Why Do Pigeons Sit On My Roof?
Pigeons have been known as roaming and domestic birds, but some of their characteristics put them in the category of modern-day city pests. Although they aren’t as harmful as rats or rodents, too many pigeons gathering on your roof can cause a number of problems going forward.
Hence, you should be asking why pigeons sit on my roof. The most common cause is the availability of food sources on or near your roof. Moreover, it’s also possible that the attic of your home or even the gutter suits the pigeons as great roosting or nesting spots.
However, pigeon droppings can be toxic to human health sometimes and pigeon nests can harm the hygiene of your roof. Keep reading to get a proper idea.
Why Do Pigeons Sit On My Roof?
Here I will discuss all the reasons why pigeons might be gathering in large numbers on your roof on a daily basis. So without spending any more words, let’s get into the details.
Your Roof Provides A Splendid View of Food Sources
Like any other animal or bird, pigeons instinctively look for food resources. Whenever they find a suitable location that helps them to keep their resource in check, they flock around it.
This food source can be anything, be it a nearby garbage, a grocery shop that throws foods suitable for pigeons nearby, or a port in which grains transit daily for import or export.
Sometimes, people from other nearby buildings can use your roof to feed the pigeons, which is an unlikely scenario, of course. Moreover, whenever a few pigeons find such a location, the news spreads almost like teleportation and within a short period, the number increases trigonometrically.
Pigeons Are Using Your Roof for Garret Nesting
If you frequently see pigeons on your roof, there is a huge possibility that your garret has already turned into a cozy little nest of pigeons. In this case, it’s best to check the garret immediately if pigeons are always showing up.
Besides, pigeons carry a strong communal bond. Whenever a pigeon locates a good spot to make a nest, naturally, they go and successfully attract a group that is closely related to them to come and live there.
Hence, a garret can easily turn into a pigeon nest with numerous pigeons. However, the garret becomes a complete mess because of pigeon stool, feathers, etc.
Moreover, such pollutants easily welcome other pesticides. Diseases like Intractable Pruritus can also spread from this. As a result, most of the time, pest control professionals’ help becomes essential in such a scenario.
Pigeons Are Using The Gutter As A Nest
If the second possibility is demolished, there remains the last reason that your roof’s gutter might have become a nest for the pigeons. The gutters come in a round shape, which makes them a good shelter for pigeons, especially in dry seasons.
Moreover, it also serves as a hideout from potential predators. But this is definitely a concerning sign for your wallet. The pigeons use the gutter as a nest, which clogs the entire passage. So during the rainy season, water can’t find a way to get down from the roof, creating a serious problem.
When Should You Be Concerned About Pigeons?
As birds that fly from one spot to another in search of food or habitats, it’s normal to see pigeons on your roof occasionally. You shouldn’t panic over such random visits from your feathery friends.
However, if this becomes a daily occurrence, things can be very messy. This is when you need to run a thorough check-up of different spots on your roof, such as the garret, gutter, etc.
That is because a variety of illnesses and parasites can be found in pigeon droppings, making them a health risk for humans when extensive accumulations occur.
Besides, the smell and mess they produce aren’t the nicest of things. Hence, letting pigeons run riot on your roof without any measure can be costly.
What Measures Can You Take to Make Your Roof Pigeon-free?
Let’s discuss some of the most effective measures you can take to keep your roof free from these feathery nuisances.
Get Rid of Any Kind of Food Resource
If there is garbage or any other potential food resource on your roof, make sure you remove it quickly. Of course, you can’t change the view of your roof to remove the sight of any other resource.
Make Sure The Pigeons Are Afraid
You can create a scarecrow-type setup to make sure the pigeons are afraid of it. If pigeons get the feeling of someone glaring at them, they will not approach the place.
Use Ultrasonic Devices
The use of ultrasonic devices is to create increased frequency sounds (>20 kHz) to deter birds from nesting or perching in particular locations (e.g. roofs). You can apply it to repel pigeons successfully.
Use Reflective Objects
A prism impact can be created using reflective objects that will successfully confuse pigeons’ vision and frighten them away. This is a cheap option. All you need to do is hang the reflective object from a tree or something else. This will repel pigeons for sure.
Make The Comfort Zone Uncomfortable
Look for the places on your roof which have been agitated by the pigeons as a potential roosting spot and make it difficult for them to stay there.
Pest control professionals use anti-roosting spikes in flat spaces to prevent pigeons from approaching that place. You can also follow other steps to make sure the spot is blocking the pigeons from entering like, such as
- Covering unrestricted ducts
- Narrowing your chimney
- Ensuring the garden isn’t welcoming pigeons
Use UV Repellent
Applying gels that have UV reflection-creating ability on the roof surface is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of scaring pigeons away from the roof.
Put An Auto Water Sprinkler
There are water sprinklers that come with sensors to sense the motion of the birds on your roof. These jets will automatically shoot the pigeons with water if there is any kind of movement.
Moreover, the waste that pigeons bring with them will also be washed off in the process. Here’s a video to give you an idea of how it works
FAQs
Let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions and their answers related to why pigeons sit on your roof.
Ans. No, pigeons don’t have biting or pecking tendencies like other birds. Hence, if you want to catch a pigeon from your roof to use it as a threat to other ones, you can apply it without any fear of getting hurt.
Ans. No. Pigeons are truthfully very neat birds. And very petite proof suggests they transfer disease to humans, in spite of their social reputation as filthy and disease carriers.
Ans. Yes. The acid materials of pigeon droppings can harm the structure of your roof, more specifically, the underlayment. If left uncleaned for a long period, these droppings can boost the wear of your entire roof.
Final Thoughts
Pigeons and humans have been living together for thousands of years. Although these peaceful birds don’t possess any major threat, the waste that comes along with them can cost you big time and deter the condition of your house.
If you understand the reasons why pigeons are gathering on your roof, it will be easier to get to the solution. And today’s article will guide you in both aspects.
