Futile pigeon deterrents, 30th September 2012.

On the Mappin terraces.
Visible in the photo are two methods supposed to deter pigeons. In the background there is a raptor-shaped kite and a model of an owl on one of the mountains.

Also visible in the photo is their lack of effect.

Photo taken on the 30th September 2012.

Clearly it's working.

Y'know what'd scare the pigeons away?


Bears.



(Yeah, I went there!)

Why not just turn it into a "Pigeons Of The World" exhibit? No additional theming needed.

Maguari said:

Y'know what'd scare the pigeons away?


Bears.

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LOL!!!!!!!

Maguari said:

Y'know what'd scare the pigeons away?

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Someone flying a trained Peregrine Falcon.... they could do it outside visitor hours.

If London really wants to both scare off pigeons and use the Mappin Terrace to display a truly spectacular species that no other zoo has, they should consider acquiring a chickaphant.

http://www.thiel-a-vision.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/elephickensm.jpg

Looks to me like the deterrents worked perfectly. There are no pigeons on the "mountain" or anywhere near the fake predators. What they clearly need is a small crocodile

Zooplantman said:

Looks to me like the deterrents worked perfectly. There are no pigeons on the "mountain" or anywhere near the fake predators. What they clearly need is a small crocodile

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There is nothing(?) kept on the Mountain anymore- its all semi-derelict/unsafe. The pigeons are all down near the areas where there are animals- Wallabies, Emus etc (and presumably food) in the 'Australasian area'.

When I was there last Saturday the "mountain" with the fake raptors was clear. All the pigeons had just moved to the other "mountain" where there were no fake raptors. So the answer is probably just to put hundreds of fake raptors around the zoo. If you want to reduce the pigeon population in the zoo then really you have to do it London wide. I went to St James's Park a few weeks ago and clearly there had been no pigeon control measures in place at all during it's "use" (utter destruction) for the olympics. There were places where you could not see the ground for pigeons. It was hideous.