Evening star., 1948-04-02
This and That
Bu Charles T.. Trdce1Dell

How to get rid Of pigeons is perennial prob
lem with people who feed the birds.
THE BIRDS" Of course, means songbirds, to
them.
Pigeons they class not as birds, but as nui-
sances.
When q wandering band Of these fellows
settles down on a house, their tendency is to
stay.
They like it there, and nothing short Of mur-
der can get rid of them.
That is the TRUTH but nd-hearted persons
do not want to accept it.
So they insist on being told something new,
something odd something they have not heard
Of; they like to think that papier mache
snakes, or pieces Of twirling paper, or just
something, they know not what. will cause
them to leave.
Pigeons. like death and taxes, stick around.
They like to nest on shelves under caves,
sometimes on fiat roofs, and they adore grains
in feeding trays.
They like bread crumbs, too. They are not
adverse to apples cut in two, or raisins.
In fact, they will eat anything put out for
any Of the songbirds.
Their mating antics are grotesque, especially
when their "necking" is carried on along the
roof line.
It seems very odd up there.
Their habits in nesting are interesting.
They are the only birds, except their cou-
sins, the doves, who regurgitate their food to
feed the young, who receive 1t by poking their
bills down the parents throat.
They also are the only birds-with the same
exception-who drink by practically submerg-
ing the bill in water.
They are interesting, but it is that noise
they make that sours so many bird lovers on
them.
1t is an odd sound, indeed, sort Of combina-
ton noise that reminds the listener Of cross
~ 4.
idiotic.
No doubt to pigeons 1t Is pleasing. To human
ears, it seems rather ridiculous and wholly un-
necessary.
There are 50 many unnecessary things today,
things one wonders how and why they came
into being, that the gurgling pigeon notes
strike many as unbearable
Especially when just overhead at night and
at dawning
What to do?
Well, there is nothing to do except try to
chase them away, an advice easier given than
carried into execution.
They merely laugh, or achieve the pigeon
equivalent, at fake snakes.
They will fly down and perch on the backs
Of ferocious looking specimens.
They do not mind dish towels and hats
waved at them frantically.
To kill them by means Of gunfire or poisoned
the birds.
And there Is always the danger Of hitting
something else, or killing 1t by poison.
= -
An idea that may work, at least in some
cases, and especially now that spring is almost
here. is to put on the hose and spray them
and their favorite positions on the roof.
If the hose Is left hitched up, and the spray
put on them now and then through the day,
especially at dawn and dusk. they may decide
in time that maybe they had better 60 else
where.
They are stubborn. however, so no one need
expect them to mind little water.
It viii take plenty Of water. and even more
perseverance,, to get rid Of them.
And even If they leave. one should not be
| surprised to see them back again in q few
| days.
Especially If food Is around for the taking.
These are the original free lunch boys. In these
| days Of handouts to all and sundry, perhaps
no one should blame them.