You’ll often find pigeons on your balcony if the property stands vacant. The pigeons will take advantage of the fact that no one is around and build their nests there undisturbed. Eventually you’ll have to do some London pigeon control or chase them off, and also clean up their faeces and nests.