Fighting with Pigeons

I live on the top floor of a moderate high-rise apartment just for the sake of avoiding pests. To me, a ground floor apartment equals easy access to cockroaches, rats, and even the occasional snake or monkey!

That said, I am still being haunted by another category of pests – the feathered variety. Pigeons to be more precise.

It all started a couple of months back when a pair of pigeons took refuge in our balcony from the pouring rains. At the time, I hadn’t the heart to drive them out in the rain, and it appears that I am now paying for my foolishness. They have accepted my strictly temporary invitation and now made the balcony their home + lavatory. Gross, I know!

The mother-in-law suggested that tying a black cloth on the railing would scare away the birds. I tried it, and well…all I can say is that my belief in one more old wives’ tale goes down the drain.

The only thing that works so far is letting the snubnose loose in the balcony while she acts like a human pigeon-crow. She loves the task no doubt, and she is pretty effective – making tons of noise going up and down in her tricyle, but of course, this is just a temporary measure :(.

Last night was the final straw. The husband went to the balcony in the dark only to surprise the pigeons who were fast asleep sitting on his pajamas drying on the clothes-line. I don’t know who got a bigger scare – him or the pigeons!

Correction, they came back to roost almost immediately after he came indoors, so I doubt he scared them at all!

Now, he is extremely angry, and I know I can’t waffle over this pigeon issue any longer. The thing is…I have absolutely no idea what to do.

Opening up the comments for suggestions. I am pretty desperate here, and am willing to try out anything (only as long as it is non-violent) thank you!