Pigeons

Common pest birds include pigeons, crows, starlings and sparrows.

Birds comprise roughly 10,000 different species of flying, feathered animals. The ability to fly and the migratory habits of birds often result in problems for the communities around them, as birds demonstrate territorial tendencies and can carry potentially fatal illnesses. Common pest birds include pigeons, crows, starlings and sparrows, which are found throughout Ireland.

Problems caused by pest birds

Birds present serious health threats to people and can cause structural damage to buildings. Pigeons alone carry significant amounts of hazardous pathogens, including salmonella, encephalitis and histoplasmosis. Birds also feed on and damage crops, plants and lawns in urban, suburban and rural settings.

Additional problems caused by pest birds include the unsightly accumulation of droppings. Larger build-ups of bird faecal matter, if laid near ponds or lakes, may over-nitrify the water and lead to overgrowth of aquatic plants, resulting in the decline of aquatic life. Birds may also build nests in the eaves of buildings.