In Victoria, all wildlife is protected under the Wildlife Act.Your only option for DIY pigeon control is physically deterring them or excluding them.
Exclusion and habitat alteration are used to minimise the impact of pigeons in many areas. The purpose is to deny them access to enter or use any structure as a nesting or roosting site.
- Plastic bird netting in windows, vents or eaves to exclude pigeons. High initial capital cost if large areas are to be covered and other birds from warehouses, factories or other areas.
- Plastic strips or curtains hung in doorways to deter birds from entering buildings. High initial capital cost if large areas are to be covered.
- Screening should also be used to restrict their access to water sources such as rooftop air conditioners.
- Building alteration to achieved by architectural design or remodelling.
- Remove roosting sites.
- Spikes and tightly-strung high tensile wires repelling the birds.
- Water cannon can be placed in areas where pigeons congregate coupled with motion detectors to disperse them when they land.
- Naphthalene flakes effective in displacing pigeons from enclosed areas. Care must be taken as vapours may be toxic.
- Sound deterrents may also be only temporarily effective.
- Visual deterrents Includes fake owls or other birds of prey, balloons, may be only temporarily effective.
- Flashing lights and scarecrows, may be only temporarily effective.
Effectiveness is increased if a number of these techniques are used in combination.