Evening star., 1946-08-08
This and That
By Charles E. TrnceDeH.
sr CTvD EII~Ts ~ .

e - NEIL NE.
Dear Sir:
Can you tell me if there is any way
to get rid Of pigeons that are making
ment where I live?
"Twigs, feathers and refuse fall in
the window sills of my apartment which
Is on the first floor.
Il am continually cleaning up after
them and they are bother.
The agent of this apartment says
they are very hard to get rid Of
Il suggested a scarecrow, which
brought forth a chuckle.
ANY information will be appreciated.
Yours very truly, B. r."
There are four ways of getting rid of
unwanted common pigeons.
The first two are on the cruel side.
and heaven knows there has been too
much cruelty in the world during the
past few years.
The cruel pair is composed of shooting
and poisoning.
Trapping and removal make up
third way.
The fourth is the most humane. al
though it can be worked only when
food has been out for smaller birds,
thus attracting the pigeons.
Pigeons are large and hungry. and
usually come to bird feeding. stations,
or anywhere that some one puts out
bread, seeds or grains.
In this case. it is easy to stop feeding
the small birds, and in time-let lis
emphasize that-the pigeons will go
elsewhere.
It may take as long as four weeks,
however, to induce them to give up
Just when or how they eat Is un-
known. They are vigilant at all hours.
We think they keep scouts out, while
the rest Of the band goes away to find
food.
Or they drop down in yards, near the
chosen site, and eat grass seed and
perhaps small insects.
Pigeons are able to go long periods
without much food. Yet they never
seem to lose their contours, but appear
to be as fat and Saucy as ever.
Our correspondents landlord has
learned from experience, evidently, that
| they are hard birds to get rid of.
They laugh at scarecrows, as he said
They are not easily driven away. Use
| of an air rifle may have some effect,
but often after one or two have been
injured, and maybe one killed, the rest
| come back every morning just the same.
Poisoned bait is sure-fire, but 1t is not
only very mean way to secure an end,
but also offers danger to the songbirds,
and to pet dogs and cats OF the neigh
borhood. Shooting Is dangerous to the
entire community.
Trapping may be tried. In this case
good food Is used, and once the birds
are trapped, they may be carried away
and released in some other section OF
town. We hope no one wrings their
necks.
The trouble about transporting them
is that they are marvellous flyers and
usually having been somebody's pets
once upon time, they naturally come
back to the old home site.
So it may be seen that there is really
no humane way of getting rid of them
They do become a nuisance, but since
their only aim in life is to get something
to eat, most humans may sympathize
with them, and look tolerantly upon
their misdeeds.
After all, common pigeons belong te
great race of birds. The dove and
pigeon family is as old as Noah. Doves
have long been regarded as symbols
Of the soul. Our common pigeon /.
often q beauty, properly regarded. HI
need take of his hat to few birds wher
1t comes to hying ability.
In m air age, when men at last
have succeeded In flying almost as wei
as the birds, we should not forget tha
pigeons are mighty flyers. and in theil
homing instincts still are far ahead o.
! men.