Are pigeons protected in Arizona?

You may find yourself wondering, “are pigeons protected in Arizona?” Most Arizona birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Among other things, this makes it illegal to hunt, possess, or transport the birds. The only birds that are not protected in Arizona are rock doves (pigeons), English sparrows, and European starlings.

Nuisance Created by Pigeons

Large groups of pigeons can be a nuisance. They can even spread disease. It’s easy to think that there are rules in place to keep pigeons protected since there are so many of them around.

Imagine sitting on your front porch when you start looking around and notice bird droppings on your home and your vehicle. In addition to looking unappealing and potentially smelling, it can cause real damage. If left on surfaces, the acidic nature of the waste can deteriorate your paint.

Cleaning your home or vehicle is only taking care of the surface problem. If you’re unable to scare the birds away permanently, it may be time to call a professional to put measures into place to deter the pigeons.

Pigeons are often considered “flying rats.” Some of the diseases their droppings can carry include:

• E. coli – symptoms include nausea, fever, and cramps
• Encephalitis – symptoms include drowsiness, headache, and fever
• Histoplasmosis – symptoms include decreased respiratory function
• Salmonellosis – symptoms include fever, chills, abdominal discomfort, and flulike symptoms

Pigeons can even carry mites and fleas. It is important to thoroughly wash your hands after removing bird droppings. Avoid touching a pigeon, whether it’s living or dead.

Controlling Pigeons

Pigeons will eat pretty much anything, which makes it easy to survive in urban areas. You’ve probably been at the park when someone throws their bread crust to a nearby bird. Pretty soon, you see the whole flock flying in to scavenge lunch.

When people feed pigeons, they become more comfortable around humans. Eventually, they’ll start to approach people who aren’t offering food scraps. This is when they become a nuisance. Some may begin to make this area their new home.

There are some ways you can try to control pigeons:

• Eliminate water – Replace leaky drip systems. Drain fountains or bird baths.
• Eliminate food – This can be tricky since they’ll eat anything. Store your trash in a sealed container. Since pigeons eat seeds, be sure to remove landscaping debris after trimming.
• Unwelcoming landscape – Create a less inviting home by trimming your trees and lessening places for pigeons to perch or roost.

You may not inspect your solar panels often. However, they make a cozy, out-of-reach pigeon nesting site. Budget Brothers utilizes clips and screening material to prevent nests from being built under your solar panels. The clips are non-invasive and allow for permanent seclusion against pigeons.

Call the Professionals

If you’ve tried all of these tips, it may be time for outside help. The professionals at Budget Brothers use a variety of techniques to get rid of pigeons. Our team of inspectors and installers have experience with residential homes as well as commercial properties. Sometimes the job even requires a lift and several days of installation. When you schedule a meeting with our inspector, they will determine the best way to approach your property.

The process to remove the pigeons from your home is complex. First, we will remove the nests and power wash the area to remove bird droppings. Next, we will perform seclusion work in roof coves where the pigeons nest, using a screen or netting. We will also install spikes in the areas they typically roost. Budget Brothers offers tension wire and posts or bird gel as an alternative to spikes for a more discreet installation. Other methods of elimination include using a variety of visual deterrents or trappings with bait and cages.

Pigeons are very social. They live in flocks of 20-30 birds. That means if you see one pigeon, it’s time to pay attention. Removing birds from your property isn’t a do-it-yourself project. Due to the risk of exposing yourself to the diseases they carry as well as the danger of climbing to take care of their roosting areas, it’s a good time to call the professionals.

If you’ve noticed a pigeon problem in your yard, contact Budget Brothers to schedule an appointment for your free estimate.