Pigeons –and other birds cause significant damage to buildings. Bird droppings are an ideal breeding ground for mould fungus, which secrete acids through their mycelium and dissolve calcareous stone. If water freezes in these fine voids, damage results due to freeze-thaw weathering. The ammoniac in pigeon dropping ruins sandstone, stucco, eloxadized metal areas and even asphalt. Pigeons also transmit illnesses (food poisoning, dysentery, pneumonia and encephalitis etc.). This happens through airborne infection, direct contact or dispersed droppings or feather remains. They also spread tics, bird mites and bird fleas. Cryptococcus neoformans – a particularly dangerous fungus for humans with a weakened immune system grows and develops particularly well in bird droppings. More to the damage caused by birds and the background to the problem of pigeons in city is to be found under:

City pigeons – problems, biology, solutions (PDF)

The attractiveness of a house for birds is determined by two factors:

- is the building suitable for seeking feed? This concerns not only the building itself, but in particular the feed sources which are accessible to the birds from the building. Accordingly, only attics, window sills or other ledges are populated in the short- or medium term. The specialist speaks of low to medium population.

- Is the building suitable for breeding? Is the habitat used for breeding, is a larger population there. These are usually windless locations on the building. The birds are then difficult to drive away. The knowledge of populations is decisive for the selection of the correct bird control system. You can find more on bird population and recommended control systems HERE.

Naturally the best decision is to take bird control measures into consideration in the planning phase. It saves the cost of a system installed later. A possibility is to dispense with niches in a building, as they will probably be used for breeding. These areas are very attractive to birds because they are wind protected. Another possibility is to have the window sills at more than 45 degrees angle so that the birds cannot sit on them.

We provide consultations for new projects to identify critical points on a building from the outset and plan suitable measures.

Pigeon droppings are a health risk due to their bacteria, viruses and parasites. If absorbed e.g. through the skin, mucous membranes or by breathing the dusts the result to humans can be infections or parasite infestation. The disposal of pigeon droppings and the disinfection should therefore only be carried out by a specialist. By monitoring an adhesive trap it can be established if, after a successful cleaning, there is also a pigeon tick infestation.

Further information on the topic of pigeon droppings can be found here.

The feeding of pigeons is not forbidden everywhere. It is a decision of the local authorities. Some cities that have passed pigeon feeding bye-laws. Cologne passed a prohibition on 16.12.2004, together with the Cologne Pigeon Concept.

Our pigeon control systems comply with the requirements of the animal protection laws. These say: "Nobody is allowed to unjustly cause pain, suffering or injury or frighten and animal."

As a consequence we do not use the following systems (Negative List of Prof. Haag-Wackernagel):      

• control systems which injure pigeons with sharp objects e.g. Nixalite or Catclaw
• Repellent pastes (contact repellents), e.g. Bird Repellent Gel or Hot Foot Repellent Gel
• Caustic or irritating chemical substances, e.g. Avitrol (4-aminopyridine)
• Chemical vapour with repellents such as e.g. ReJeX-iT Aerosol, that causes pain in the eyes and mucous membranes.

No, the spikes used by us are not dangerous to birds.

When the netting is professionally installed it is hung in a way that birds cannot get trapped in it. We ensure that there are no side openings through which birds can enter, but not find their way out.

Electrical systems used for pigeon control work on the meadow electric fence principle. The birds receive an electric shock, which scares but does not injure them. Also, we work with a voltage that is not dangerous to birds. Systems with more than 7,000 volts (at 0,1A and 10k Ohm) are not allowed.

Swallows are under special protection. Therefore, they are not allowed to be directly controlled. Preventative measures must be implemented to prevent a population on a facade. As an alternative, we provide swallow towers, which attract the swallows away from the facade affected. This method has proved itself in practice and is also bird-friendly.

Woodpeckers establish themselves on some facades and bore unsightly holes deep into the new facades. We recommend kestrel decoys. These are hung and move with the wind. They are very effective. Another proven method is woodpecker decoys, the living woodpeckers assume the facade is “occupied” and move on.

Usually hydraulic platforms are the easiest way of gaining access. However, it is often difficult to reach parts of the house with a platform or it is unreasonably expensive. We provide our industrial climber service for such cases.