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The overengineered solution to my pigeon problem (2022)

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21–30 of 71 posts

Re: The overengineered solution to my pigeon problem (2022)

#21

In my experience, crows seem to be quite an effective natural deterrent.

You can make friends with crows. They seem to really like peanuts and, if you offer them shell included, it's a somewhat selective package tailored to them (although great tits try, you may bribe them with sunflower seeds in selective feeders). I read reports of people sometimes receiving gifts from befriended crows in return, too, so it's possible to form complex relationships. Anyway, the downside is their beautifu…

Downside is they're intelligent adversaries who won't permit you an out, once they've classified you as a food source. Mine have surrounded my apartment and tap on the windows from every angle. There's no place to hide. I'm not even allowed to sleep in late.

Re: The overengineered solution to my pigeon problem (2022)

#22
Maybe a lasting solution would be a convenient, dedicated resting rod laced with a little ceasium-137. You know, so they would be willingly placing their gonads on a gamma emitter. I'd say you likely sterilize most, with only a small chance of creating a supermutant nemesis. You could also add some phosphor to attract mosquitos at night.. and sterilize them, too.

Re: The overengineered solution to my pigeon problem (2022)

#23
We have a pigeon on our balcony. We picked him when he was only a week old and now he lives with us. Our balcony is isolated from the street, so every morning we open a window there so Theodor (his name; although we're not sure, maybe he is she), so Theodor can go out and fly. In the evening he returns; sometimes he gets stuck somewhere due to rain (they do not fly in the rain) until dark (they do not fly in the dark either) and returns in the morning. We worry a little when this happens.

He is not strictly a pet, we try not to turn him into one and hope he will find a spouse in the spring. In the meantime we'll build him a small house that may serve as a nest if he is so inclined. We've read a few books about them and joined a chat of people who keep pigeons, en masse or just adopt a pigeon who needs it.

We do not do that often but about once a week we catch him and sprinkle with a dust against parasites. Pigeons are very pleasant to touch. The feathers have a silky feeling and they are warm, warmer than people.

There are a lot of excrements, of course. We covered the balcony with cardboard to protect and wear a dedicated pair of slippers. Yet we see these little piles with satisfaction because they mean that Theodor eats well and is healthy. By the way it must be a good fertilizer; old books say it was a source of income for the pigeon keeper.

So maybe you can make friends with pigeons instead of shooting them. The balcony is too small anyway (see "The pattern language"). Give them a bath (they love to bath), make them a feeder. (You can strategically position it so that excrements will mostly fall outside.) They are very lovely creatures.

Re: The overengineered solution to my pigeon problem (2022)

#24
I started a project this year similar to this with rats. It’s now two axis with tracking and a stereo camera with depth detection. The amount of hours I’ve spent on it is astounding but I’ve learned a lot!

Also, ended up swapping the Pi I started with to a jetson.

Re: The overengineered solution to my pigeon problem (2022)

#27

We have a pigeon on our balcony. We picked him when he was only a week old and now he lives with us. Our balcony is isolated from the street, so every morning we open a window there so Theodor (his name; although we're not sure, maybe he is she), so Theodor can go out and fly. In the evening he returns; sometimes he gets stuck somewhere due to rain (they do not fly in the rain) until dark (they do not fly in the dark…

Charles Darwin was a 'pigeon fancier' (not as dodgy as it sounds), so you are in good company.

Re: The overengineered solution to my pigeon problem (2022)

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can make friends with crows. They seem to really like peanuts and, if you offer them shell included, it's a somewhat selective package tailored to them (although great tits try, you may bribe them with sunflower seeds in selective feeders). I read reports of people sometimes receiving gifts from befriended crows in return, too, so it's possible to form complex relationships. Anyway, the downside is their beautifu…

Downside is they're intelligent adversaries who won't permit you an out, once they've classified you as a food source. Mine have surrounded my apartment and tap on the windows from every angle. There's no place to hide. I'm not even allowed to sleep in late.

Don't discourage The Fellowship publicly. Mind you, crows can hold a grudge for more than a generation. You should be grateful, your lineage is destined for vita servitutis cornicinae. Ave corvus!
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