Pigeons will turn and fly away if you put one thing in the garden, according to pest control experts. Reflective surfaces, such as tin foil, are among the best natural ways to deter them.
Why pigeons avoid reflective surfaces
Safeguard Pest Control advises that the reflective surfaces of mirrors or other shiny objects trigger a pigeon's flight response. As a result, having a reflective surface on a windowsill or balcony rail can easily deter a pigeon from roosting or perching there.
The guidance suggests placing a layer of shiny aluminium foil over a windowsill and balcony rail very easily. With careful wrapping, it is entirely possible to create an undesirable perching space that still looks good.
Other effective deterrents
For a larger space, such as a roof or the edges of solar panels, mirrors are a good option. A mirror will reflect light very well and provide an effective deterrent for pigeons. Small mirrors can work on a windowsill.
If you want to go one step further, bird netting and bird spikes also work. Bird netting is a very humane, cheap and instantly effective way of keeping pigeons away from an area. It is particularly effective on a balcony or near a bird table that is only meant for smaller birds.
Bird spikes might look domineering and scary, but they do not harm the pigeons. Birds can navigate into many very tight spaces without any problem, and the spikes simply push them off of an area should they try to land.
