Pigeons can be a nuisance in gardens as they like to eat seeds, grains and plants, but one expert has shared a simple way to deter the birds by using a common household item
Pigeons, with their penchant for seeds, grains and plants, may find your garden an attractive dining spot, but you can scare them away using simple household items or even rubbish. Dealing with birds wreaking havoc in your backyard or leaving unwanted droppings on your rooftop can be a nuisance; however, employing shiny objects that reflect light is an organic method to keep pigeons at bay.
Dr Liessa Bowen, a wildlife biology expert from Epic Gardening, has suggested an ingenious yet humane deterrent: hanging pie tins throughout your garden. She stated: “Pie tins are cheap, shiny, and can be easily hung in trees. Hang several in your fruit trees or along fences where they can gently twirl in the breeze.
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“If they are close enough to touch each other, they will not only create flashes of light and movement but gentle clonking sounds as they knock against each other.”
The reflective surfaces of pie tins throw off sunlight, causing unexpected flashes that disorient the bothersome birds, reports the Express.
A pie tin dangling from a branch sways and produces sound, which could alarm pigeons since they are instinctively cautious of new sounds or sights that might signify danger.
Dr Bowen said: “Pie tins can be quite effective to deter birds from browsing in your fruit trees, but they work best when you can hang many of them.”
While a lone pie tin may not be enough to deter a flock of hungry birds, a collection of 10 pie tins spinning in the wind could give them pause before roosting in your trees.
Other shiny objects, such as unwanted DVDs or CDs, can also serve as effective deterrents. According to Dr Bowen, “The CDs will gently turn in the breeze and provide both movement and flashes of light.
This would be a quick, easy, and free (if you have unwanted CDs lying around) method to help deter birds.” Similarly, shiny ribbons blowing in the wind can have a comparable effect. Special bird deterrent ribbons can be purchased, or you can repurpose fabric from around your home.
Dr Bowen says that “One benefit of using shiny ribbons is that they are easy to install. You won’t need any sort of special post or hanger to mount some ribbons.”
To install, simply tie the ribbons to your fruit trees, garden fences, tomato cages, stakes, or poles near the plants that require protection.
Keep in mind that pigeons are intelligent creatures, so it’s essential to experiment with various techniques to determine what works best for your garden.
Dr Bowen advises: “There are many ways to deter birds from munching on your plants, but these techniques may not work equally well for all situations.
“You may need to get creative, stay attentive, and perhaps combine a few different scare tactics for the best results.”
Other methods to discourage birds encompass planting white flowers around your garden or employing sounds like a wind chime or ultrasonic bird-repellent, which can effectively keep pigeons at bay from your garden permanently.