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 Pest Bird Information There are over 40 known viruses and 60 transmittable diseases directly attributed to birds and their droppings. Pigeon and starling droppings carry spores of the systemic fungal disease called histoplasmosis, which can be contracted by breathing dusty pigeon droppings or soil contaminated by droppings. It is estimated that in the U.S. alone: 50 million people have had or have been exposed to histoplasmosis each year there are about 0.5 million infections with 5,000 people being hospitalized 800 deaths occur due to this illness. Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease found primarily in pigeon droppings (over 80% of established pigeon roosts have been found to contain this organism. When dried droppings are inhaled, a respiratory disease can occur commencing with a lung infection and spreading to the rest of the body, especially the nervous system. Psittacosis is a bacteria that can cause lung infections and is found in the droppings of pigeons and other birds. It can be transmitted to humans when they inhale the bacteria in the air introduced through air conditioning systems which carry this organism from a bird roost. Nuisance factors - droppings are unappealing to customers and require frequent clean-ups. Pigeon (Rock Dove) Family Columbidae Appearance: Feral pigeons have dark blue-gray heads with glossy yellow, greenish and reddish-purple markings along their necks and wing feathers. The bill is grayish-pink. Two dark bands are usually seen on the wings and there is a single dark band across tails. Habits: Pigeons walk or run with their heads bobbing forward and back. They fly in a direct path. They feed in the morning and early afternoon and take cover at night. The birds nest in large flocks. Feral pigeons nest in old farm buildings, with skyscrapers taking the place of natural cliff surroundings. Diet: Pigeons prefer seeds but will eat many things off open ground. Feral city pigeons consume popcorn, bread, cake, peanuts and more. Reproduction: Pigeons pair for life. The male builds the nest, where eggs hatch about 19 days after being laid. Both parents incubate the eggs, which vary in quantity. Other Information: Pigeons are considered the No. 1 pest by most urban residents. Pigeon predators include possums, raccoons, owls, eagles, falcons and hawks. European Starling Family Sturnidae Appearance: Starlings are pudgy birds about the size of robins. They vary in color from one season to the next, displaying purple-green feathers with white markings and a yellow bill in warm weather and darker feathers tipped in light brown with a blue-black bill in winter. Both sexes are the same colors. Habits: Livestock owners find starlings especially bothersome, since they eat large quantities of feed and contaminate even more with their droppings. The birds travel in flocks of up to 2,000 in the winter and can eat more than a ton of feed while spoiling two or three times that amount with their whitewash. Though plump, individual birds can squeeze through a hole in a building as small as an inch in diameter. Diet: The birds prefer fruits and seeds, either wild or cultivated. They supplement during the spring breeding season with insects. They will eat virtually any livestock feed that is not bound and covered. Reproduction: Starlings nest almost anywhere they can wedge a small nest, and that includes commercial buildings. Females lay as many as seven eggs which hatch less than two weeks following incubation. Young starlings leave the nest within three weeks of birth and may be one of two broods created each season. Other Information: Starlings were introduced in North America almost exactly a century ago. Since then, they have spread to virtually every state and province. The Seagull: Larinae Habits: Most urban gulls are scavengers. Garbage dumps are a favorite flocking grounds. This has caused some concern especially in urban situations. Airports close to waste facilities and breeding grounds have a real cause for concern. The most common gulls on the northern west coast are the Glaucous Winged Gull, Herring Gull and Western Gull. Diet: Gulls are omnivorous and will eat almost anything you toss in the garbage. Favorites are meat products and seafood. Rotting produce and baked goods at composting facilities is also popular. A natural seashore diet of fish and crustaceans has almost become a last resort to human refuse during winter months. Reproduction: Gulls are primarily colony breeders returning by migration to the origin of birth. They lay two-three eggs. Incubation lasts about 27 days and the young fledge at about 54 days. Other Information: All gull species are protected. It is unlawful to harm or kill them. A special federal permit is needed to legally harvest or scare them regardless of the damage caused by them. Contact us for an estimate info@the-birdman.net. We are located in Greater Vancouver area in western Canada. |
